Whenever I go to Reiki or do EFT tapping, there’s always a part of me that expects to walk away feeling energized and ready to take on any challenge.
But sometimes, after a Reiki session or tapping through upsetting events, I find myself sprawled on the sofa for hours, too drained to do much of anything, and worried that the healing isn’t working or might even be making me worse.
If this happens to you too, be reassured: many people experience this kind of exhaustion after healing work. Though often overlooked, it plays an important role in the process.
Why You Feel Tired After EFT Tapping
The goal of EFT tapping is to release stuck emotional energy stored in the body. By gently tapping on specific points while focusing on difficult memories or feelings, you’re helping your nervous system shift out of fight, flight, or freeze, and into a more regulated, calm state.
But that shift requires energy. Moving through intense emotions into a calmer state (sometimes several times within a single EFT session) isn’t just a mental process. It’s also a physical one. Your brain is working hard to process emotional memories. Your nervous system is shifting out of stress mode. Even if you’re sitting still, your whole body is involved in the work of releasing, recalibrating, and finding a new sense of balance.
The Shared Side Effect of Energy Healing
Just like Reiki, EFT can trigger what’s sometimes called a “healing response”, a period after the session when your body integrates the energetic shifts that have taken place. This phase can bring fatigue, emotional sensitivity, and old symptoms may briefly resurface as they move through and out of your system.
We’re often conditioned to expect healing to feel uplifting and immediate. But sometimes healing can feel brutal. It can show up as tears, yawns, the need for a nap, or simply spacing out for a while. This is a natural part of the process. Healing is, after all, a form of catharsis and purgation, where the body and mind release what no longer serves them.
None of this indicates that there is anything wrong. In fact, it often means something is working.
The Inner Workings of Healing
When you practice EFT or receive Reiki, you’re giving your body and mind the space to access and work through deeper layers of unresolved issues—some you’re aware of, and others that may be operating beneath the surface. This process can involve:
- Emotional release: Letting go of grief, anger, fear, or shame takes energy, especially when those emotions have been stored or pushed down for years.
- Cognitive processing: Your brain may be reorganizing how it stores and relates to certain memories, which can leave you feeling foggy, disoriented, or mentally drained.
- Nervous system realignment: Tapping and energy work can shift your body into a calmer state, which might feel like a sudden wave of fatigue after being in high alert for a long time.
The fatigue you feel after a session may actually be your body’s first real opportunity to rest in a very long time!
Treat Yourself Kindly
Feeling wiped out after a session is not a sign of weakness or failure. Actually, it is your body’s way of healing and adjusting.
Here are some ways to support yourself when you feel drained:
Rest without guilt: Give yourself permission to slow down and recharge. Rest is a vital part of healing.
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help your body flush out emotional and energetic shifts.
Choose Nutritious, Comforting Foods: Include more whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables in your diet. Prepare wholesome, nourishing meals that support your body and soul.
Write about your experience: Whether in a journal or another form, documenting your thoughts and feelings can help you process and integrate your healing journey.
Be patient: Healing isn’t always instant. Often, the positive effects reveal themselves gradually, taking days or even weeks
And remember, you don’t have to go through this alone. If prolonged exhaustion or emotional overwhelm feels hard to manage, reaching out to a certified EFT practitioner for guidance and support can make all the difference
Healing Is a Journey, Not a Race
Healing isn’t always neat, tidy, or instantly uplifting. Sometimes it’s slow, messy, and even draining. But that doesn’t mean it’s not working. Each tear, yawn, or downtime is a sign that your body is letting go of what no longer serves you (like toxins or dead skin cells) and making space for something new.
So, be gentle with yourself. Honor the process and allow yourself to rest and heal in your own time because it means you truly need it. Trust that beneath the tiredness and release, real transformation is happening, bringing you one step closer to greater peace and wholeness.
Yours in healing,
Daphne
EFT can help you address a variety of issues.
If you would like to have a chat about some problem you have and are not sure if EFT can be of help, do not hesitate to contact me.
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