eftandfibromyalgia

8/6/2019 EFTandFibromyalgia

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EFT and the Neurobiology of FibromyalgiaDr. Nancy Selfridge

An excerpt fromTapping to Restore Harmony of Spirit: EFT and Fibromyalgia

a multi-media package of interactive informationby EFT Master Rue Anne Hass,

with Nancy Selfridge, M.D. author ofFreedom from Fibromyagiahttp://www.intuitivementoring.com/books-dvds/eft-and-fibromyalgia/

In many ways, fibromyalgia is like so many other diseases in our Westernmedical history. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of this disorder isreliant on an exquisite understanding of the physiology of pain and painperception, the effects of trauma and stress on the brain, and the ways the

emotions are translated into the physiology of symptoms.

Presently, the conventional medical model frames fibromyalgia as a syndromediagnosis. As such, it is simply a name applied to a set of symptoms, primarilypain, and the finding of tender spots on examination occurring in a patient forwhom no other explanation exists for this state of being.
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In fact, we are still in the infancy of exploration of these complex processes and,therefore, a complete understanding of how someone with FM gets sick andstays sick eludes us.

As I suffered through my fibromyalgia symptoms over many years, I remained

convinced that this was a problem with my central nervous system and I wasreasonably certain that it had been brought about by stress/trauma (in my case,the intensity of my medical training and also a difficult marriage). Still, there wasnothing in my medical training that prepared me for understanding and managingmy own symptoms, though I really did try about everything that conventionalmedicine had to offer.

The body bears the burdenFortunately, I was introduced to the work of John Sarno, MD, a physiatrist at theRusk Institute of Rehabilitation, who posited that chronic back pain, and likely allchronic pain, has an emotional base of unresolved rage even when a person is

functioning without specific psychological impairment (1). In the words of Dr.Scaer, a gifted neurologist, chronic pain, including FM, is a circumstance wherethe body bears the burden of mental stress and trauma (2).

When I was ready to accept that my FM symptoms might be the neurologicalequivalent of emotional burden and trauma, and I began focusing on emotionrather than my physical suffering, my physical symptoms evaporated!

Interestingly, I never achieved any physical relief from any of the years ofpsychotherapy that I did, but this simple association and its complete acceptancein my mind was sufficient. In essence my thinking shifted from assuming that

something awful was happening to my body, to wondering what troublesomeemotion was talking to me in this form of pain.

Sensitivity and stressAfter I healed, I began forming, to the best of my ability, a rudimentarypathophysiology model for FM and sharing this with patients, fine tuning themodel as needed to fit the variety of experiences I was hearing in patienthistories and also reading about. I noted that almost all of my FM patients weretemperamentally similar to mevery sensitive peopleand I started askingpeople if they identified with the traits described by Elaine Aron, PhD, in herbooks about highly sensitive people (3). Most could readily see themselves in

this description.

Of those who had ever taken a Myers Briggs personality test, most were intuitivefeeling types, also described by David Keirsey, PhD, as idealist (4). It seemedas though a certain temperament, or way of being in the world and processinginformation, might predispose a person to developing chronic physical symptomswhen stressed or traumatized. It is an idea yet to be proven, but in my clinicalpractice it still holds true.


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So, what might be actually happening in thebrain and body of the FM patient and what isthe scientific support for this?

First, it appears that a sensitive temperament is

fertile ground for the development of thisdisease, almost a risk factor, you might say.

Then, in nearly all FM patients, there is a stressor trauma (large or small) or a stressful period oftime that serves as a forerunner and trigger forthe FM symptoms. The stress/trauma can bephysical, mental, emotional or environmental,and in my practice has been as varied asaccidents, difficult childbirth, surgery, a significantillness, toxic exposure (such as carbon

monoxide), loss of a loved one or a job, a periodof too much work, a difficult relationship at homeor work, the illness of a loved one, unrelentingfinancial stress, the intensity of school andstudies, lack of adequate sleep, too much care-taking, not enough time for self care for anyreason, etc.

After the initiating stress, symptoms start and include pain, fatigue, sleepproblems, mood problems, mental fogging, digestive problems, and evidence of

autonomic dysfunction such as irritable bladder and fainting. The symptoms varyin location and are unpredictable in their severity. In this respect, they seldomhave a pattern that makes any sense, making them even harder to manage.Many people have trouble maintaining a predictable and reliable work schedule,but only 1/3 actually are classified as disabled.

From scientific research, we know that there is abnormal activity in the brain incertain prefrontal cortical areas in response to painful stimuli, that there areabnormal levels of peptides in the brain (chemicals that communicate betweenbrain and body), that there is a deranged pituitary hypothalamic axis mediatingthe bodys endocrine system, but none of these findings has, as yet, emerged as

pathognomonic, or diagnostic, for the disease.

A nervous system insultIn essence, though, it appears that there is a dysregulation of multiple bodyfunctions, including pain perception, as the net result of this nervous systeminsult.


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Conventional approaches to pain seem not to be helpful, and even therapeuticdoses of narcotic pain medication rarely control the FM pain. Perhaps this isbecause the areas of the brain responsible for FM allodynia (pain amplification)have no opiate receptors. Nonetheless, until we have a better understanding ofnormal brain function and how FM actually deviates from normal, we will likely be

unable to create a magic bullet for this disease in the conventional allopathicmodel.

Ultimately, in my experience, some patients were like me, getting better simplywith understanding and accepting a model for their disease that linked thephysical symptoms with emotional experience and trauma. I worked withpatients on journaling and simple cognitive exercises to reinforce this idea.However, some patients would find this model easy to accept and still did nothave much symptom relief with these exercises.

Thanks to Rue, I was introduced to Emotional Freedom Techniques and energy

psychology, which I believe is a breakthrough for the treatment of trauma andpost-traumatic stress disorder, and, as such, a treatment for the trauma thatappears to induce FM. In fact, many patients achieve remarkable relief for theirpainful symptoms with EFT.

EFT to the rescue!Under Rues guidance, foundational beliefs are explored along with the initiatingtraumas and their deepest meanings. EFT is applied to all aspects of thethoughts, sensations and emotions associated with this exploration, and the FMsymptoms improve.

What might be happening here?

It is my belief that the areas of the brain that appear to be affected by FM inrecent fMRI studies are fairly resistant to quieting with purely cognitive activitysuch as thinking and talking.

Instead, there seems to be an energetic influence from EFT and other therapieslike EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and also with theleft prefrontal activation of a meditation practice, that may have a dampening orcorrective effect on the problematic prefrontal cortical activity of FM.

It has become apparent to me that FM patients are like canaries in the coalmine responding to our stressful culture and environment with real illness anddebilitation. There is nothing about this that is factitious nor evidence ofpsychological disease or bad character. This disorder demands an expansion ofour understanding of stress and disease.

Live your heart's desires


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As my own awareness of the multiple stressors we are exposed to increases, Iexpand my counseling of my sensitive FM patients to include diet and nutrition toavoid inflammation and illness, supplements to correct nutritional deficienciesand diligent counseling about stress management strategies and interventions.

Most of all, I give permission to patients to live for their own hearts desires, toexplore their limiting beliefs and to honor their sensitive temperaments. It is thislatter path that will best help the sensitive soul from becoming sick again.

Nancy Selfridge, M.D., author of Freedom From Fibromyalgia.

To learn much more about using EFT for Fibromyalgia , see my extensivepackage of DVDs, transcripts, ebooks and an eight week tapping programhere:http://www.intuitivementoring.com/books-dvds/eft-and-fibromyalgia/

1. Sarno. John. The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain.New York: Warner Books, 1998.

___________. The Divided Mind: Epidemic of Mind Body Disorders. New York:Regan Books, 20062. Scaer, Robert C. The Body Bears the Burden. New York: Haworth MedicalPress, 2001
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3. Aron, Elaine. The Highly Sensitive Person. New York: Broadway Books,19964. Keirsey, David. Please Understand Me II. Del Mar, California: PrometheusNemesis Publications, 1998

(photographs courtesy of Dreamstime.com)

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