Katrina Victims Enjoy New Trauma Relief Method
On the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Harvard researchers released the results
of a survey of disaster survivors. The report estimates that 30 percent of survivors
are suffering from mental illnesses such as depression and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder). More than half the survivors have nightmares and report being more angry
and irritable than they were prior to the disaster.
Trauma Specialist David Rourke
advocates the use of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for victims of disasters.
“The loss of property, shelter, jobs, and income can paralyze even the strongest
of souls, leaving them feeling helpless, resentful, or afraid. When faced with this
kind of devastation, we become overwhelmed and, as a result, our body’s energy system
reacts and becomes disrupted. EFT is a gentle, rapid, powerful tool to help people
balance their subtle energy system, regain their strength and their ability to cope
with their personal disaster.”
People have been using this simple acupressure technique
to combat PTSD, depression, nightmares, and anxiety for more than a decade with an
80% success rate.
“Conventional trauma techniques tend to miss the link between the trauma and the
disrupted subtle energy system”, says Gary Craig, the Stanford-
According to Rourke,
“This disruption in the body’s energy system gets in the way of a person being able
to integrate the overwhelming experience and come to solutions to their perceived
predicament. EFT is a wonderful, cost effective technique that can be used, with
impressive results, in a group setting. This technique is so easy to learn and simple
to administer as a stress management coping tool that it could be taught to anyone
suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina; from Hurricane victims to front-
The report indicates that researchers will continue to analyze the data
they collected in this survey and conduct a follow-
In 1994, Craig and a colleague visited a Veterans Administration hospital
in California, where they worked on-
Mental health professionals
all over the world have been using EFT for more than a decade to treat trauma victims.
Although most Americans have yet to hear of it, EFT may be the world’s fastest-
including Hiatal Hernia, Candidiasis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. The process is gentle and often provides
benefits where other methods fail.”
Raul Vergini, MD Italy