EFT for ADHD, Anger and Anxiety

What is ADD/ADHD?

EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique. As an EFT Therapist, clients often ask me: what is ADD/ADHD and how much do we really know about it?

In my experience, ADD/ADHD is a label given by the medical profession for symptoms and behaviours they simply cannot fathom. Any number of different factors could be the cause: genes play a role, environmental factors are a possibility, then there’s brain injuries, nutrition and food additives that could also be to blame.

I have worked with children who have regimented diets (excluding all additives). I have worked with children who come from a calm and peaceful environment. I have worked with children who have loving parents and understanding, helpful teachers.

These kids were diagnosed with ADD/ADHD because they:-

• were easily distracted
• missed details
• forgot things
• did not listen when spoken to

But I think the medical professionals are missing a trick…

Mini Traumas

It’s easy to forget that young children often experience all sorts of ‘mini traumas’ – during early childhood (remember the playground?), during the rollercoaster of childbirth, and even whilst still in the womb.

I believe the culmination of intense experiences early on, (however trivial they may appear to an adult), will manifest as ADD/ADHD-type symptoms. For example, hyperactivity is nervous energy – in my opinion, it masks fear. It is a child’s response to blocking bad "feelings", a way to continuously distract his or herself from the initial upset. I think this part of ADD/ADHD is completely overlooked by the medical profession.

Over-reaction, whereby children protest too much at a seemingly minor event, excessively crying and throwing major tantrums, is another ADD/ADHD symptom. Again it’s a good example of how the medics have missed something. In my view, as before, it’s simply a child’s way of avoiding a bad feeling. Something in the past has made them uncomfortable and the memory has stuck.

How EFT Can Help

The great thing about using EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is that a parent (or carer) can tackle the root cause even if the child cannot verbalise what it is. Using EFT at each bedtime, over just a few weeks, can bring about rapid effective change. So while you may never know what was initially upset your little one, you can be sure to treat it all the same. And that is the beauty of using a technique like EFT.

A Case Study

Here’s an example, of what a child might do during an EFT session with me. The tapping points are listed 1-6 below and during the tapping the affirmations are said.

The example is based on a 6 year-old boy who was prone to aggressive outbursts at home. During our session, it became apparent that his anger was based on fear. He described feeling powerless and scared due to daily bullying in the school playground. (The school later confirmed this, although they had never mentioned it to the parents before.)

Tapping points:-

1. Eye Winker – Both Eyebrow points
2. Tummy Tinker – Under the eye
3. Nose dropper – Under the nose
4. Mouth Eater – Under the mouth
5. Chin Chopper – Under the chin
6. Tickle point – Collarbone points

Whilst tapping, say these affirmations:-

"Even though I try really hard to not think about that boy/ boys name at school , I still do, and I am a great kid…

even though the more I try to NOT think about that boy, the more I see him, I am a great kid…"

Further affirmations to be said by the child whilst tapping on all points:-

I am angry,
I like being angry,
I am strong when I am angry
I am powerful when I am angry
I don’t want to be angry
I get scared when I’m not angry
I get angry when I am angry
I get angry when I’m scared
Anger is good
Anger is bad