So, you’ve given EFT Tapping a try, but now you’re left wondering, “How do you know if EFT Tapping has worked?” It’s a great question and one that many people have when they first start out.
Let’s break it down.
The main way to gauge if EFT Tapping is working is through something called SUDS – the Subjective Units of Distress Scale. Sounds fancy, right? But it’s actually pretty simple. Here’s how it works:
Take a moment to check in with yourself. How are you feeling? Give that feeling a number between 0 and 10, with 10 being very intense distress and 0 being no distress at all.
Once you’ve completed your tapping session, check in with yourself again. How are you feeling now? Give it another number between 0 and 10.
The idea is to see if that number has dropped. If it has, then EFT Tapping has worked. Your level of distress has been reduced.
If your level of distress has not yet reached 0, then continue tapping more rounds or change your set up statement to reflect how you currently feel or are affected by.
While the SUDS method is a great tool, there are also more subtle signs that EFT Tapping is doing its job. Here are a few to look out for:
- Yawning: It might seem odd, but yawning can be a sign that body is relaxing and your energy is shifting in your body.
- Feeling Tired: After tapping, some people feel really tired. This can indicate that your body is processing and releasing tension. If you feel a need to sleep and have the opportunity, do so. It gives the body a chance to make what is likely a large energetic shift.
- Burping or Laughing: Yes, it sounds weird, but burping or sudden bursts of laughter can also be signs that your body is releasing stuck energy and emotions.
- Feeling "Different": Ultimately, it’s all about how you feel. If you notice that you simply feel different – lighter, calmer, or more at peace – then EFT Tapping has likely worked for you.
- Can't Remember What You Were Working On: It is quite common to simply lose track of what you were even working on, like the issue simply disappeared. That's likely because it DID!
This is a big one.
A cognitive shift is when your perspective on the issue you were tapping on has completely changed. What seemed like a huge deal before might now feel more manageable or even insignificant. You might have a deeper understanding or even a level of understanding and forgiveness that you didn't have before.
If you have had a cognitive shift, likely the issue is gone forever.
The ultimate test for EFT Tapping is to check out the results in your real life. If you were once afraid of say spiders are elevators or heights, are you STILL afraid of them as you move forward in your life? If you are not, then EFT Tapping has worked.
If you were once unable to move on after a bad breakup or divorce and now you never think of them, then EFT Tapping has worked.
I think of a client who once had a difficult breakup with a girlfriend. His exact words were, after having broken up more than a decade before, "if I can just get one day without thinking about her it would be the greatest relief of my life."
The next day, after completing the tapping, he didn't think of her. And the next day after that... That is how you know EFT Tapping Worked.
It’s important to remember that EFT Tapping is a subjective process. What works for one person might feel different for another. The key is to tune into your own body and emotions and notice any changes, no matter how subtle.
In the end, only YOU can be the judge of whether EFT tapping has worked for you. If you feel a change, feel calmer, perceive the situation differently, or even forget about the issue altogether, than you can rest assured that EFT tapping has indeed worked.
Happy Tapping!
