Week 7: EFT for Fears About the Future

By now, having used EFT for six weeks, you’re probably experiencing some positive changes in how you’re feeling. Your symptoms may be abating. You may be feeling better than you have in a long time. At the same time, you’re probably worrying that the results won’t last. You may have experienced improvement in the past, only to have your hopes dashed by a return of the same old pain and fatigue. In addition to worrying that the improvements you’re experiencing won’t last, you may also be afraid of a healthy future. You may have been ill for so long, you can’t imagine what it will be like to be healthy and you’re not sure you’re up to the challenge of reengaging with life again.

Fear can prevent you from seeing a positive future, and actually impede your recovery. In order to envision the best that you can be, you will need to tap away your fear. Then the images of what you really want and all the possibilities awaiting you can emerge.

A common statement by people with a long-term debilitating illness is “I have no choice.” Having been ill for so long, they do not see their options, notes Gunilla Brattberg, MD. In reality, we all have choices, she says. She urges those with such illnesses to “dare and be willing to choose,” asking: “Do you dare to be healthy? Do you dare to feel good?” With EFT, you can program yourself to make good choices. You can choose to envision a healthy future.

A good start to the “dare and choose” path is to ask yourself: What do I really want? Another step forward may be to identify the choices you made in the past that had a negative impact on your life. “A good first choice,” says Dr. Brattberg, “is to choose to accept what has happened and that it cannot be undone. Once you’ve done that, it’s easier to move forward in life.”

How EFT Can Help with Fears about the Future

EFT has excellent, often amazing results with phobias. Fear about the future is no different. Tap on your fear every time you feel it and you will likely begin to feel more positive about what the future holds for you. As with all problems you address with EFT, the more specific you can be about your fears, the better. So rather than simply saying “I’m afraid of what will happen to me in the future,” state your worst fear, as in “I’m afraid that I will be sick for the rest of my life,” tap on it until the intensity is reduced, then go on to your next fear.

In addition to addressing your fears about the future, EFT can help you envision what your life will look like in the most positive future possible. You can tap on “I choose to be open to all possibilities for my future,” “I choose to entertain the possibility that I can be well,” or any variation that programs you for positive choices.

This is a good heads-up not to add to your fears about the future by worrying if your symptoms begin to return after initially disappearing with EFT. Keep tapping!

Using EFT for Fears about the Future

Think back over the past week to a time or an incident when you felt fearful about your future.

What was your memory? Write it (be brief) down on paper.

Before you start tapping, take a moment to assess your feelings as you remember this event. Use the 0 to 10 (0 = no discomfort and 10 = extreme discomfort) SUD scale. How strong is your emotional reaction to the memory right now? Give it a number, and write that number down.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 or 10

Also, identify a place in your body where you feel that emotion most strongly. It might be your forehead, your shoulders, or your heart. Write down the location in your body of this strong emotion:

So Far, So Good! Here’s your Setup Statement:

“Even though (name the problem you wrote down), I deeply and completely accept myself.”

Say this three times while tapping on the Karate Chop point on the side of your hand.

Now look at the illustration showing EFT’s 12 acupoints, and tap lightly 7 to 10 times with two fingertips on each point. While tapping, focus on the problem.

A Second Helping of EFT

Now let’s do EFT again, but with a slightly different Setup Statement. Most people experience a reduction in the intensity of the problem, so we’ll modify the Setup Statement accordingly.

“Even though I still have some strong feelings about (name the problem), I deeply and completely accept myself.”

Say this three times while tapping on the side of your hand.

Now tap lightly 7 to 10 times with two fingertips on each point. While tapping, stay focused on your problem.

A Final Round of EFT

You might still have some remaining SUD intensity, so for good measure, let’s try EFT again.

“Even though I still have some remaining feelings about (name the problem), I deeply and completely accept myself.”

Say this three times while tapping on the side of your hand.

Now tap lightly 7 to 10 times with two fingertips on each point. While tapping, stay focused on your problem.

Measuring Your Results

Think about the problem again, and tune in to your the body part you wrote down. Using the same scale from 0 to 10 (with 0 being no emotional intensity, and 10 being the highest possible) write down your second SUD:

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 or 10

Congratulations! Your level of emotional intensity just went down by ___percent. (Divide your second number by your first number, then multiply your answer x 100.)

Tap on Your Fears about the Future as They Arise

You now have a tool that you can use every time you feel fearful about your future. This week, use EFT whenever a fear arises.

Each evening, before you go to sleep, think about any upsetting incidents that occurred during the day, and tap them away. When you wake up, tap through the points three or four times before you even start your day. This will help balance your energy, and give you more resilience to face the day ahead.