Release Emotional Trauma with Tap Cross Therapy

I know people have heard about Tap Cross Therapy, and I get asked about it all the time, especially when people hear about the transformative results that come from this quick and easy bit of therapeutic science.

So, without further ado, I will tell you how it’s done, briefly. Do not be afraid to try this. There is not much to it, but it is extremely powerful in removing the emotional component from any highly charged thought/statement.

First, I establish a safe and secure environment for my client. I’ve already cleansed the room and prepared my self to be transparent through the process. After I have their agreement that the space is safe, secure, and sacred for this procedure, I have them write their most emotionally charged thought on a piece of paper. This is a thought, that when they think of it, it takes them straight to a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 represents the most upset, they could be.

I take a look at what they’ve written, and if I think they could do better, I encourage them to rewrite it in a way that represents all of the emotion they feel, not using politically correct jargon and including cuss words, if they feel it would be a more accurate representation.

When you have a nice, vile representation, which when read clocks in at a solid 10, you can continue.

I sit across from my client, face to face, with our faces at least two feet apart, and show them what we are going to do, as I show them. “This is a two-part process. We will to the head first, because that’s where the thought originates and triggers are fired. Then we will do the body, because that’s where the physical manifestation of the pain or upset resides.” As I demonstrate the tapping, I say, “First, we tap on the forehead at the area of where the third eye would be, as you read your statement with as much emotion as you can muster.

“Then, you will read it again as we tap the chin. Then the outside of the eye, then the outside edge of the other eye.

“After we’ve read and tapped those locations, we’re ready to move on to the body.

“Now, you may have noticed that this sequence is similar to the sign of the cross.” And I reassure them that any similarity is simply coincidental as these are actually therapeutic meridian points, such as those used in acupuncture, and there is no religious significance to the procedure.

“Repeating the same statement, we start at the third eye location again, tapping and reading the statement. Then do the same at the area of the belly or solar plexus. Then each opposing shoulder.

I continue, “Then I will have you repeat some closing affirmations which will conclude the process, and we will check for results.”

Then I ask them if they are ready? And have them take a deep cleansing breath. I have them look me in the eye, eye to eye, start tapping on the forehead, and have them shout their statement.

I keep moving through the process until we have finished tapping the outside of the second eye, then ask if they feel like they are ready to move onto the body? If they are, we continue. Then we do the body. When you’re moving to the shoulders, if there’s any Catholic background working away at them, they may hesitate. Just keep on tapping and repeating their phrase. (Note: I also tap the shoulders in reverse, as the client will mirror me, so they are tapping from shoulder to shoulder in the right direction, but this is not necessary.)

After we’ve completed a round of both the head and the body, I follow up with having them place their hand on their heart and repeat after me, “I totally love and forgive myself for having held onto this pain” (I totally love and forgive myself for having held onto this pain) “I now release these emotions to the universe” (I now release these emotions to the universe) “And I let them go.” (And I let them go) “I am loved” (I am loved) “I am love.” (I am love)

Then I announce that we are complete.

Now, I have them read the statement again, then measure their level of discomfort when it is read. You and your client will be shocked that they are now at a two or three on the scale of 1 to 10.

If not, you will notice some reduction, and another round or two may be necessary.

With the emotional context of the subject removed, your client will now be able to approach processing the situation or circumstance rationally, unimpeded by emotional overload.

Please use Tap Cross Therapy (TCT) whenever needed. You will find it works every time, with immediately measurable results.

Once your clients know how to do this, they can do it anywhere, any time they are feeling emotional overwhelm. This is a huge advantage for clients suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well as other emotionally debilitating disorders.

My gift to you.

david m masters tap cross therapy tct

Overwhelmed When Memories Come Rushing Back

Life is overwhelming and who of us does not have serious PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from negative experiences we’ve suffered throughout life? And you are overwhelmed when memories come rucking back potentially crippling your otherwise normal day to day life.

You’re doing the best you can, going about your business of just getting by and trying to responsible and “normal,” when all of a sudden you are triggered and, BAM! Your world is suddenly rocked, and you find yourself emotionally disempowered as you’re transported through space and time to the moment when the crisis or trauma occurred.

PTSD is a spectrum which includes everything from watching your best friend get blown to pieces in Afghanistan to being punished for something you didn’t do as an innocent two-year-old and potentially anything in between.

You do your best to push those events out of your mind, bury them down somewhere in the dark recesses of your soul, and no matter how diligent you are, you can be instantly triggered without warning, and there you are again. You may have all the emotional overwhelm, either accompanied by an outburst or not, and not even be cognizant of the original source of the trauma.

You may even wonder if your sanity, or ability to cope, is at risk of being lost forever.
Not to worry, you’re not losing your mind or going crazy. Unfortunately, you’re starting to realize that you’re not that much unlike the rest of us. We’re all doing the best to get through life the best we can without making too much of a scene, and periodically, we all stumble and fall, for none of us is perfect, no matter how hard we try to project the image of perfection to those who are watching us.

Those people that you think have it all together? Believe me, they, too, are just doing the best they can. It’s just that some of us are better at it than others. And the ones who appear to be better at it, have ways to deal with being utterly overwhelmed when memories come rucking back in their life.

If you knew a little more about them, you might find out that these people who seem to have it so together are practicing methods of self-care which enable them to deal with these issues a little better when they come up, such as seeing a coach, counselor, or consultant who specializes in disseminating the skills to deal with such past trauma.

It takes a certain skill set to deal with traumatizing events from the past including effectively processing grief from the death of a loved one, the loss of a deep romantic love, a friend, companion, pet, or even a job that was an important part of your life.

These negative life events leave wounds and scars which can haunt you throughout life, if not dealt with in a positive manner.

There is no doubt that certain things happen in life that causes you to be triggered as the flood of emotions suck you into a whirlpool of helplessness and despair. So be attentive. Become the detective charged with identifying all your triggers, so that next time, you can be better prepared and have a diffusing action plan in place for the next time you’re in a situation when you start to see events line up which could potentially move you into such a state (of being triggered).

These coping skills can help you take control of your life in a safe, sane, positive, and productive manner.

Triggers instantly transport you back in time throwing you into a state of fight or flight in an order to preserve and sustain your life, even though your life may not really be at risk in the present moment. You may tend to isolate yourself from others, retreat and stop communicating, strike out in irrational rage, or turn and run. As you may have noticed, nothing good comes from running away from anything that does not impose a violent threat to your very existence either.

Therapy, getting your frustrations up and out, discovering the root causes of your angst, and dealing with them, is the best way we know of to put you back in the driver’s seat of your life, besides an instantaneous healing miracle (which has been known to happen). By eliminating all those pent up fears, frustrations, and anger which has accumulated, creating emotional wounds and scars, there is hope of a bright future for you, filled with peace, fulfillment, happiness, and joy.

Many alternative healing modalities exist and are available to you, if you only look for them, and are open to the other possibilities beyond the limited resources which available to you via traditional psychology or psychotherapy. Feel free to examine what ancient or non-traditional therapeutic models may be available and continue to use those which resonate and are effective for you and your circumstance.

If you are not spiritually-inclined, don’t be afraid to seek out more spiritually-sensitive treatment models when you feel like you are becoming overwhelmed when memories come rucking back. You might be surprised at how many spiritual methods require no religious preference or belief at all. While religion may profess a set of prerequisites to comply with prior to treatment, God does not.

Panic Stricken

If you’re unfortunate enough to find yourself in an uncontrollable state of panic, you can easily slip out of cognitive control. Anything could happen when you’re panic-stricken.

If you’ve been triggered and fallen into a state of panic, blood pressure rises, heartbeats drastically, you get shot up with heavy doses of adrenaline, you feel that your life is at stake and you lose your ability to reason effectively as you lose yourself to the overwhelming panic.

Anything you do or say in such a state, you should not be held liable for, but unfortunately, often you are. Losing yourself to panic can make you feel like your losing your mind, and it can look that way to others witnessing the event, the more expressive you are as a person. Your otherwise enviable enthusiasm and passion can make you appear to be a raving lunatic.

People who have fallen victim to the panic-stricken state may find themselves in hospitals, jails, mental wards, prisons, or graveyards. No need to worry about going crazy because you’re not. You just need to find ways to get a handle on your panic before you get there.

First, you need to know what the early warning signs are indicating you’ve been triggered and, on your way, to having a panic attack. It’s different for every person, but some common signs you’re panic-stricken could include racing or heavy heartbeat, perspiration, shortness of breath, trembling and/or shaking.

When you start to sense these signs you want to take steps to interrupt the pattern of panic before it escalates to the point of losing your ability to be mindful. As your panic increases, you could experience other symptoms including getting tingling sensations in your extremities, dizzy, nausea.

Un-interrupted, you could find yourself in a full-on panic episode, and who wouldn’t, if you had chest pain, felt like you were having a heart attack, and that you may very well die from the emergent sense of urgency. That’s when cognition shuts down, and you’ve lost yourself to panic.

Anything that happens after that will likely be a blur, or you may experience a black-out, unable to recall the events clearly, or at all, when panic-stricken.

Analyze your panic attacks and get to know which physiological indicators show up first when you are triggered and at risk of becoming panic-stricken. Instead of letting yourself be overwhelmed by the fear associated with the symptoms, find a way to calm down your nerves.

Take slow, deep breaths and find ways to relax in the moment, center yourself, close your eyes and focus on things you love, are hugely grateful for, make you feel loved, or connect to yourself on a soulular level. Surround yourself by a bubble filled with loving-kindness. Give yourself over to a high love state, instead of panic, and you’ve won this battle.

You can rest assured that panic is not eternal, as all forms of panic resolve themselves and subside unless you have been unfortunate to have lost your life in the midst of panic. You might feel as though you might die from panic, but the fact remains, if you are reading these words, you haven’t yet.

There is huge hope for you to change the way you experience panic if you have the wherewithal to do something different, the next time you feel yourself heading in that direction.