logo
What is tapping, and can it really improve mental health?

What is tapping, and can it really improve mental health?

Khaleej Times29-06-2025
It looks a little goofy.
A self-help method called ' tapping,' which involves using the fingertips to perform acupressure while countering negative emotions with breathing exercises and positive affirmations, has elicited eye-rolls from some mental health professionals.
'I'm safe in my car,' a woman on TikTok says as she practices the technique, using a finger to tap the top of her head, then the side of her eyebrow and the middle of her chin. 'I am my safe space.'
In the video, she explains that driving by herself is a struggle, but tapping has helped lower her anxiety and refocus her thoughts.
Anecdotes like this are easy to find on social media. Over the last 15 years or so, tapping has also popped up on wellness podcasts, TV shows and even the best-seller list.
As a result, the practice, also known as the Emotional Freedom Technique or E.F.T., has attracted a devoted following and become a big business. But many experts remain sceptical.
Where did tapping come from?
Tapping, which falls under the umbrella of energy psychology, originated from a technique called Thought Field Therapy developed by the psychologist Roger Callahan in the 1980s.
He conceived of it while working with a patient who had a severe phobia of water, which Dr Callahan tried treating in various ways, including exposure therapy by the pool.
One day, when the patient complained that just looking at the water gave her a stomachache, Dr Callahan told her to tap firmly under her eye, an area he knew to be associated with the ' stomach meridian ' in traditional Chinese medicine.
According to Dr Callahan, after two minutes of tapping, the patient declared her stomachache had disappeared, along with her fear of the water.
Dr Callahan developed Thought Field Therapy from there, contending that some patients required a series of acupressure points to be touched in a specific order.
Thought Field Therapy was discredited by psychology experts, in part because there isn't a way to measure energy meridians, nor any evidence that proves they exist. But in the 1990s, Gary Craig, a Stanford graduate who later became an ordained minister, rebranded the technique, creating a simplified version called E.F.T.
Proponents suggest that tapping not only relieves stress and anxiety but can also improve symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction and chronic pain, among other maladies.
Practitioners now pay hundreds of dollars to take E.F.T. courses or pursue an official certification.
Does it work?
Even though there are more than 200 studies that examine meridian tapping, this body of work is not as robust as it might sound. Research that claims to highlight the effectiveness of E.F.T. has been riddled by conflicts of interest, small sample sizes, statistical errors and a lack of rigor.
For these reasons, prominent members of the American Psychological Association have said that the push to popularize E.F.T. is based on pseudoscience.
'When you really look at the evidence, it falls apart,' said Cassandra L. Boness, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of New Mexico and the lead author of a peer-reviewed commentary published in 2024 that raised concerns about the quality of E.F.T. research and questioned the effectiveness of the technique.
But that isn't to say that E.F.T. is useless, experts said. Those who try the technique are instructed to think about or do activities they may find scary or uncomfortable — a form of exposure therapy, which is a powerful way of regulating emotions. Tapping also involves taking a moment to explore one's thoughts, which therapists say can help people understand their behavior.
In essence, tapping is 'a hodgepodge of interventions, some of which are, I'm sure, quite effective,' said David F. Tolin, the director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living in Hartford, Conn. But there isn't high-quality research to show that tapping itself is the active ingredient, he added.
What's the harm?
Despite the lackluster evidence, some patients and therapists insist tapping truly helps.
'It doesn't replace existing best practices for treating PTSD, depression, addictions or other serious conditions,' said David Feinstein, who offers classes and certifications in energy medicine, along with his wife. But, in his opinion, it can make those treatments more effective.
Melissa Lester, a psychotherapist in Sandy Springs, Ga., said she found tapping could provide quick benefits, including a calmer, clearer mind. She decided to become certified in the technique because she wanted to give her clients an alternative when methods offered by other therapists, like cognitive behavioral therapy, didn't produce the desired results.
Providing an alternative treatment can indeed be useful to patients, Dr Boness said, but she questioned whether it was ethical to do so in the absence of rigorous scientific evidence.
Her 'biggest fear,' she added, was that vulnerable people would turn to tapping, and then find that it doesn't work.
'It's not actually a psychological treatment,' she said.
(Christina Caron is a New York Times reporter covering mental health.)
The article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Five years after COVID, pharma shares languish in US policy limbo
Five years after COVID, pharma shares languish in US policy limbo

Zawya

timean hour ago

  • Zawya

Five years after COVID, pharma shares languish in US policy limbo

MILAN - Global healthcare stocks have not been this cheap in decades and fund inflows into the sector are picking up, yet the shares remain in the doldrums, highlighting uncertainty over drug pricing policies since Donald Trump returned to the White House. Pharma companies' earnings outlook is being obscured by concerns over revived "most-favored-nation" drug pricing rules in the lucrative U.S. market and potential 200% tariffs on pharma imports into the U.S. Money flooded into drugmakers' shares during the COVID-19 pandemic but more recently there has been an exodus as investors shifted into Big Tech, leaving the sector cheap but unloved. At 15.9 times forward earnings, healthcare trades 11% below its long-term average and 20% below global equities, its steepest discount in 16 years, just above a record discount in 2009, based on LSEG Datastream data. "We've moved from cautious optimism to cautious pessimism," said Stephanie Aliaga, global market strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in New York. "Valuations have gotten even cheaper, but for a reason," she added, referring to intensifying U.S. policy risks. But some investors are starting to look past the Washington policy fog and at long-term positive drivers, such as aging populations, RNA-based therapeutics, and breakthroughs in weight-loss and diabetes drugs. 'ARMAGEDDON SCENARIO' Alberto Conca, CIO at Swiss wealth manager LFG+ZEST, has been adding exposure to pharma, biotech and medtech in recent weeks, drawn by strong cash-flow yields and the prospect of U.S. rate cuts boosting this rate-sensitive sector. Interest rate cuts typically support healthcare by lowering R&D funding costs and boosting the value of future cash flows. "These are quality companies with good growth and defensive features being priced as if we're heading into an 'Armageddon scenario', which I believe is unlikely," he said. UK-based M&G Investments has also been selectively adding to healthcare, according to its latest allocation report. Healthcare funds have seen net inflows since 2024, more than reversing the outflows from late 2022 through 2023, fund tracker EPFR data shows. Although year-to-date, inflows total $7.2 billion, down 41% from last year. Innovation is accelerating, pipelines are maturing and M&A is showing signs of picking up - yet stock prices are unmoved. Whether that represents a buying opportunity or a value trap hinges on how and when the policy uncertainty clears, investors said. CATALYST NEEDED Historically, healthcare has traded at a modest premium to world stocks, thanks to its defensive profile and steady earnings. But that narrative has unravelled under political pressure from Washington and investors' love of Big Tech. Over the past three years, U.S. healthcare has underperformed the S&P 500 by more than 60 percentage points, making it the worst sectoral performer on Wall Street. Its valuation has deepened to a near-record 27% discount, from parity to the S&P in 2023. "Markets don't like uncertainty, and that shows up in valuations," said Eddie Yoon, healthcare sector leader and portfolio manager at Fidelity Investments in Boston. "Being cheap isn't necessarily a reason to buy. You need a catalyst." For now, that catalyst is elusive. The policy uncertainty makes it difficult to forecast future earnings, he said, though he hopes for more clarity by year-end - potentially also paving the way for more M&A in the industry. Talks with the Trump administration have yet to clarify how and when drug prices will fall, executives from Eli Lilly and Merck said at a May industry conference. Yoon, who has typically been underweight Big Pharma due to patent expiry risks, notes smaller, innovative firms are becoming profitable. "We're seeing companies go from unprofitable to very profitable," he said, citing Alnylam and Penumbra as examples he owns. "Historically, that's been a very good time to own healthcare stocks." LFG+ZEST's Conca, who favours U.S. names like Abbott , Edwards Lifesciences, and AbbVie, along with Sanofi and Recordati in Europe, said interest rate cuts could be a major catalyst. OUT OF THE WOODS? In Europe, healthcare is even cheaper than U.S. pharma, trading at 14.3 times forward earnings. A 55% drop in shares of Novo Nordisk in the last year, related in part to concerns over competition in obesity drugs, along with tariff-driven production shifts to the U.S., has weighed on valuations. "The sector will adapt," wrote Arnaud Cadart, healthcare analyst at France's CIC Market Solutions. But that will come "at the cost of rebalancing its revenues and probably transforming its organisations." AstraZeneca, for example, has unveiled a $50 billion U.S. investment. For now, the sector remains in limbo: cheap, but lacking enough visibility to trigger a broad re-rating. "Healthcare has endured a lot of pain," said J.P. Morgan's Aliaga. "We're not sure if that pain is done, but the worst is likely over, given how extreme the exodus has been." (Reporting by Danilo Masoni; Editing by Amanda Cooper and Jane Merriman)

Study links 'forever chemicals' to increased risk of type 2 diabetes
Study links 'forever chemicals' to increased risk of type 2 diabetes

Emirates 24/7

time19 hours ago

  • Emirates 24/7

Study links 'forever chemicals' to increased risk of type 2 diabetes

Exposure to a class of synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as "forever chemicals", may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study led by researchers at Mount Sinai. The findings were published in eBioMedicine. The team conducted a nested case-control study within BioMe, a large, electronic health record-linked research database comprising records of more than 70,000 study participants who have sought care at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City since 2007. Based on available data, the study analysed 180 people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and compared them to 180 similar individuals without diabetes. All participants were matched based on age, sex, and ancestry. Researchers used blood samples to analyse PFAS levels - a group of chemicals used in everything from nonstick cookware to stain-resistant furniture to waterproof clothing -and found that higher levels of PFAS were associated with a significantly greater risk of developing T2D in the future. Specifically, each increase in range of PFAS exposure was linked to a 31 percent increase in risk. The team also found that these associations could be due to metabolic irregularities in amino acid biosynthesis and drug metabolism, which may help explain how PFAS affect the body's ability to regulate blood sugar. Findings from this study underscore the importance of preventing PFAS exposures to promote public health and of advancing knowledge about potential mechanisms underlying the PFAS' impacts on human metabolism. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.

Baraka Real Estate Development convenes free health check-up camp for site employees
Baraka Real Estate Development convenes free health check-up camp for site employees

Khaleej Times

timea day ago

  • Khaleej Times

Baraka Real Estate Development convenes free health check-up camp for site employees

In a continuous quest for the well-being of the employees, Baraka Real Estate Development successfully has organised a free health check-up camp for the labourers at its construction sites, with the support of LLH Hospital Musaffah. The initiative underscores Baraka's commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its efforts to elevate health standards within the real estate and construction industry. The event, held at one of Baraka's active sites, offered workers essential health screening services including blood pressure checks, blood glucose testing, and face-to-face consultations with experienced medical professionals. The goal was to promote early detection of potential health issues, enhance awareness of personal wellness, and ensure frontline workers receive the care and recognition they deserve. 'Each member of our workforce is the backbone of what we construct,' said a spokesperson for Baraka Real Estate Development. 'This programme isn't just about health screenings - it's about honouring the hard work and humanity of every individual on-site, and treating their well-being as an intrinsic business priority.' The LLH Hospital Musaffah medical team delivered the programme with professionalism and empathy, creating a comfortable, informative experience for all participants. Beyond addressing immediate health concerns, the event emphasised the importance of long-term wellness through personalised guidance and preventive care. The initiative was met with enthusiastic participation and appreciation among workers - many of whom have limited access to routine health check-ups. For those requiring further care, timely referrals were arranged to ensure appropriate follow-up. 'Working with medical professionals enables us to provide meaningful value beyond the construction process,' the spokesperson added. 'We see this as a vital part of setting a new benchmark for employee welfare within the real estate development sector.' As the UAE continues to emphasise ethical labour practices and private sector responsibility, Baraka's approach serves as a clear example of how companies can contribute meaningfully to national development goals. The company has confirmed that similar CSR-driven projects are planned as part of its broader commitment to social impact.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store