5 Reasons why EFT Tapping doesn’t Work for you!

EFT tapping can give excellent results — but sometimes, it just doesn’t seem to work. If that’s happening to you, here are the five main reasons why EFT tapping may not be working, along with a few tips (and one little secret) on how to turn things around so you can see results quickly, resolve deeper issues, and use EFT the right way.

1. You’re only tapping on global issues

In EFT, there are two types of issues:

Global issues (broad, general beliefs, e.g., “I’m not good enough in my career” or “I’m bad at studies”)

Specific events (particular situations where you felt those emotions)

If you only tap on the global issue, it can take years (sometimes decades) to break it down. The more effective approach is to identify and tap on 5–6 specific events that created the belief in the first place.

For example, instead of only tapping on “I’m not good enough at work,” work on specific times you were criticized, rejected, or felt incompetent. Resolving these individual events will eventually collapse the bigger global belief.

2. You’re not completing events

Let’s say you follow the first tip and start working on specific events — but you don’t finish them. Maybe you work on one event for a day, then switch to a completely different event the next day.

When you do this, you open many events without fully resolving any of them. The result? Unresolved emotions sit in your subconscious, waiting to be triggered in daily life.

Here’s the fix:

1. After working on an event, check back on it after 1–2 days, and keep working on it for at least a week if needed.

2. Once it feels resolved, revisit it once a month to see if any residual emotion pops up.

3. Only move to new events after you’re sure the old one is fully cleared.

3. You’re not measuring intensity

Many beginners forget to rate the intensity of their emotions. You need to measure the emotional charge of an event or feeling before and after tapping.

Use the 0–10 scale:

• 0 = no emotional charge
• 10 = maximum emotional intensity

Track the rating for each aspect of an event. An aspect could be sadness, frustration, anger, or shame. Keep tapping until each aspect drops to around 2 or 3.

If you skip this step, you might leave an aspect stuck at 8 or 9 without realizing it — and that unresolved feeling can stick around for days or weeks.

4. You’re overworking on events

It’s tempting to tackle as many events as possible in a single day — especially if you’re eager for results. But processing too much at once can overload your system.

EFT often stirs up strong emotions, and your body and mind need time to integrate the healing. Overworking can lead to emotional exhaustion and even make you feel worse temporarily.

My advice:

• Take breaks between tapping sessions.
• Limit intense work to 1–2 hours per day when starting out.
• Give your nervous system time to rest and absorb the changes.
• If an event feels particularly heavy, stop and return to it later instead of forcing progress.

5. You’re relying only on generic scripts

Scripts can be helpful, but they’re not a replacement for personalizing your tapping.

If you only use pre-written scripts or phrases without connecting them to your specific memories and feelings, you’ll get limited results.

Real breakthroughs come from tuning into your own unique emotional landscape and working on events that are personally meaningful.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for educational and informational purposes only. EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is not a substitute for medical, psychological, or psychiatric treatment. Please consult a licensed professional for any medical or mental health concerns.

Final Thoughts

If EFT tapping hasn’t been working for you, it’s likely because:

1. You’re tapping on global issues instead of specific events.
2. You’re leaving events incomplete.
3. You’re not measuring emotional intensity.
4. You’re overworking without breaks.
5. You’re only using generic scripts.

When you focus on specific events, measure progress, pace yourself, and personalize your tapping, you can create lasting changes in your emotional well-being and overall life quality.

If you’d like to work with me directly, check out my EFT practitioner page where I list all my services.