"The Hidden Causes of Illness: Releasing Blocked Emotion"

With increased awareness of the connection between the mind and body, comes greater recognition of the impact that buried emotions and emotional trauma may have to our overall health and wellbeing.  I recently spoke with Ruth Stern, a licensed mental health counselor and Advanced EFT Practitioner, to discuss the impact of stress and emotional upset, how it can result in illness, and alternative ways to release these destructive patterns. 

Q: Do you believe there is a connection between our emotions and physical health?

Ruth:  Absolutely. Our bodies were not meant to hold on to and suppress intense emotion,  so when we have unresolved feelings or negative experiences  this can create blockages in the body’s energy system (chakras), resulting in a weakened  immune system, and can eventually manifest  symptoms such as pain, or other physical symptoms,  as well as mood disorders, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Q:  Is it possible for people to carry around this kind of blocked and stored emotion without knowing it?

Ruth:  It is quite possible as most unresolved emotional issues stem from childhood and are often deeply buried.  Actually, Harville Hendrix, founder of Imago Couples Therapy believes that almost all unresolved emotional issues are caused from some circumstance or trauma that occurred in childhood.  Children do not have the skills and ability to process this kind of emotion, and will often blame themselves for whatever has occurred, whether or not they are at fault.  They may convert these feelings into beliefs that tell them they are bad, or not worthy, or make them feel as though “there’s something wrong with me.”  As a coping mechanism the emotion becomes buried, though the limiting belief may remain.

The unconscious mind holds on to everything.  Then when events occur in our adult life, these childhood memories/emotional blocks can be triggered, and manifest as physical or emotional illness.

Q: What techniques do you use to uncover and resolve emotional blocks such as you’ve described?

Ruth:  In addition to exploring a patient’s childhood memories and current life circumstances, I incorporate two techniques for releasing these energy blocks: EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing ).  Both are effective at healing trauma that has caused emotional and cognitive damage to the system.

Q: Tell me about EFT and EMDR.  You know I have had personal success in working using EFT in the work I have done with you, and would like HWH readers to understand these techniques from a professional’s perspective.

Ruth:  The best way to describe EFT is as an emotional form of acupuncture.  According to ancient Chinese medicine there are 12 meridians that move throughout the body that brings energy to all the organs in the body. In acupuncture needles are used to unblock the energy and restore health. In EFT instead of using needles, you stimulate certain energy/meridian points on your body by tapping on them with your fingertips while you tune into your particular issue. By restoring the balance of the energy system, we are also neutralizing and reducing negative emotions.

You can use EFT on everything including pain, cravings, weight loss, insomnia and other sleep issues, as well as any emotional or physical symptom.  It aids in curing underlying anxiety, worry, and fear.  The great thing about EFT is that it is something very easy to learn to use to effectively on a daily basis.

Like EFT, EMDR is a very rapid method of healing from PTSD and other negative events from childhood. It is a psychotherapeutic approach created by Dr. Francine Shapiro using bilateral stimulation (right/left eye movement or tactile stimulation) that helps release the emotional experience that is trapped in the nervous system.

You can find more detailed information about both techniques on my website, www.TapToTransform.com. 

Q:  I know you recently created a DVD using EFT for overcoming insomnia…does it really work?

Ruth:  I have personally dealt with insomnia, so I know how challenging this can be.  Four Steps to Blissful Sleep provides effective techniques for releasing anger, fear, worry, sadness, anxiety – all of which can interfere with our ability to fall asleep and /or stay asleep.  It also includes meditations that not only help with sleep, but to reduce stress and be more at peace.

Q:  Any recommendations for someone interested in learning more about EFT?

Ruth:  I would suggest they go to the official EFT website, www.EmoFree.com.  This technique was developed by Gary Craig, who makes available a great deal of very helpful information on the website.  He also has DVD’s available for sale should anyone want to learn the technique on their own.  There is also a listing of certified practitioners.  Actually Gary recently made the criteria for being a certified practitioner more stingent, and I am currently in the process of preparing for that very intense testing process.

The advantage of working with a practitioner is that the client will benefit from having a trained and experienced facilitator to help delve into past experiences and create effective tapping routines to successfully release blocked emotions and long held traumas.  And it is important to note that people who are unable to meet in person, can still take advantage of working with a practitioner as it is a process that is equally effective communicating via telephone. 

Learn more about EFT.

About Ruth Stern:
Ruth has been practicing for over 26 years.  She is a licensed mental Health Therapist, advanced EFT practitioner and EMDR certified clinician.  Ruth conducts workshops that focus on Weight Loss, Chronic Pain, Stress & Anxiety, and Creating Success & Abundance. For more information visit her website, www.TapToTransform.com, or call Ruth at 407-671-9555.

If you are interested in discovering more about EFT and how it may help you to heal, Ruth is offering all Heal With Hope visitors a Free 15 minute phone consultation.

A personal note: I was a skeptic at first, but working with Ruth and learning EFT has helped me to release hiddden emotional blocks, and proved enormously beneficial to my personal healing. ~ Andrea Chervenak