Emotional Freedom Technique - Does It work?

Today has been remarkable. Kim and I have been married exactly one month and it is the best thing I have ever done. We're both really happy and although I knew it would feel different, I didn't think for one moment that it would be as good as this. That was the first good bit of the day.

It kept on getting better. Kim made me a mug of strong, steaming tea to start the morning off with and then we dashed off to Yeovil to collect my new car. I was like an impatient child as Mr Bob, our friendly Land Rover dealer explained everything and showed me all the buttons and features in the car. It was parked in the main showroom, bright, shiny and irresistible. I don't think I shall ever grow out of being a petrol-head, though these days I shall have to call myself a diesel-head! Finally, Mr Bob opened the showroom doors and I pressed the start button and manoeuvred the new wheels out on to the tarmac. Oh, what a delight! Even with a very sore hip, the seats embraced me and I chuckled all the way home.

There wasn't any time to admire my new toy, as I had an appointment for an Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) session, so had to lock the doors and jump into Kim's car, as he had offered to drive me there and back, not knowing how the treatment would affect me. I had decided to book the treatment after talking to my Chiropractor; after treatments by the chiropractor, I would always feel very emotional and she asked whether the problems with my hip might have some basis in an emotional problem.

Two days before I had visited the Chiropractor and had the conversation about emotional issues, I had decided that it was time to deal with some things from the past that were long overdue. I think that because I feel so loved and cherished, I'm ready to sweep away the horrible things of the past that have been stuffed into a dark corner cupboard. I won't bore you with the details, and it's not an edifying story, but suffice to say that I had a close encounter with an active republican Irish man, who lived by mental, emotional and sometimes physical violence. The experience left me first terrified and then, as a way of dealing with the fear, angry. I used anger to get out of the situation and to try to re-assemble a life that he has systematically tried to take apart. With the need to try to keep a roof over my head, food on the table and all the daily things that happen, I buried the fear and anger so that I could get on with the important business of survival.

I think this is what has been eating away at my joints and bones. This man tried to take my life away from me, not only in the obvious way, but also by alienating anyone who was close to me, and I realised that I have been saying "I want my life back!" lately. I believe that I allowed him to successfully steal a part of my life and it has taken me this long to get to the point of wanting to reclaim it. Thanks must to go many people; Kim has been a tower of strength, though I'm sure he's not aware of it; my son too has played his part and the wonderful relationship we have has given me the confidence to look inside; thanks too must go to Seshat, as she lit a path for me in dealing with her own issues. So, I thought I'd give EFT a go, as the thought of long hours on a counsellors chair filled me with horror.

What an amazing treatment it is. I have to admit to being rather sceptical before I arrived. EFT works on the energy meridians and is a combination of tapping meridian points and repeating, almost mantra-like, certain things (peculiar to one's situation). I have only ever been able to talk about my time in Ireland to one person, and then only to explain an extreme terror reaction, up until now. Until now, whenever I allowed myself to think about it, I would cry and feel sick with fright. This happened over eight years ago. Now, tonight, after an hour and a half of tapping and repeating, I have been able to sit here, dry-eyed and calm to write about something that no longer frightens me.

I don't know if this feeling of being back in control will last, or how I will feel tomorrow, but for the moment, I am in awe of the technique. To be able to write, and even be calm about the events, is something I had never anticipated. My energy was so light as I came out of the treatment that I literally felt as if a weight had been lifted from me. By 4.30 p.m. I was wiped out and curled up under the duvet to loose two hours in a deep and restful sleep. And I'm sitting here - able to think about that dark time - with nothing more than a wry smile that it took me this long to find a way of dealing with it.

Kim has been wonderful and heated up the remains of the Bambi pie for supper, looked after me and goodness, everything feels all right. Monday 20th October has been an amazing day; I have my new car, I have a wonderful husband and I got my life back. I am so lucky, blessed and free - now that thought is making me well up!