How to Laugh in the Face of Trauma

She had been held up at gunpoint, and she was actually laughing! Let me explain…

Fran had been coming to see me for Kinesiology. She had been struggling with some mystery symptoms for a while. She mentioned they had started some time after she had been held up at gunpoint.

The reality is that we weren’t really getting the results we were looking for.
I told Fran that I thought she might benefit from something I did called EFT (Emotional Freedom
Techniques), also known as tapping. And that it could be a gentle and effective way for her to not only process this traumatic event but actually heal from it.

I mentioned that sometimes traumatic events stick around in the body, and oftentimes manifest into
physical issues, health problems, and even chronic stress. She definitely agreed that the stress of this event could be a contributing factor to what she was now going through.

EFT helps to lower cortisol levels in the body and significantly decrease stress. Allowing true healing to take place.

EFT to the Rescue

We decided to try some EFT tapping to start working on this traumatic memory that was affecting Fran’s health and wellness so much.

There were definitely a few sessions we went through to clear this. So it was not a one-hit wonder (and most things aren’t). But we worked through it with a variety of Emotional Freedom Techniques. The main one we focused on was Tell The Story. A technique used in EFT to break apart and re-frame each emotional detail of the stressful or traumatic stories that we carry around in our bodies.

This worked like a charm because by the end of the fourth session, Fran got this big smile on her face and started laughing. Yes, actually laughing out loud at the trauma of being robbed at gunpoint.

The Power of the Process

Let me back up a little…

As we were tapping on each emotional intensity that came up while Fran was telling her story of being burglarized at gunpoint, something began to switch for her. I could literally see this change in her body language and facial expression. She told me that during one of the last tapping rounds, her future self appeared and assured her that she would be okay. She told herself to give the robber anything they wanted because she would make it through this. That was quite powerful for Fran. In fact, it was a whole paradigm shift for her.

You see, her current belief that “bad stuff always happens to me” was breaking apart right before our very eyes. What went from the burglary itself – proving bad stuff always happens, to the witness and police wholeheartedly believing “bad stuff really does happen to me” to this realization that “I don’t feel like I have to do that anymore.”

We did another round of tapping around, breaking this pattern Fran had been holding on to for so long.

Emotional Freedom Anyone?

Before we even finished that final round, though, Fran began to actually crack up. When we were through that section, I asked her about the laughing. She said that all she could think about the event now was that the situation in and of itself was just a simple business transaction. “Thanks for doing business… my wallet for a life-altering paradigm shift, thank you very much”.

By the end of Fran’s final 90-minute session, we had gone through the whole scenario again, scene by scene, from the beginning to the end. Fran reported no fear and no charge as she relived this intense series of events that had previously caused so much pain and stress in her life. She said she now felt only gratitude and appreciation for the release that it had created for her.

The Lowdown on EFT

True Emotional freedom at its very best. This body-regulated self-care practice that merges cognitive behavioral therapy (consciously acknowledging an uncomfortable moment) with the gentle tapping of specific acupressure points on the face and body simultaneously.

This miraculous combination has been shown to drastically decrease the anxiety, emotional trauma, and stress that might have run the show, at one point or another.

EFT tapping is a science-backed relaxation technique supporting anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more…This incredible modality has been validated in more than 20 randomized clinical trials with over 100 studies published in peer-reviewed psychology and medical journals.

How it Works

When you are reacting to a perceived danger, your body automatically shifts into the sympathetic nervous system, or fight or flight mode, as we know it. This eventually shuts down your body’s response to anything but getting away from that perceived danger. But, instead of your amygdala taking over, EFT helps you intervene with those negative thoughts of worry, fear, or anxiety. The exact musings that trigger the part of your brain responsible for releasing stress hormones into your body and bloodstream.

This can be extremely beneficial for someone suffering from chronic illness or symptoms that interfere with daily life.

Ultimately, the process of tapping sends a calming electrochemical message to your brain’s amygdala, allowing it to finally relax.

Healing Outcomes

We see EFT tapping consistently reduce physical symptoms and pain levels. As well as Insomnia,
symptoms of chronic illness, and even digestive distress. This helps regulate your nervous system and puts you safely back into parasympathetic mode, or rest and digest. The truth is that stress is quite hard on the immune system. Sometimes, it can even make you more susceptible to infection and other health imbalances. That is why tapping on the beginning and ending points of your body’s meridian system is just so darn effective.

Simply put, EFT helps you feel better inside and out. You’ll find stress doesn’t feel quite as intense, and your overall function and health may even be improved.

Each one of us has trauma and stuff we need to let go of. Thoughts that could be lingering in our tissues and cells for way too long. These memories and events from way back are exactly what could be affecting our lives and happiness, right now. Because, when you are in the thick of it, you may not even realize how impactful these circumstances can be… until you start to heal them.

Cece is a Clinical EFT Certified Practitioner. You can learn more about the EFT services she offers at https://www.cecejames.com/eft/

Photo by SHVETS production