Can anybody think of anything else to try / help me spot something I may have missed regarding a pain issue.

I am helping somebody who has had migraines and head pain for about 15 years.  To try and combat this he has taken prescribed medication but it does not really do much for him.  We are using EFT to get the migraines and head pain to stop so he is not only pain free but medication free.  Naturally I have advised any reduction or stopping of the medication should only be done after consulting his doctor.

We had our first session last Saturday.  To save time and maybe having to go back later I first checked there was no writing’s on the wall or things getting in the way of EFT working.  Things like I don’t deserve, it’s not safe, who will I be without it, any reason why having it is a good thing for example as an excuse to get out of things they don’t enjoy doing etc.   There was nothing there.

We then looked at what was happening around the time the migraines and head pain started.   The only thing he could think of was worry about possibly losing his job which turned out that he had no need to worry after all.  We tapped around that and a couple of associated issues.

At the time of doing the first session he had no head pain or migraine to work on.  So we worked on any current worries, anxiety, stress etc.  We then worked on the pain and migraine problems in itself.  We also tapped in some positives about the body having the ability to heal itself, choosing and allowing the healing to be done etc.  We then finished the session and I asked him to let me know how things go on.

He  got in touch and told me that since the first session he had not had a migraine but had had in his words constant residual head pain.   The head pain has also been going on and off (mostly on) for about 15 years.  

We arranged another session and again checked for any current worries, anxiety, stress etc.   Then we tried working on the head pain.  As he said the head pain moves to different areas of his head I first tried using his words and tapped “Even though I have this constant residual moving head pain I deeply etc” it did nothing at all.  So we then tried being more specific and describing the pain more precisely and being more precise in where the pain was located in his head.  Again this done nothing to ease the pain. I asked him if he could put an emotion on the pain or if there was an emotion behind the pain what would it be.  He could not think of anything.  I asked how he felt about having this pain all the time.  He told me he felt frustrated and it was 8.  We tapped it down to 0.  Then he told me gets upset when he gets a migraine because his wife gets in distress about him having the migraine.   We tapped that one away also.  As the pain had still not budged a bit we went back and had another go.  Nothing we tried worked. No amount of re-wording or being more precise about the pain helped.     

Has anybody ever came across a pain that appears nothing will make it go away?  This is the first time I have an issue with getting the pain to stop

Hello,

How are you feeling about the situation? Before working with him again, tap on the feelings that you are having. I can imagine feeling frustrated and maybe even angry or disappointed. Even though I feel like I have failed... So, clear yourself, and ask yourself after you are cleared what is the missing piece.

A couple of things that might be helpful in working with your client:

• Even though there is a part of me that doesn't know how to live without this pain
• Even though I think that EFT won't work on my migraines
  
• Even though my migraines have been getting the best of me
• Even though there is a part of me that I can't trust--I can't even trust my own body
  
• Even though we can't get down to what is causing my migraines--I forgive myself for sabotaging myself
• Even though it may seem that EFT is working, I am open to it working--no, I'm not; yes, I am; no, there is a deep part of me that doesn't think I can live without my migraines; but there is another part of me that so wants to let them go; there is a part that isn't ready to let it go; and I want to; but I don't know how; next time I feel anxiety or a symptom of the headache coming on I INHALE and RELAX; I go to my CENTER and know that I am OK;
  
• After tapping and getting relaxed have the client close his eyes and ask his head ache pain what is it that it is trying to tell him--then be quiet and wait until he says something--if he says he doesn't know--ask him to make it up and wait for an answer
  

These are a few ideas that come to me right now. I hope that there is something here that might be helpful. Let me know what happens...

Gratefully yours, 

 JoAnn

Thank you

Hi,

Migraines can be really tough.... I cleared my own, and I go into detail as to what was involved in a previous posting.  Check out the posting in our PAIN FORUM on 9/13 under the heading of "headache."  (I think the link below will take you to the posting if you can't locate it.)

http://eftcommunity.emofree.com/forums/t/423.aspx

Best wishes!! 

Hello, and yes I have!

I am currently dealing with relentless toothaches and pain so severe that it's radiating down my neck, up into my ear and head and even way down into my chest!  I've been trying EFT (even though I'm just a student of EFT) and it's having little to no effect.  Sometimes, it has relieved some of the pain, but it always comes back.  My teeth are crumbling and falling out ... and this had never happened to me before this year.  It's so bizarre -- to say the least -- not to mention the severity of the pain. I've got other health issues as well.  It seems that my body is just breaking down now -- all at once.  I'm 65, but have never been one to abuse myself.  I'm a tiny lassie (not overweight), a vegetarian, non-smoker -- you get my drift -- so this is rather out-of-the-blue.

I got an appointment to see a dentist and, even with an emergency situation, I've got to wait a week before I'll see him and I am terrified of the very thought of seeing a dentist.  I do not believe in doctors and drugs, so this is going to be strange for me ... and very traumatic!

I'm trying EFT in different variations and am gob-smacked by this whole thing with my teeth.  I am so traumatised by it ... and am also at a loss as to what to do.  I know that EFT works, but why it's not helping this has got me baffled.

I appreciate your input.  Thank you kindly.

Juliet 

Hello Juliet,

I am glad that you aren't giving up on EFT. You have come to the right place. However, the reason that EFT hasn't worked for you is haven't got to the big issues yet. It is important to get to what is under  what you are dealing with. I see several issues:

• Have you looked at your feelings about your body crumbling and falling out? How do you feel about what is going on with your body? Do you feel betrayed? Pissed-off?

• How do you feel about the severity of the pain?

• Another issue is your terror about going to the dentist.

If you don't know how to create set-up phrases, let me know and I give you some ideas.

According to Louise Hay in You Can Heal Your Life, teeth represent decisions. Problems with the teeth can be “Longstanding indecisiveness. Inability to break ideas for analysis and decisions.”

Let me know if any of this helps or rings true for you.

Gratefully yours,

JoAnn

SkyWatcher:

• Another issue is your terror about going to the dentist.

I totally agree.  Pain is there for a reason.  Working with pain in groups, I noticed a remarkable thing about EFT.  Before I go into that, let me explain a bit more about pain.

There is chronic pain and acute pain. 

• Acute pain is pain that has come on fairly recently.  It takes a particular pathway in our bodies and serves as a warning signal that we have to do something about it. It will not go away unless we do something about its cause.
  
• When we have done everything we can to help heal the cause of this pain, or in cases where we simply cannot do any more, then the pain takes a different pathway.  The body can only deal with so much at any time, and if we can't do any more about the pain, the body adjusts to its new and compromised state and just gets on with life.  That is, unless we have negative emotions in the way.  Energetically speaking, negative emotions tend to get stuck in any part of our body which is weak.  This is where EFT can help easily.

Now, the really interesting twist is this.  If you have acute pain, and for instance, you have made an appointment to deal with the cause, then EFT is likely to work, as long as you really 100% intend to attend your appointment.  The body knows your danger levels and will warn you accordingly, when the negative emotions have been cleared.  Tooth ache could indicate an infection that has been implicated in heart disease, for example, so it is very important to attend to it.

I could go on and on about this fascinating subject, but my guess is that you just want to be free from the pain.  So maybe you can make an appointment and tap for all issues concerned (pain, fear of dentist, expense of dental treatment, etc).

I appreciate the input from both of you lassies! 

The pain is acute and more recent (this year).  As I stated before, I've not had this type of problem before ... with teeth crumbling and all that.  It probably is some kind of deep infection.  I also don't use commercial toothpaste, as I use essential oils of peppermint, spearmint and almond oil to brush my teeth.  I'm using clove oil to help numb the pain in the carrier of olive oil  

May I ask: who isn't frightened of dentists?  Anything a dentist does is nothing short of traumatic ... and I'm a very sensitive individual, so, yes, I'm most nervous, indeed ... but I will follow through with my appointment, because I am in earnest trying to resolve this issue, absolutely.  But the pain was there before any 'fear' set in regarding dentists or anything.

I've resigned to the fact that my body is getting 'old' and that it is simply breaking down now.  I've always been sickly and frail; yet I've defied death by being sent back from several near-death (or more accurately, death experiences) and I'm a real survivor. I'm playful and youthful, in spite of my age, and I always have a sense of awe and wonder. 

I'm not sure what you mean by 'betrayed' and I also don't understand the Louise Hay statement ... but I do not resonate with LH anyway. I will say that I don't like my body (or even being on this plane) and I've never liked or identified with my body ... ever!  I'm just committed to being a good sport and doing the best I can whilst I'm on this plane.  And I do try to take care of myself the best I can do.  I don't have $£, so it's hard in that context.

Pissed off?  I'm definitely very upset by the prevailing greed in America--especially with their medical system being a 'privilege' for the few, rather than a right.  Back in England, I never had to worry about receiving the medical care that I needed; although I know that it's become more like America in recent years and that's such a shame.  So, yes, I'm definitely 'pissed off' about that! :)

I'm not one to lack decision-making capabilities.  I'm not a 'wishy-washy' type of disposition; although, in certain instances, I will endeavour to pray or meditate for the right decision or direction to take, but once it becomes clear, I go for it. 

Today, I was without pain for most of the day, but now it's setting in again.  I'm very pleased to receive your suggestions for starter phrases, and anything else you'd like to share/suggest, etc.  I'm still a 'novice' of EFT, but I am applying it in various ways -- researching different approaches from various practitioners/masters -- and also applying Reiki, as I am certified in that.  I play my piano for healing and comfort as well.

One thing I will say that's really impacting me a lot right now is the fact that I feel so very alone.  And even though I'm very much a loner by nature, I've got no friends here and I would have to admit that I feel vulnerable.

I think/hope that I've answered your queries, Lassies, and I deeply appreciate your help.

Thank you! :) 

Dear One,

My suggestion to tap about the terror of going to the dentist was to make it easier to go to the dentist. I understand that the pain came before the fear of going to the dentist. And yes, I suppose that just about everyone is afraid of going to the dentist. You may want to use EFT if you are feeling terror before you go to the dentist, and even while you are sitting in the dentist's chair.

I offered the idea from Louise Hay as a possibility, and I see that you don't resonate with her ideas.

Here are some ideas for set-up phrases, if any of them resonate with you, you may choose to use them. If you are put-off by any of them, you may want to look at that, too. Even though:

• I feel _________ that my body is getting old and it is simply breaking down and I deeply and completely love and accept myself including my body

• I feel _________ because I've always been sickly and frail, and yet I have been a survivor...

• I feel _________because this pain is almost more than I can bear...

• I don't like my body, and I haven't identified with my body, and I feel ________ that my body is falling apart...

• I feel angry that the medical system is for the privileged few...

• I feel lonely, vulnerable and without friends...

If any of these ideas stand out for you, please use them in a way that works for you. The way that I like to work is to get to the deep feelings that are under a condition, and also to deal with traumatic events that may have lead up to the condition. Are there any traumatic events that have occurred in your life that you may have stuffed feelings at that time? If there are, consider examining those events and the feelings associated with them.

I hope that you find something of value here.

Gratefully yours,

JoAnn

Greetings,

You are welcome.

The blanks are for what you are feeling. For example,

Even though I feel sad (or another feeling) that my body is getting old...

So, you want to get in touch with the feelings that are the strongest, and tap those down to a zero. Also, pay attention to any gifts your intuition gives you in terms of insights or memories from the past, and tap on those. If there is anyone or anything that needs to be forgiven--include that in your set-up phrase.

Please let me know how things go.

Gratefully yours,

JoAnn