How can EFT help you recover from disordered eating?

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It’s important to note that the emotional freedom technique is not a replacement for traditional therapy. It’s more of an addition, such as meditation or other mindfulness practices. EFT practitioners are not doctors or licensed therapists, so you should always check with your mental health professional before adding on to your mental health regiment. While they may be able to aid you as you recover from disordered eating, they should not be used as a substitute for treatment or medical advice from your physician or therapist.

I used to believe that things such as the emotional freedom technique, EMDR, and hypnotherapy were nothing more than nonsense. Especially in helping me recover from disorder eating! I’ve been through traditional therapy numerous times before, and if it couldn’t help then how could any alternative therapies? However, the more I sat with myself and dug deeper, the more I was able to admit that I hadn’t really been keeping up my end of the bargain. I may have attended sessions, and completed my ‘homeworks’ but it was all to keep up appearances. At the end of the day, I was still going home, throwing my diaries into the corner and crawling into bed with my own self-loathing and nihilism. All the while I expected therapy to work without me putting in the hours. 

But I was able to work with Andrea Hunt, an EFT practitioner, and my eyes were opened to new possibilities! Now EFT, alongside affirmations, has become a daily staple in my life. What’s more? My husband and some of my friends have also followed suit. While they may not be daily users like me, they use it from time to time to deal with anxiety, among other things. 

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What is emotional freedom technique and how does it work? 

It’s important to note that EFT is not a cure, nor is it a replacement for traditional therapy; it’s complimentary! While it can help you recover from disordered eating, please do not use EFT in place of any medically recommended therapies. This is purely a management technique such as meditation and mindfulness.

To quote Andrea, EFT is used to better manage emotions, self-belief, and an imbalance of the two. The Journal of evidence-based integrated therapy has the following to say. 

“Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a novel therapy that combines both cognitive and somatic elements and is an evidence-based self-help therapeutic method and over 100 studies demonstrate its efficacy.”

Andrea explained that EFT is similar to acupressure. It involves tapping specific points of the body in sequence. While you focus on tapping, you also focus on a specific issue you wish to address. The act of tapping corresponds with the meridian points within our bodies, the areas where our energy flows freely. EFT advocates state that by tapping on these meridian points, we’re able to restore the balance of energy within our bodies. But like many things, it might take time. Some might feel better after one session, while others may need to repeat the exercise over and over to feel the true effects. 

How can EFT help you recover from disordered eating?

The experience I’ve had with EFT and an eating disorder is specifically with anorexia and bulimia. That and EFT has also been very useful in managing body acceptance. Aside from traditional cravings for food, I experience cravings to avoid food at all costs, with the latter being stronger than the former.  While I’ve bThe experience I’ve had with EFT and an eating disorder is specifically with anorexia and bulimia. That and EFT has also been very useful in managing body acceptance. Aside from traditional cravings for food, I experience cravings to avoid food at all costs, with the latter being stronger than the former.  While I’ve been in recovery for two years, as with any disorder, the cravings still exist. But, instead of them shouting loudly in my ear, the volume has been significantly lowered due to a number of tools. One of these is the emotional freedom technique accompanied by personalised phrases and affirmations. 

Through the use of daily affirmations and EFT I’m able to overcome these cravings and the thoughts associated with them. Eating disorders, anorexia specifically, often coincide with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). This condition prevents the sufferer from viewing their body (or self) in the way that everyone else does. I.e we may see ‘issues’ or ‘flaws’ where there aren’t any. This can vary from mild things such as looking bigger than what we are, to more sinister fixations.

Here you can find some useful information in regards to how EFT has helped people recover from disordered eating.

As stated, benefits are both long and short term when used accordingly. Success comes with repeated use, which helps to chip away at the residual feelings of anger, guilt, anxiety, etc caused by disordered eating. But, as with traditional medicine and therapy, consistency is key!

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EFT in preparation for going out to eat.

Andrea and I held a quick session to help demonstrate how EFT can be used to deal with recovery. We used a fairly common scenario wherein the individual has to spontaneously go out for a meal. Anyone with an eating disorder will tell you how terrifying this can be! While we may not be thinking rationally in the moment, EFT can help calm intrusive thoughts to a manageable level.

EFT practice for coping with difficult emotions post-meal.

Dealing with the feeling of fullness and guilt after eating can be exceptionally difficult. The urge to use unhelpful and dangerous behavior is often ignited, and intrusive thoughts become stronger. By using the following technique, you can begin to vocalize and manage these feelings before they become too much.

While general videos are helpful, everyone’s story is different. It’s always more efficient to use a personalized session with an EFT practitioner. Andrea is happy to work individually to suit your specific needs, and to aid your recovery journey. She can offer a special package of three sixty-minute EFT sessions for only £149 using the coupon NYXIE.

*Normal price of the above bundle would be around £185! That’s a saving of £36!

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Is EFT for me?

As someone who has worked hard to recover from disordered eating, there’s nothing I wouldn’t have tried to feel at ease. But it’s also natural to be on the fence about something we’ve never tried before. That’s why Andrea offers a FREE 15-minute discovery call wherein you have the opportunity to learn more about EFT. There are no strings attached and no obligations, and Andrea is fantastic at making you feel welcome and valued.