Thought Field Therapy (TFT) for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Anxiety

A Meta-Analysis of Randomized and Non-Randomized Trials of Thought Field Therapy (TFT) for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Anxiety

Authors, Jenny Edwards, PhD; Fielding Graduate University, and, Michelle Vanchu-Orosco, PhD; Alliance to End Homelessness in the Capital Region, have been accepted to present for the Research Symposium on Thursday, May 30 at the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) annual conference held at The Wigwam Resort, Litchfield, AZ (Phoenix).

Click here to download the abstract>>

New TFT RCT Trial Published

Long-time TFT trainer and VT practitioner, Ayame Morikawa, PhD, just announced the publication of their Randomized Control Trial in Explore. Dr. Morikawa has been the leader in TFT in Japan, founding and running the Japanese Association for Thought Field Therapy (JATFT). She has been instrumental in having TFT recognized in medical centers, Universities, Corporations and humanitarian relief.

We are grateful for her and the other author’s diligence and hard work on this publication.

The Efficacy of Thought Field Therapy and its Impact on Heart Rate Variability in Student Counseling: A Randomized Controlled Trial

https://www.sciencedirect.com/…/pii/S1550830721001907

Highlights
• Thought Field Therapy (TFT) reduced college students’ negative emotions.
• A 36-minute session significantly improved heart rate variability.
• TFT could improve psychological issues for students who need counseling.

Do you Treat PTSD? If So, Read This Information

Long-time TFT practitioner, Terri Perry, share the following information.  She said it was originally posted on www.geoengineeringwatch.org by Susan V. Ferguson. \

Terri saw the post and thought immediately of TFT people being asked to treat soldiers who may be affected by the drug rather than full-blown PTSD. She also felt it might be worth checking it as a toxin. She said that particular website is very informative for all current events too.

Susan Ferguson says:

July 31, 2021 at 3:12 pm

Veteran Exposes Dangerous Drug Forced on Military
RAIR Foundation /July 31, 2021

Mefloquine Versus Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Sold under the brand name, Lariam, mefloquine was intended to treat and be a prophylaxis for Malaria, although it was given to soldiers who were not stationed in areas known to be Malaria-infected, according to Beardwood. The drug is “known to cause serious and potentially lasting neuropsychiatric adverse reactions,” according to a 2017 study posted at Pharmacology Research & Perspectives.

Despite the drug not being approved, Health Canada took no steps to ensure the defense department was following “strict protocols on how to individually prescribe the drug, to monitor closely the side effects and to report back,” as reported in the Edmonton Journal in 2016.

Are “neuropsychiatric adverse reactions” from mefloquine ever mistaken for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? A 2019 article posted at the American Legion shows that the drug was given to American soldiers as well, and could have contributed to a “spate of murders at Fort Bragg in 2002”.

Further, the drug has been implicated in a horrific slaughter of 16 Afghan civilians by former sniper Robert Bales. Tragically, Bales’ attorneys never made the connection and this crucial fact was not addressed during his trial.

It is speculated that mefloquine played a role in the beating death of a Somali teenager during Canada’s engagement in Somalia known as “The Somalia Affair”.

https://rairfoundation.com/exclusive-interview-veteran-exposes-dangerous-drug-forced-on-military-covid-vaccines-next/

A New Review Which Includes the Connolly & Sakai Study

A new review that includes the Connolly & Sakai study: This is an important new review that includes the Connolly & Sakai study. Click here to download.

I think anyone wanting to do research with TFT should look at the criticisms of the study in this Cochrane review as it helps avoid similar pitfalls. The Cochrane review is the most respected and thorough type of Review and quite intense. Just search Connolly to see what they look at in evaluating a study.

Another thing that is quite clear is that they selected only one of our studies. Most of our studies are difficult to find. Is there someone that does TFT that might look into how to get more visibility for our peer-reviewed journal articles? That would help promote Roger’s work more than anything.

APA Citation
van Ginneken N, Chin WY, Lim YC, Ussif A, Singh R, Shahmalak U, Purgato M, Rojas-García A, Uphoff E, McMullen S, Foss HS, Thapa Pachya A, Rashidian L, Borghesani A, Henschke N, Chong L-Y, Lewin S. Primary‐level worker interventions for the care of people living with mental disorders and distress in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021, Issue 8. Art. No.: CD009149. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009149.pub3. Accessed 07 August 2021.

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New Research Compares TFT Tapping & CBT for Trauma

Residents in the region of Kurdistan, Iraq, have experienced genocide, chemical attacks, displacement, and more. Pegah Seidi is a psychotherapist who has been using Thought Field Therapy to help relieve the trauma they experience and has published a small research study of some results. Read a quick recap of the study in our recent blog by ACEP member Sarah Murphy.
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“Thought-field therapy (TFT) is a well-researched form of energy psychology. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a popular and widely researched modality in the world of mental health. Each modality has its place in therapeutic settings.

However, in the world of trauma treatment, energy psychology seems to have greater efficacy than CBT. Pegah Seidi in Kurdistan, Iraq, along with ACEP member Suzanne Connolly, recently published a study that illustrates the point. Study participants live in Garmian, a region that has experienced genocide, chemical attacks, displacement, and violence. …” Read more

New Study Mentions TFT

John Freedom shared the following with us about a new study that mentions TFT.

A newly published meta-analysis by Mukdarut Bangpan, Lambert Felix, and Kelly Dickson entitled “Mental health and psychosocial support programmes for adults in humanitarian emergencies: a systematic review and meta-analysis in low and middle-income countries,” has included a TFT research study by Suzanne Connolly and Caroline Sakai in their meta-analysis of therapies for adults after traumatic events in LMICs.

Of 12593 references from their initial search, the authors included only 35 studies that met the criteria for this meta-analysis. The article was published in the journal BMJ Global Health, and the lead author is a researcher at the University College London. This is the fourth important globally based meta-analysis that has included at least one TFT study.

The authors report that  “The evidence consistently shows that MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) programs are effective in improving functioning and post-traumatic stress disorder.” 

They also mention that “TFT was designed for Rwandan Genocide survivors,” and was one of the studies reported to show positive effects for PTSD.  TFT was also reported to alleviate depression, as well as reductions in fear, anger and avoidance.  TFT was one of four studies (of 18 analyzed) that demonstrated a reduction in anger; and was one of only four studies where the intervention was delivered just one or two sessions for an hour or less per session. The TFT study also had a relatively large effect size.

This is one more acknowledgment of the effectiveness of TFT (and by extension, of meridian tapping) by objective researchers who have no ties to Energy Psychology.

Kudos and Congratulations to Suzanne and Caroline!

Download the Study Here.

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The Value of Learning and Sharing with the Experts

We just completed our first Optimal Health program in our new training center in Costa Rica.

We were very fortunate to welcome back two of our long term TFT practitioners and trainers, Suzanne Connolly and Nora Baladerian.  They each have a wealth of experience in the field of Trauma, having both participated in the TFT Foundation’s first trauma relief mission to New Orleans following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  Nora led that mission and Suzanne has gone on to lead multiple trauma relief missions to Rwanda and elsewhere.  They both have been involved in research, with Suzanne leading much of the TFT research on PTSD.  Nora is now working in studies involving the groundbreaking study about childhood trauma “ACE”, applied to a specialized population.

All the participants of the OH class, myself included, were treated to a powerpoint called Trauma Kills by Suzanne.  This presentation outlined the details on the ACE study, which is so relevant to what we can do in TFT for trauma.

“ACEs” comes from the CDC-Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, a groundbreaking public health study that discovered that childhood trauma leads to the adult onset of chronic diseases, depression and other mental illness, violence and being a victim of violence, as well as financial and social problems.

The data was a real eye-opener as it quantified the effects from the below childhood experiences and how they can manifest into negative outcomes which include some of society’s most intractable health issues: alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, suicide, poor physical health, and obesity.

Thanks to Suzanne’s generosity, I will be sharing the summarized date from this study in all of our Optimal Health courses.  Through it, I believe we can better understand the need for the healing of all trauma.

The adverse childhood experiences they measured were:

  • Physical abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Verbal abuse
  • Physical neglect
  • Emotional neglect
  • A family member who is depressed
  • A family member who is in prison
  • Witnessing a mother being abused
  • Losing a parent to divorce or death
  • Substance abuse by a parent or guardian

The CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACE Study and subsequent surveys show that most people in the U.S. have at least one ACE, and that people with four ACEs have a huge risk of adult onset of chronic health problems such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, suicide, and alcoholism.

We have long believed in the importance of healing trauma for all of us.  Suzanne and others have spearheaded the studies on the use of TFT for healing trauma.  The TFT Foundation has led trauma relief missions around the world.  The TFT Foundation hosts a TFT trauma relief blog site with free help to all in need, in 15 languages in print and video: www.TFTTraumaRelief.org

This study supports that knowledge and understanding of the need for healing trauma, with concrete data.  I thank Suzanne and Nora for sharing their knowledge with all our Costa Rica Optimal Health participants.

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The Effects from EMF’s and cell phones

I have been speaking of the effects from EMF’s and cell phones for some time now.  I attended a presentation by Dr. Beverly Rubic and she had some amazing research.

Below is a slide of the effects of a cell phone on our brains.

Here is an article below that came from WDDTY today. 

Wi-fi and cell phone waves are reducing male fertility

About the author: Bryan Hubbard

May 17th 2019 in Clinic (multi-discipline), Fertility  

The electromagnetic waves from wi-fi and cell (mobile) phones are reducing male fertility, a new study has discovered.

Sperm motility—the ability of the sperm to move and fertilise an egg—is almost halved by the waves, and men who keep a cell phone by their body for two hours or more every day could be the most affected.

Japanese researchers tested sperm taken from 51 men attending an IVF clinic, and samples were placed next to a wi-fi router—which simulates having a cell phone in a pocket—for periods of 30 minutes, one hour, two hours and 24 hours.

Differences in sperm motility started to appear after the two-hour mark, and these samples had just 29 percent motility compared to 53 percent seen in samples that had not been exposed to the radiation.

Interestingly, the sample that had been protected by a wi-fi shield had a 44 percent motility, which suggests a shield can protect against most of the damage caused by the waves.

After 24 hours, 23 percent of the sperm exposed to the waves had died compared to 8 percent of the unexposed sample and 18 percent of the shielded sample, the researchers from the Yamashita Shonan Yume Clinic discovered.

In response to this new research, I am offering a special discount on our cell phone shields, 2 or more for $20 each.  They have been treated with our zero field converter and are the best protection we currently know of and have studied.

For more details, visit www.tfttapping.com/zero-point-energy-products/

Joanne M Callahan, MBA
President, Callahan Techniques, Ltd.

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Understanding and then Eliminating Stress and It’s Effects

Below is an excerpt of an article that recently came to me from Metagenics Institute where I obtain my supplements.  It is particularly relevant for us in the TFT world as it is addressing stress, the topic of our upcoming webinar.  The studies show the deleterious effects of stress on our systems and that meditation and acupuncture (using the same meridian system as TFT) are beneficial.

Click here for the complete article.

What is stress?

An integrated definition of stress states that it is a constellation of events, starting with a stimulus (stressor) that precipitates a reaction in the brain (stress perception) and results in the activation of the physiological fight-or-flight systems in the body (stress response).1

Stress is a fact of life. We all face stressors of some sort in our day-to-day lives; whether psychological, physiological, or physical. We have evolved with stress, and many of us have learned techniques to manage various stressors, so it makes sense to explore the biological ways in which stress impacts our health.

Research has shown that varying degrees and durations of stress affect each of us differently, and short-term stress (lasting from minutes to a few hours) may actually benefit our immune health; in contrast, weeks, months, or years of stress can be detrimental to our health.2

Physiological stress

Many of us are familiar with the “fight-or-flight” response—you may envision an emergency situation like being chased by a lion or needing to react quickly to another dangerous situation. You may even feel your heart racing just thinking about such a scenario. This is the effect of the sympathetic nervous system: stimulus (lion) plus reaction in brain (stress perception), creating a fight-or-flight response in your body (stress response).

In a perceived threatening scenario, where the sympathetic nervous system response is stimulated, norepinephrine and epinephrine potentiate increased arousal, alertness, focus, and core temperature. At the same time, pain thresholds, cardiovascular output, respiratory rate, and blood flow to the brain and skeletal muscles also increase.5

Interestingly, a review of the science suggests that acute stress activates the immune system. Immune activation may be critical for responding to the immediate demands of a stressful situation, especially if the situation results in wounding or infection.

While short-term stress can be an immune stimulator, the same is not true of long-term physiological stress.1 Long-term stress suppresses, or dysregulates, innate and adaptive immune responses.

Psychological stress

Just as we all have differing genetic and biochemical composition, we also have varying responses to stressors. There are significant individual differences in stress perception, processing, appraisal, and coping.6 Sometimes there may be a crossover between the mind and body, as in the fight-or-flight response. The stimulus may be stressful mentally and require physical action.

But what about psychological stress that poses no pressing physical danger? Perhaps a stressful work project requiring a few long days and nights? Or the droning on of work, relationship, or other emotional woes? There are many lifestyle factors that may come into play when individuals experience long-standing mental stress. Financial and social support factors have been studied, as well as nutritional intake, sleep quality, and lifestyle decisions (exercise frequency, alcohol consumption, drug use, etc.).5 All of these factors play indirect roles in stress-related immunosuppression; however, many direct effects on immunity have also been demonstrated.5-7

Lifestyle approaches for stress management

While the side effects of stress are far-reaching, (shown in detail in the full article) there are some lifestyle-related activities that can help quell the effects of life’s worries. One method, supported by considerable evidence, is the practice of mindfulness and meditation. Meditation represents a mental training framework for cultivating the state of mindful awareness in daily life.

Regular aerobic exercise, acupuncture, breathing exercises, and progressive muscular relaxation also help individuals to manage stress.27

More studies are needed to explore the physiological benefits of mindfulness and other stress-management techniques, but there is hope for finding a preferred tactic to support all personality types and stressors.

Join us on our Live Video classes and discover how TFT can help you overcome stress:

Tapping Therapy for Well Being

 

Citations

  1. Dhabhar FS et al. Acute stress enhances while chronic stress suppresses immune function in vivo: a potential role for leukocyte trafficking. Brain Behav Immun. 1997;11:286–306.
  2. Dhabhar FS. Effects of stress on immune function: the good, the bad, and the beautiful. Immunol Res. 2014;58(2-3):193-210.
  3. Ken I et al. Nosocomial infections. Contin Educ Anaesth Crit Care Pain. 2005;5:14–17.
  4. Janeway CA Jr et al. Immunobiology: The Immune System in Health and Disease: Principles of Innate and Adaptive Immunity. 5th ed, New York: Garland Science; 2001.
  5. Vitlic A et al. Stress, ageing and their influence on functional, cellular and molecular aspects of the immune system. Age (Dordr). 2014;36(3):9631.
  6. Gunnar M et al. The neurobiology of stress and development. Annu Rev Psychol. 2007;58:145–173.
  7. Kang DH et al. Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses to academic stress. Res Nurs Health. 2001;24(4):245–257.
  8. Del Prete GF et al. High potential to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production of thyroid infiltrating T lymphocytes in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: a peculiar feature of destructive thyroid autoimmunity. Autoimmunity. 1989;4:267-276.
  9. Dolhain RJ et al. Shift toward T lymphocytes with a T helper 1 cytokine secretion profile in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 1996;39:1961-1969.
  10. Ackerman V et al. Detection of cytokines and their cell sources in bronchial biopsy specimens from asthmatic patients. Relationship to atopic status, symptoms, and level of airway hyperresponsiveness. Chest. 1994;105:687-696.
  11. Marucha PT et al. Mucosal wound healing is impaired by examination stress. Psychosom Med. 1998;60(3):362–365.
  12. Nowak M. The evolution of viruses—competition between horizontal and vertical transmission of mobile genes. J Theor Biol. 1991;150(3):339–347.
  13. Kiecolt-Glaser JK et al. Marital quality, marital disruption, and immune function. Psychosom Med. 1987;49(1):13–34.
  14. Kiecolt-Glaser JK et al. Marital discord and immunity in males. Psychosom Med. 1988;50(3):213–229.
  15. Kiecolt-Glaser JK et al. Marital conflict in older adults: endocrinological and immunological correlates. Psychosom Med. 1997;59(4):339–349.
  16. Pariante CM et al. Chronic caregiving stress alters peripheral blood immune parameters: the role of age and severity of stress. Psychother Psychosom. 1997;66(4):199–207.
  17. McEwen BS. Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. N Engl J Med. 1998;338(3):171–179.
  18. Phillips AC et al. Cardiovascular and cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress and adiposity: cross-sectional and prospective associations in the Dutch famine birth cohort study. Psychosom Med. 2012;74(7):699–710.
  19. Sedova L et al. Diet-induced obesity delays cardiovascular recovery from stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Obes Res. 2004;12(12):1951–1958.
  20. Segerstrom SC et al. Psychological stress and the human immune system: a meta-analytic study of 30 years of inquiry. Psychol Bull. 2004;130:601–630.
  21. Mawdsley JE et al. Psychological stress in IBD: new insights into pathogenic and therapeutic implications. Gut. 2005;54:1481–1491.
  22. Montoro J et al. Stress and allergy. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2009;19(Suppl.1):40–47.
  23. Arndt J et al. Stress and atopic dermatitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2008;8:312–317.
  24. Mårild K et al. Psychological stress and coeliac disease in childhood: a cohort study. BMC Gastroenterol. 2010;10:106.
  25. Drummond PD et al. Increased psychosocial stress and decreased mucosal immunity in children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. J Psychosom Res. 1997;43(3):271–278.
  26. Black DS et al. Mindfulness meditation and the immune system: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2016;1373(1):13-24.
  27. Harvard Health Publishing. Exercising to relax. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax. Published July 13, 2018. Accessed November 23, 2018.

Whitney Crouch, RDN, CLT