Therapist suggested eft for dissociation

[NewBeginnings]

I have been more anxious than usual and at these times when in therapy I am triggered more easily and then dissociate. I think I know what is going on but when I dissociate I loose the moment, my mind goes I don't know where. The words have no meaning and it is super frustrating because I have been trying to be more grounded and not escape. I know it is going to happen right before but then it is like the moment at the top of a roller coaster and then I fall and can't stop it. My t has suggested EFT as a technique to see if it will ground me. She referred me to you tube videos by Brad Yates onEFTand trauma and PTSD. So I checked out a few of his videos and not sure what I was expecting but it was different.

Have others used EFT to ground or in any other way?

For me - I did try a bit and my anxiety level reduced and my thoughts/memories intensified and I don't think I dissociated. (I do tend to disassociate much more in T than out because of our topics.) I didn't ask my therapist but is this something one would do the therapy. The whole thing seems really simple yet it was kinda powerful.

 

[shimmerz]

Yes, EFT helped me a ton. I still pull it out at times.

The one thing with (C)PTSD and EFT for me, is that many times when dealing with an issue, I didn't actually have the words that needed to be used in setup statements etc. Preverbal stuff doesn't lend itself well to EFT.

For quite some time (years) I had to have someone walk through the statements with me to help me. I can now do it on my own and I know they say that is the great thing about EFT, but honestly, I think that depends on the type and intensity of your trauma.

 

[NewBeginnings]

Yes, EFT helped me a ton. I still pull it out at times.

...

How long do you practice EFT for at one time? Is it a few minutes or sustained for a long time? Or several times in a day?
Thanks.

 

[shimmerz]

I would start work on one issue, and check my SUDS level pre session and post session. Just to make sure that it had de-activated whatever prompted the session. Many times it would lead to some intertwined issue so I would keep after it until I felt it had run its course. It was crazy quick acting. I still use it now - I just don't have to do it very often anymore. Not sure if that helps

 

[Chloe S]

Hey, would you just start as normal with EFT ie ‘eventhough I have this funny feeling in my chest’ or ‘eventhough I hate my mother so much, I love and respect myself anyway’? I am never sure where to start to get down to the nitty gritty

 

[shimmerz]

I try to keep the setup statements simple. No flowery words and stuff. Also, it has been drilled into me not to use the words 'never' or 'not' or anything like that. Apparently it isn't a word that is acknowledged very well. So the idea is to go with what you have - not what you don't have. I think the word 'anyways' is sketchy too for EFT - but that is just the way I was taught to do stuff.

Not sure if that helps you at all Chloe.