Our invaluable fight-or-flight
system is regulated by the HPA axis which refers to three organs: the hypothalamus, the pituitary, and the
adrenal glands. This is our body’s way of coping with stress. The pituitary gland
and the hypothalamus are located within the limbic brain, and the adrenal
glands sit atop the kidneys. When the amygdala (located in the old, reptilian
brain, e.g. our fear/alarm center) perceives an immediate threat, rather than
sending the signal along to the neofrontal cortex (our conscious brain) for
logical processing, the HPA axis releases stress hormones – cortisol and
adrenaline – into the bloodstream. These chemicals induce quick energy, raise
our heart rate, direct blood away from digestion and other less-essential
bodily functions, and reroute blood to our extremities and muscles so we’re
physically equipped to fight or run. The advantages offered by the rapid
response of our HPA axis are clear. We often don’t have time to think our way
out of a dangerous situation – we instead need to act immediately and our
primitive brain does just that for us before we have time to consider and
process all the variables or implications involved.
In times of danger, this chemical
mix is necessary to help us fight or run; however we can also get locked into a
state of chronic stress when the adrenal glands don’t receive a signal to stop
producing these hormones which are designed solely for limited application.
Unlike acute stress which serves a positive purpose in getting us out of danger
quickly, chronic stress is very destructive to our health. Long-term exposure
to stress has truly horrific consequences for our bodies.
Among other things, chronic stress
increases the damaging effects of free radicals in the neurons of the
hippocampus, causing damage to the mitochondria. The hippocampi neurons
themselves die from the damage, making creative learning nearly impossible. The
mind/brain is now out of balance, causing us to feel paralyzed. We cannot think
or feel appropriately, nor can we conjure up solutions to get us out of the rut
we now feel trapped in. Our adrenal glands become exhausted, causing us to feel
drained and worn out.
This overuse of stress hormones
keeps us stuck where we are as we simply cannot learn from old experiences and
move ourselves forward into new ones when caught in this cycle. The repetitive
nature of this stress wiring instead leaves us stranded right where we are,
going nowhere, and mired in the past.
This is where Emotional Freedom
Techniques (EFT, tapping) can play a vital role.
In order to protect ourselves from
long-term, chronic stress damage to our bodies, we must reset the hippocampal
rhythm. For decades, scientists wondered what actually controlled the cortisol
output in the adrenal glands during stress. Most researchers were surprised
when they determined the hippocampus was the adrenal glands master controller,
and also its own hangman – as it turns out that high levels of cortisol
actually damage the hippocampus, yet the hippocampus controls the amount of cortisol
released by the adrenal glands during stressful periods!
When infants and children are
traumatized in early life, the hippocampus becomes sensitized to increased
cortisol. In fact, cortisol levels are often programmed into children in their
very early years. As children become more and more stressed as they grow older,
more and more cortisol is pumped out of their adrenal glands to deal with this
ever-elevating levels of stress. As the cortisol levels rise, the hippocampal
mitrochondrial neurons die off due to free radical damage, leaving the child
with less cortisol control, less memory, less reserves to deal with future
stress, and little to no creativity as to how they might proactively address
distressing situations and resolve the problems they’re facing.
So…how can we learn to lower these
hippocampal set points?
Using a stress-relieving modality
like EFT is a step in the right direction. EFT lowers cortisol levels. One
study alone has shown that one hour of tapping drops cortisol levels 24% (Church, Yount, & Brooks, 2012). That’s huge in contending with this chronic
stress loop which results in our minds and bodies being awash in cortisol.
EFT can reset these cortisol or
“circadian” rhythms within approximately 3-6 months of establishing regular,
routine tapping. Our bodies will reregulate themselves -- if we give them some
help.
As we tap, EFT releases the
hippocampus and the amygdala triggers. The tapping signals to these brain
structures that we are safe. When we tap and recall the negative events or
memories in our life, we lower the cortisol around the event, thus informing
our subconscious that the witnessed or felt event is no longer happening in the
present tense, nor does the event any longer have control over us. We simply
neutralize the sensory information that was previously driving our unwanted
behaviors and stress.
I invite you to give EFT a try.
Attending EFT Level 1 & 2 classes is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in
the understanding of how EFT actually works, and will provide you with a bevy
of tapping practicum along with a solid basis of how to tap for yourself and
for those you wish to help.
As an author of EFT for Christians (http://www.EFTforChristians.com/)
and a retired R.N. with 5 years’ experience as a certified EFT practitioner
within this field, I’ve seen my own life completely transformed by this gentle
but incredibly effective resource -- and in my work with clients, I see EFT
consistently delivering similar life-changing results. My EFT classes are being
held in Milwaukee. Please see my website
for all the necessary details (including discounted hotel arrangements): www.EFTforChristians.com/classes.html.
God created this physiological system of ours to work this way, so I'd welcome the opportunity to meet you and personally teach you how to tap!
EFT is not a substitute for
emotional or physical care by a qualified medical personal. Take personal
responsibility for your own health please.
Sherrie Rice Smith, R.N (Retired)
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