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| EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES: ARTICLES - CHELLE TELLS HER STORY |
| "I remember after a few rounds of EFT being able to actually remember and visualize some of the birth without going into a severe panic attack. I felt relief, as though a huge weight was being lifted off of me. When we were done, I could breathe. I could move past this tragedy and feel." Chelle Clas |
by CHELLE CLAS, March 1, 2008 - My problems began March 30, 2006. I had gone
into labor on my own the night before. I went in to the hospital and all was
going pretty good. My OB came in and broke my water and it all went downhill
from there. After the OB broke my water she inserted an internal fetal monitor
into my son’s scalp. Apparently he was displeased and removed the electrode
from his own scalp, putting the OB into a stunned state. As she reached down
in disbelief to see exactly what was going on his cord flushed out beside his
arm.
Everything was a blur from there. I ended up needing a crash cesarean
section and did not have an epidural at the time, so they tried to use gas and a
general anesthetic. I blacked out at first, but when the OB began to cut into
my belly, I remember everything from then on.
Afterwards I had a horrible time recovering. I tried bonding and breastfeeding,
but since I was unable to see my baby for hours after the birth, breastfeeding
did not go well. I had to stop after two weeks.
I sank into a deep, dark depression. I became distant and disconnected from
family members and had a rough time bonding with Nikoshio. He did not seem
to want me very often; when he would cry he would be settled by daddy or his
big brother Christopher.
People close to me noticed changes in me and told me to seek help and soon.
So I did. I began seeing a therapist and another doctor here in town. My
midwife through my OB’s office told me it sounded like I had severe postpartum
depression. The other midwife there said it almost sounded like Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder. I had heard of PTSD in the past but only in reference to war
veterans or rape victims or people who had been severely assaulted
(attempted murder victims and such).
I tried some medicines used to treat PPD instead. I tried so many things. And
talking to people was not helping, since C-sections are so “normal” today.
Others did not understand why I was so upset. I had a healthy baby…right? Of
course I was thankful my baby had gotten here alive. But it was becoming more
and more obvious something was not right.
I was diagnosed with PTSD by one therapist, one psychologist and one general
doctor. The regimen for recovery was more medicine to make me even more
tired and less reactive.
It took four months for me to allow my fiancé anywhere near me, sexually. I was
so terrified of ever becoming pregnant again. The first time we had intercourse
postpartum, I asked him to use double protection. So we did. A few weeks
later I found out I was expecting again.
I was so scared of another c section, the thought made it hard for me to
breathe. I was having flash backs and panic attacks so often I was afraid I
would cause myself to miscarry. After finding ICAN online, a group of women
dedicated to Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (or VBAC) awareness, I gained more
knowledge than I thought was possible, in a matter of days.
I ended up finding a very wonderful midwife about two hours away. We decided
it was worth the time and effort to help bring this baby here as naturally and as
healthily as possible.
Through my midwife, I gained a doula. Her experience in her own life gave me
hope (she’s a VBAC mom too). Though my problems were still there, I was
holding onto some hope. Then I found Eileen through my doula, who told me
about a friend of hers that was doing some research on birth trauma and an
energy modality called EFT. My doula felt some sessions learning this
technique could help put me on the path to healing. I am open-minded and
very much believe in our body’s natural ability to guide our own healing. I was
very interested.
It was close to Nikoshio’s first birthday and I still did not have much of a bond
with him. However, little did I know after a few hours spent with Eileen, I would
have a new outlook on everything, and some real help-- help no pill was able to
give me.
Our session began with us talking a bit about why I was there. Even today I
remember how difficult it was for me to tell my story. It was something I was
unable to speak of without bursting into tears. I tried to hold myself together
and listen with everything I had. Eileen began to walk me through the steps of
something called EFT, which stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques. It
consists of “tapping,” if you will, areas of your head, face, hand and neck/chest
areas.
We started off to see how emotionally wrecked I was. (Eileen’s note: She’s
referring to gauging the intensity of her distress, which she rated as “off the
scale” when I asked her to rate it from 0 to 10.) Then we went through the
details of my experience and “tapped.” When I would feel myself reliving the
hurt we would “tap” even more.
We spent two and a half hours “tapping,” walking through each part of what I
went through. She worked and “tapped” with me, as she taught me how to do
EFT. Eileen used a movie type theme to help me move through everything.
I remember after a few rounds of EFT being able to actually remember and
visualize some of the birth without going into a severe panic attack. I felt relief,
as though a huge weight was being lifted off of me. When we were done, I
could breathe. I could move past this tragedy and feel. I could break down this
ten inch titanium wall that sat between me and Nikoshio, and allow a bond to
occur. I had never felt so free. And all from “tapping"? You better believe it!
After our session I went back to my doula’s house to pick up Nikoshio and when
I walked in the door, he ran to me!! As though he just knew something was
different. On any other day he would not run to me to be held. I was in shock,
but so very happy!
Learning EFT and understanding how to use it also helped me with other
problems I faced during my pregnancy and the birth of Gryffen, my VBAC
baby. My doula even "tapped" for me during my labor.
There is so much more to our health than what we're told. Our bodies have a
God given ability to naturally heal on their own. Our minds, hearts, our every
organ, uses energy. By using that energy and shifting some of it to clear our
pain, we can do such wonderful things. I am glad I found this out and I still use
EFT to this day. I am so thankful for the chance to learn EFT and understand
how “tapping” can help my body and my healing process.
Chelle Clas
into labor on my own the night before. I went in to the hospital and all was
going pretty good. My OB came in and broke my water and it all went downhill
from there. After the OB broke my water she inserted an internal fetal monitor
into my son’s scalp. Apparently he was displeased and removed the electrode
from his own scalp, putting the OB into a stunned state. As she reached down
in disbelief to see exactly what was going on his cord flushed out beside his
arm.
Everything was a blur from there. I ended up needing a crash cesarean
section and did not have an epidural at the time, so they tried to use gas and a
general anesthetic. I blacked out at first, but when the OB began to cut into
my belly, I remember everything from then on.
Afterwards I had a horrible time recovering. I tried bonding and breastfeeding,
but since I was unable to see my baby for hours after the birth, breastfeeding
did not go well. I had to stop after two weeks.
I sank into a deep, dark depression. I became distant and disconnected from
family members and had a rough time bonding with Nikoshio. He did not seem
to want me very often; when he would cry he would be settled by daddy or his
big brother Christopher.
People close to me noticed changes in me and told me to seek help and soon.
So I did. I began seeing a therapist and another doctor here in town. My
midwife through my OB’s office told me it sounded like I had severe postpartum
depression. The other midwife there said it almost sounded like Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder. I had heard of PTSD in the past but only in reference to war
veterans or rape victims or people who had been severely assaulted
(attempted murder victims and such).
I tried some medicines used to treat PPD instead. I tried so many things. And
talking to people was not helping, since C-sections are so “normal” today.
Others did not understand why I was so upset. I had a healthy baby…right? Of
course I was thankful my baby had gotten here alive. But it was becoming more
and more obvious something was not right.
I was diagnosed with PTSD by one therapist, one psychologist and one general
doctor. The regimen for recovery was more medicine to make me even more
tired and less reactive.
It took four months for me to allow my fiancé anywhere near me, sexually. I was
so terrified of ever becoming pregnant again. The first time we had intercourse
postpartum, I asked him to use double protection. So we did. A few weeks
later I found out I was expecting again.
I was so scared of another c section, the thought made it hard for me to
breathe. I was having flash backs and panic attacks so often I was afraid I
would cause myself to miscarry. After finding ICAN online, a group of women
dedicated to Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (or VBAC) awareness, I gained more
knowledge than I thought was possible, in a matter of days.
I ended up finding a very wonderful midwife about two hours away. We decided
it was worth the time and effort to help bring this baby here as naturally and as
healthily as possible.
Through my midwife, I gained a doula. Her experience in her own life gave me
hope (she’s a VBAC mom too). Though my problems were still there, I was
holding onto some hope. Then I found Eileen through my doula, who told me
about a friend of hers that was doing some research on birth trauma and an
energy modality called EFT. My doula felt some sessions learning this
technique could help put me on the path to healing. I am open-minded and
very much believe in our body’s natural ability to guide our own healing. I was
very interested.
It was close to Nikoshio’s first birthday and I still did not have much of a bond
with him. However, little did I know after a few hours spent with Eileen, I would
have a new outlook on everything, and some real help-- help no pill was able to
give me.
Our session began with us talking a bit about why I was there. Even today I
remember how difficult it was for me to tell my story. It was something I was
unable to speak of without bursting into tears. I tried to hold myself together
and listen with everything I had. Eileen began to walk me through the steps of
something called EFT, which stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques. It
consists of “tapping,” if you will, areas of your head, face, hand and neck/chest
areas.
We started off to see how emotionally wrecked I was. (Eileen’s note: She’s
referring to gauging the intensity of her distress, which she rated as “off the
scale” when I asked her to rate it from 0 to 10.) Then we went through the
details of my experience and “tapped.” When I would feel myself reliving the
hurt we would “tap” even more.
We spent two and a half hours “tapping,” walking through each part of what I
went through. She worked and “tapped” with me, as she taught me how to do
EFT. Eileen used a movie type theme to help me move through everything.
I remember after a few rounds of EFT being able to actually remember and
visualize some of the birth without going into a severe panic attack. I felt relief,
as though a huge weight was being lifted off of me. When we were done, I
could breathe. I could move past this tragedy and feel. I could break down this
ten inch titanium wall that sat between me and Nikoshio, and allow a bond to
occur. I had never felt so free. And all from “tapping"? You better believe it!
After our session I went back to my doula’s house to pick up Nikoshio and when
I walked in the door, he ran to me!! As though he just knew something was
different. On any other day he would not run to me to be held. I was in shock,
but so very happy!
Learning EFT and understanding how to use it also helped me with other
problems I faced during my pregnancy and the birth of Gryffen, my VBAC
baby. My doula even "tapped" for me during my labor.
There is so much more to our health than what we're told. Our bodies have a
God given ability to naturally heal on their own. Our minds, hearts, our every
organ, uses energy. By using that energy and shifting some of it to clear our
pain, we can do such wonderful things. I am glad I found this out and I still use
EFT to this day. I am so thankful for the chance to learn EFT and understand
how “tapping” can help my body and my healing process.
Chelle Clas
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