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Handling Emotional Triggers With EFT

by Gene Monterastelli

Pat Carrington's Introduction

In this important 3 Part Series, Gene Monterastelli shows us how he uses EFT to handle the emotional triggers that life presents us with daily. In today’s article he tells us how to use EFT for familiar triggers to overcome our resistance at handling them. Gene is an EFT practitioner in Baltimore, MD, and author of numerous articles on EFT, appearing on his web site http://eftQandA.com. He can be e-mailed at gene@monterastelli.com.

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In part 1 of this series we looked at what emotional triggers are and what we can do after one of these triggers has been set off. In part 2 we are going to talk about the emotional triggers we already know we have and how to forestall them.

You know what your triggers are. Do something about them!

Our emotional triggers are not a secret. We know them. Our friends know them. Our family knows them. The problem is, it isn't much fun to think about the people, places and experiences that have sent us into a state of anger, frustration, sadness, or depression. Before we begin, it is good to deal with the resistance we might have to making change and having to deal with these unpleasant thoughts.

This can simply be done by tapping (adding the following Choices phrases suggested by Pat Carrington)...

Even though I don't know if I really want to face these emotional triggers, I choose to give this a good try.

Even though I have some resistance to thinking about the people, places and things that set me off, I choose to find it pleasant and relieving to do so.

Then use a different phrase at each tapping point, as follows:

Inner Eyebrow: Because if I think of them now I am going to bring up the feelings that come with these triggers.

Outer Eye: I don't really want to go there.

Under Eye: I also know that one reason I have these triggers is because some part of myself thinks they are protecting me and on some level keeping me SAFE. .

Under Nose: But I know that even though this is true for part of me, it is not true for all of me and it is in my best interest to take the sting out of these triggers.

Under Mouth: I give myself permission for the next few minutes to work on these triggers.

Collar Bone: Even though it looks like I’m stepping into an emotional mine-field, I know this is good for me.

Under Arm: I know by doing this work now I am going to respond better in the future.

Top of Head: And if any strong emotions come up during this time I know I have the very powerful tool of EFT to deal with these emotions.

Continuing tapping on Top of Head: By taking the time to do this work, I am demonstrating to myself that it is important that I take time to care for myself.

Once you are clear of any resistance to do this work, you can now take on your emotional triggers. Here is a simple exercise I recommend to my clients to help them find their triggers.

Sit in a quiet comfortable place where you can do your EFT work undisturbed. Make sure you have something to write with (pen or pencil) and some paper. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Ask yourself these questions:

	What are my emotional triggers?
	What topics of conversation set me off?
	Is there something, every time I see it, that causes an unpleasant emotional reaction in me?
	Who are the people who set me off?
	Where am I (in what location) most often when my triggers are set off?
	Who are the people I would like to avoid?
	If I could live life over again, what one person or experience would I avoid?

When you get to a point where no more triggers are coming up, ask yourself,

What triggers am I afraid to bring to mind?

After doing this, you will have a great list of emotional triggers to do work on!

You don't have to work on all the triggers in one sitting. You might decide to work on only one or two during a single EFT session. With this list you have a great starting point. Even if it takes a few weeks to work your way through your list, you are going to be making progress. The rate that you work on them is not important, the fact that you are working on them and making progress is.

Also, come back to each item on your list again and again. Just because you have cleared the emotional charge today, doesn't mean that it’s gone forever. The work you’ve done so far might be for only one aspect of the trigger. It is important that you return to see what comes up in the future.

In part 3 of this series we will explore how you can look into the future to see what situations are going to contain emotional triggers for you. By doing this you can easily take the sting out of the triggers that are coming up before you even get there.