Trauma Informed EFT Tapping for Hypochondria Anxiety

Recent news reports have highlighted the relationship between the debilitating condition of hypochondria as an illness anxiety disorder and its correlation with trauma, especially childhood trauma. The life altering pattern of heightened sensitivity, worry and fear associated with minor symptoms may well be connected to a variety of traumatic experiences. Such experiences can embed deep seated beliefs that a person’s body is fragile and constantly at risk of serious illness or death. These experiences can create hypervigilant behaviors around one’s body that are similar to PTSD and hence is sometimes referred to as medical PTSD. Some of the examples discussed include being raised in an overprotective environment, traumatic medical experiences, witnessing a family member’s chronic illness, the trauma of neglect and more can set the stage for this. EFT when safely applied through a trauma informed lens may help to release the limiting beliefs and emotional responses for someone suffering from this experience.