Stuck Emotions Are Not Just “In Your Head" — How EFT Tapping Can Help You Heal
Have you ever felt like you know what you should do — but something inside you just...won't budge?
I was stuck here for such a long time. One of the internal stories I developed as a child was, “My voice doesn’t matter.” This story developed over time after experiencing difficult circumstances where I didn’t feel like I got to have a say. This “truth” rattled around in my head and meant that I didn’t get to express how I felt, which made expressing or even feeling my emotions very difficult. It’s something I’m still working on.. certain emotions like anger often feel wrong or bad, even though logically I know it’s not a bad emotion.
The reason for this disconnect is because of how we process (or don’t process) through difficult emotions. When our survival mode is activated and we’re unable to fully process through that cycle, we can often end up feeling stuck.
If that sounds like you, I want you to know:
You’re not broken.
You’re not lazy.
You’re not doing life wrong.
Most likely, you’re experiencing the weight of stuck emotions — emotions that haven’t been fully processed by the body. And this isn’t something you can simply "think your way out of."
Why Stuck Emotions Keep Us Stuck
We don’t just feel emotions — we store them.
When we experience overwhelming emotions and don’t have the tools, safety, or support to process them fully, those emotions can get "stuck" in the body. Over time, this stuck emotional energy can show up as anxiety, chronic tension, avoidance behaviors, self-sabotage, health issues, or just feeling "off" and disconnected.
Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:
The emotional brain (the limbic system) and the logical brain (the prefrontal cortex) start to lose clear communication.
Even though you might logically understand a situation, your emotional brain is still sending signals of fear, threat, or grief.
Until the emotion is felt, acknowledged, and processed, the nervous system often stays stuck in protective patterns.
This is why healing isn’t just about "thinking positive" or pushing through with willpower. We have to work with the body and the emotional brain, not against them.
Modalities That Can Help
The good news is: healing emotional blocks is absolutely possible. There are several highly effective techniques designed to help the emotional and logical brain reconnect and complete the healing cycle, including:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Aroma Freedom Technique (AFT)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Somatic practices
Those have all played a big role for me in processing through my emotions, but most recently I started regularly using a technique I’m super impressed with: EFT Tapping.
What is EFT Tapping?
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), often called "tapping," combines elements of ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology.
It involves gently tapping on specific points on the body (similar to acupuncture points) while speaking or thinking about an emotional challenge you’re facing. Tapping sends calming signals to the amygdala — the part of your brain that triggers the stress response — helping to:
Calm the nervous system
Rewire limiting beliefs
Process and release stuck emotions
Build emotional resilience
It’s simple, gentle, and can often create shifts faster than people expect.
The Research Behind EFT
EFT isn’t just a feel-good technique — it’s backed by a growing body of scientific research.
A 2012 study published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that EFT tapping significantly reduced cortisol (the stress hormone) levels compared to traditional talk therapy or no treatment.
A 2016 meta-analysis in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease showed EFT's effectiveness in reducing anxiety symptoms across multiple studies.
EFT is now being used by organizations like the VA (Veterans Affairs hospitals) to support veterans with PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Hospitals and mental health centers are increasingly integrating tapping as a complementary therapy because of its accessibility, gentleness, and evidence-based results.
The bottom line: Tapping works.
How to Start Tapping Today
If you’re curious about trying tapping for yourself, a great place to start is The Tapping Solution app. It offers guided tapping sessions for everything from stress to sleep to emotional healing, and it’s incredibly user-friendly.
(If you download it, try one short session — you might be surprised at how much lighter you feel.)
Tapping Inside Rooted + Rising Collective
Inside Rooted + Rising Collective, EFT Tapping is one of techniques we will utilize as a resource for healing. Tapping can be used to work through specific topics, so I’ll be guiding members through tapping sessions designed specifically for:
Nervous system regulation
Managing anxiety and overwhelm
Working through cravings and emotional eating
Building healthier habits
Supporting sleep, resilience, and emotional processing
Over time, we’ll be building a library of tapping sessions you can return to anytime you need support — like a first-aid kit for your nervous system and emotional health.
Healing doesn’t have to be complicated or forceful. Sometimes it’s as simple as meeting yourself where you are — and tapping through what’s ready to shift.
If you’re ready to move from stuck to supported, Rooted + Rising is here to walk with you.
