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Addictions

Alcohol

EFT's "Tell the Story Technique" releases alcohol-related anger feelings

Important Note: This article was written prior to 2010 and is now outdated. Please use my newest advancement, Optimal EFT. It is more efficient, more powerful and clearly explained in my free e-book, The Unseen Therapist™.  Best wishes, Gary

Christina Elvin, from England, gives us two effective examples of using EFT's Tell the Story Technique for intense emotions. In essence, this method asks the client to tap while they "tell their story." The benefits are frequently remarkable. In each of these cases, the results from one thorough session appeared to not only collapse the anger involved but to also help subside the alcohol addiction.


By Christina Elvin

Part of my work over the last 5 years involves tutoring in centres for homeless people who have alcohol or drug-related problems. I offer them techniques, tips and ways to understand, look at differently, release and deal with their anger - which is often the reason why they turned to alcohol or drugs in the first place. They felt they couldn't cope and used these substances to mask their problems. I often include EFT (wherever and whenever I can) and that's why I'm called the 'Tapping Tutor'.

I'd like to tell you about 2 men I helped using EFT.

John A

The first is referred to as John A. John A had had an alcohol problem since he left the army. The army had been his life and he's been in some very dangerous places, 2 stints in Northern Ireland at its worst, the Gulf War and Bosnia -this showed to me he was not afraid, in fact he was a very brave person and had been recognised as such (medals). However, on his discharge he was left 'high and dry without his family' (his words). As with many ex-service people - he turned to drink to help him deal with his 'new life'.

Shortly after leaving the army his fiancee died and he was so devastated that through alcohol he turned to self-harm. He mutilated himself by cutting off part of his finger. He had a local reputation of being a story-teller, and his stories about his army exploits were not believed by the other 'attendees'. I listened and I believed him, I could detect an element of PTSD in there when he talked about certain 'things'. So, I took the opportunity one day, when the weather was nice and we didn't have anyone else in the anger management session to help him 'open up', to get him to 'tell me his story'.

As I talked to him a bit more about his life, he started to get teary-eyed, so I just asked him to tap around his eyebrows and then to tap the other points too whilst he told me 'his story'. He said he felt ridiculous tapping but it did make him feel like laughing. Many was the time we tapped in a group situation - mainly when tensions were beginning - and there were jokes and laughter resulting from the tapping. It lifted the tension.

Soon there were more tears and as we were the only 2 people in that session it was ok - he "felt safe with me" He said I "listened and understood him". He talked more about what he'd seen in his army career and how he'd felt when he left. He even talked about his mother and how he felt about missing her funeral because he was drunk. Tears were coming and going from him and then he smiled, and a huge grin came across his face as he thanked me for 'letting him get it out'. All the time he was telling me 'his story' I kept on getting getting him to move on to the next tapping point plus I was tapping on myself at the same time - so he didn't feel uncomfortable.

The session finished, as I said he was grinning and it wasn't the effect of alcohol because they had to be 'dry' on that day when they attend the centre. Any smell of alcohol and they are 'thrown out'. We'd actually been tapping for almost an hour. It seemed like a few minutes only.

John A did not return to the centre after that session. he had been a regular, every week, for almost 2 years and when I enquired about him, he'd moved to a town about 40 miles away to 'start again'. And even 6 months later there were no referrals concerning him. Brilliant!

John B

My second person I'll refer to as John B. He'd actually been referred to me because of his anger problem - and he drank as well. He didn't know what he was supposed to do except turn up at a set time. I asked him why he felt he'd been sent to one of my anger management sessions. It was "because he'd caused damage to property" but he couldn't remember it.

His story was because he'd threatened his ex-wife and her husband, and broken into their house (which happened to be his old house too). So I delved more, asked even more 'awkward' (his words) questions. However, as he answered them the tears started to flow - in buckets. And I managed to get this tall (6ft 3inch) ex-policeman to tell me about 'his story' using the Tell the Story Technique - getting him to almost permanently tap as his story was so intense.

As a successful and well-respected and well-liked policeman he had been called to attend a road traffic accident where there'd been a fatality - a small girl who was being taxi'd to her nursery. It was his daughter! He fell apart - he couldn't keep his mind on his job, he turned to alcohol to blot it out and internalised the anger he felt. His marriage was put under strain and his wife divorced him. She eventually re-married and he found out. All this repressed anger being swallowed down with the alcohol.

We worked on 'his story' for 45 minutes solid, tissues were sodden, he cried like a baby - which was a wonderful release for him. At the end of that session he asked me to not let anyone there know he'd been crying. Going out of the session you'd never guess he'd been crying because he was beaming all over his face. He said he "felt so much better" now it was all out. John B who was not a regular at this particular centre and he did not return however it was mentioned that he too had 'moved away' to start again (he was known of outside of the centre).

It really is wonderful seeing the transformation that overcomes some people when they can truly 'let go' and using such a 'simple technique' as "tapping" (their words) as EFT.

I have been using EFT for over 5 years now on myself, in my work and on clients as well as training individuals how to use it themselves - and I am still amazed as the wonderful successes that can be obtained from such a simple technique.

Christina Elvin

More articles on Addictions and Substance Abuse

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