Emotional Freedom Technique - Identifying Core Issues

Theodore Herazy

Perhaps the most effective way in which to treat a negative emotional issue with Emotional Freedom Technique is to first locate and treat it directly via an early event that started or initiated the onset of a particular personal challenge. Once this core memory is determined, it can be cleared with the Emotional Freedom Techniques process. This will invariably help to resolve that particular issue. However, as easy as this is to report, it is often challenging to simply discover the onset of a core memory.

Body focused approach to identify a core issue

There are many ways to approach the discovery of important cores issues in EFT. These lurk below the surface of many of life�s emotional problems. Sometimes a person will attempt to use logic to follow a problem back in time. This is time consuming, and often doesn't work due to limits of the memory.

Another way exists to uncover the start of an early core memory. It is surprisingly effective with those who are �over thinkers.� In this approach it is necessary to still the inner voice, and tolisten to the voice of the emotions and feel the internal response that caused the inital negative emotions. Use the physical or body region associated with a stressful issue to gain access to long-forgotten memories related to the core issue.

First step

Attempt to tune into the strongest or most common feelings that arise with the stressful emotion or memory. Let us use the example of being afraid of the dark. In this case, simply tune into the feeling of, or to "be with," feeling afraid while alone in the dark. Just remember what the last time was like, what was felt, what was experienced in the dark. Take no effort to recall the specific details of the external environment. Do not think of or recall what was seen or heard; only recall and attempt to relive what was felt while being in the dark. The specific goal is to notice what sensations and feeling are felt during the last fearful episode in the dark, as well as where they were felt.

Second step

Next, describe the physical sensations using as much detail as possible. For instance, where in the chest is the tightness felt? How much of the arm feels heavy and dull? Is the headache on both sides of the head, or just one; front or back? How large an area of the truck does the numbness extend? Is it dull, sharp or perhaps like pressure? And so forth with as details and descriptors whenever possible. By this process of feeling the entire physical experience of the stressful event, it is possible to come closer to the core issue itself.

Third step

After a\reaching a high level of awareness, notice what emotions, memories, internal dialogue or visual scenes come to your awareness. It might be a recollection of sounds, warnings, criticisms, outbursts and conversation. Many times it is not a dialogue that is being recalled, but a replay of what the person has heard others say at the time of the stessful event.

Last step � Float back

Keep the physical sensations going. Allow the memory to "float back" and keep the attention on the details of the bodily sensations, emotions and personal-statements with a casual, relaxed and receptive attitude. Do not work on figuring out anything or making something happen; merely take time to allow the memory of interesting and forgotten thoughts to come to you.

Commonly a memory or image will arise after a short while, and are images connected to the current stressful issue. Do not be impatient with the process. After a few seconds it is common for someone to say, "I can�t think of anything. I am just not good at this kind of thing.� There should be no rush nor effort to think. Feel and experience long-forgotten memories. Almost like memories of a dream. Do not expect too much to happen too quickly, since this will stop information from surfacing. Take an attitude of no pressure, a relaxed state of mind in which thoughts come and go freely.

If you do not feel anything in their body, this can be significant as the actual problem being addressed. Since taking hte time to notice one's breath is an exercise in bodily awareness, this will bring energy into the body by way of greater oxygen flow, but deeper relaxation that comes with deeper breathing will enhance the ability to feel bodily sensations.

With a little coaxing and relaxed repetition, it is possible to recall an experience or scene related to the early onset of the stressful event or emotion. Once you achiee that memory, you are well on your way to great emotional release when treated with Emotional Freedom technique.


Dr. Theodore Herazy is a prolific writer on a wide variety of Alternative Medicine topics; he has authored hundreds of articles and two books in the area of men's health and nutrition. He primarily has used EFT on a daily basis to treat his patients for the last 10 years, and is considered an expert in the field of energy psychology. Visit http://www.EFTbyTelephone.com for additional information on many EFT topics and information about doing EFT by phone.