Tapping for Addiction Recovery: Supporting Loved Ones Through Post-Withdrawal Symptoms

I recently received this email that I wanted to share with you:

“Hello, A dear family member is suffering from substance abuse, specifically— acute post withdrawal symptoms. He’s in between programs and struggling to navigate calls to insurance companies, recovery programs, hospitals, HR folks, etc. His anxiety, depression, mood swings are almost debilitating. He is talking to the program psychiatrist today for adjustment of meds. But I just have to ask…. Can tapping help him? If you have info, success stories, please send my way. I’m doing what I can to help, and yes…I attend Al-Anon. I am busy with selling my home and looking for a new place…too busy to tap, ha ha….. I’ll do it later today. Thanks for the nudge. Sincerely, G”

G’s email describes a situation that many families are facing. Her family member is battling substance abuse and specifically struggling with acute post-withdrawal symptoms. He’s in that difficult “in-between” phase — navigating the complex healthcare system while experiencing debilitating anxiety, depression, and mood swings.

And G herself is doing what so many caregivers do — juggling multiple major life stressors (selling a home, supporting a loved one in crisis) while putting her own self-care on the back burner with that telling “too busy to tap, ha ha” comment.

I can feel both the love and the overwhelm in G’s words. There’s nothing more challenging than watching someone you care about struggle through recovery, especially when the path forward seems tangled in bureaucracy and complicated by persistent symptoms.

When Post-Withdrawal Becomes Its Own Challenge

Let’s talk about what’s really happening with G’s family member, because post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) is often misunderstood.

Most people are familiar with the initial detox phase of recovery — those first days or weeks when the body physically withdraws from a substance. This phase is intense but relatively brief. What fewer people understand is that for many substances, there’s a second withdrawal phase that can last much longer — months or even years.

“This post-acute phase involves the brain’s slower recalibration after substance use has altered its chemistry.”

This post-acute phase involves the brain’s slower recalibration after substance use has altered its chemistry. During this time, people commonly experience:

• Intense mood swings that seem to come out of nowhere
• Anxiety that can border on panic attacks
• Persistent depression or anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure)
• Sleep disturbances that compound other symptoms
• Cognitive difficulties that make tasks like navigating insurance systems feel impossible
• Heightened stress responses that make everyday challenges feel overwhelming

What makes PAWS particularly challenging is its unpredictable, wave-like nature. Someone might have several good days followed by a crash that feels like they’re back at square one. This unpredictability can be demoralizing and is a common trigger for relapse.

For G’s family member, trying to navigate complex systems while experiencing these symptoms isn’t just difficult — it can feel impossible. And that’s where tapping can become a crucial support tool.

The Nervous System’s Role in Recovery

To understand why Tapping can be so effective during recovery, we need to understand what’s happening in the body at a nervous system level.

Long-term substance use fundamentally alters how our stress response system functions. The autonomic nervous system, which controls our fight-flight-freeze responses, becomes dysregulated. People in recovery often exist in a state of constant physiological stress, even when there’s no immediate threat.

This stress state:

• Makes anxiety and mood swings more likely
• Interferes with clear thinking and problem-solving
• Disrupts sleep patterns
• Triggers cravings as the body seeks relief
• Makes emotional regulation extremely difficult

Traditional recovery approaches are essential but sometimes don’t address this underlying nervous system dysregulation directly enough. This is precisely where Tapping steps in.

How Tapping Supports Recovery: The Science

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT or “Tapping”) works directly with the body’s stress response system, making it uniquely suited to addiction recovery support.

Research has shown that Tapping:

1. Reduces cortisol levels significantly. Dr. Dawson Church’s research demonstrated a 24% decrease in cortisol (the main stress hormone) after just one hour of Tapping. For someone battling the heightened stress states of PAWS, this physiological shift can be profound.
2. Calms the amygdala. Brain imaging studies show that Tapping reduces activity in the amygdala, the brain’s alarm center that goes into overdrive during PAWS.
3. Improves emotional regulation. Multiple studies have shown Tapping’s effectiveness for anxiety, depression, and PTSD — all conditions that commonly co-occur with substance use disorders.
4. Supports neuroplasticity. Recovery requires the brain to form new neural pathways, and the combination of physical touch with cognitive focus in Tapping may help accelerate this process.

“What makes Tapping particularly valuable during recovery is that it’s a self-administered technique that can be used anywhere, anytime.”

What makes Tapping particularly valuable during recovery is that it’s a self-administered technique that can be used anywhere, anytime. Unlike many other interventions that require appointments or specific settings, Tapping is always available — even during those 3 a.m. moments when anxiety peaks and support services aren’t accessible.

Note: The information in this article is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider when navigating addiction or recovery.

A Tapping Sequence for PAWS Symptoms

For G’s family member (and anyone experiencing similar challenges), here’s a basic Tapping sequence to begin with:

Start by identifying the most pressing symptom or challenge right now. For many people in PAWS, it’s either anxiety, low mood, or difficulty functioning with daily tasks. Rate the intensity of this feeling on a scale of 0-10.

Take a deep breath, check in with your level of distress again, and continue tapping until you notice a shift.

For the Caregivers: A Special Note to G

G’s comment about being “too busy to tap” touched me deeply because it reflects what so many caregivers experience. When we’re supporting someone through recovery, our own needs often fall to the bottom of the priority list.

But here’s the truth, G: Your wellbeing isn’t optional in this equation. It’s essential.

“Research on caregiver resilience shows clearly that your ability to support your family member effectively is directly related to how well you’re caring for yourself.”

Research on caregiver resilience shows clearly that your ability to support your family member effectively is directly related to how well you’re caring for yourself. This isn’t selfish — it’s necessary.

Even 5 minutes of Tapping each day can help:

• Reduce your stress levels, improving your decision-making
• Process the complex emotions that arise when supporting someone in recovery
• Maintain healthy boundaries to prevent caregiver burnout
• Keep your own nervous system regulated, which indirectly helps your family member too

Your attendance at Al-Anon shows you understand the importance of support. Consider Tapping as another tool in your self-care toolkit — one that’s available even in the small moments between tasks.

A simple sequence might be:

Remember, one of the greatest gifts you can offer your family member is your grounded, regulated presence. Tapping helps you maintain that even in the midst of chaos.

The Bigger Picture

What strikes me about G’s email is how it highlights a critical gap in our approach to addiction recovery. We have programs, medications, and therapies for the person in recovery, but we often neglect the nervous system dysregulation that underlies so many recovery challenges.

This gap affects not just the person in recovery, but everyone around them. Families like G’s are doing their best to navigate a difficult journey without all the tools they need.

Tapping offers something unique in this landscape — a simple, accessible technique that addresses the physiological underpinnings of both addiction and recovery. It’s not a replacement for comprehensive treatment, but rather a complementary approach that can make other interventions more effective.

When we calm the nervous system through tapping, we create space for healing to happen more efficiently. We make it easier for the brain to form new neural pathways. We reduce the overwhelming stress that often triggers relapse.

A Final Thought

To G’s family member and everyone navigating the challenging terrain of post-acute withdrawal: What you’re experiencing isn’t a failure of recovery. It’s a normal part of the healing process that unfortunately doesn’t get discussed enough.

“Your brain and body are working hard to recalibrate after significant changes. The anxiety, mood swings, and other symptoms you’re experiencing are evidence of this healing process — not signs that it isn’t working.”

Your brain and body are working hard to recalibrate after significant changes. The anxiety, mood swings, and other symptoms you’re experiencing are evidence of this healing process — not signs that it isn’t working.

Tapping can’t eliminate this process entirely, but it can make it more manageable. It can help you navigate each day with a bit more ease, help you access the support you need more effectively, and ultimately support your continued healing.

And to G and all the caregivers: Your love and support matter enormously. By taking care of yourself through tools like Tapping, you’re not taking away from what you can give — you’re ensuring you can continue to show up in sustainable ways.

Recovery is rarely a straight line, but with each tool we add to our toolkit, the path becomes a little more manageable. Tapping is one such tool — simple enough to use anywhere, powerful enough to make a difference.

Looking for additional support?

Whether you’re navigating recovery yourself or supporting a loved one through this journey, these Tapping resources can provide valuable assistance:

• Find a Certified EFT Practitioner – Connect with someone experienced in addiction recovery who can provide personalized guidance.
• The Tapping Solution Book – Contains foundational Tapping techniques that can be applied to recovery challenges.
• The Tapping Solution App – Our app features numerous meditations specifically designed to support addiction recovery and caregiving. Here are some I recommend:
  • Release Overwhelm – Perfect for both those in recovery. We even have a specific version for caregivers, Caregiver Support: Releasing Overwhelm, for when everything feels like too much.
  • Sleep Support – Address one of the most common and challenging aspects of recovery with this guided sequence for better rest. We have a whole category of content to help you sleep with greater ease.
  • Caregiver Support – These 6 sessions are specifically designed for those like G who are supporting loved ones through challenging times.
  • If Opioid addiction recovery is what you or someone you care about is experiencing, we have 2 sessions specifically designed to support that. Opioid Detox Support Sleep Programming is designed to be listened to before sleep, and Opioid Detox Support – Craving Relief to help address in the moment cravings.

Note: You can access these meditations by clicking the links above using your mobile device, or type the name of the meditation into The Tapping Solution App’s search function.

If you’ve used Tapping to support recovery — either for yourself or a loved one — I’d love to hear your experience in the comments below. Or if you have questions about applying Tapping to recovery challenges, please ask. Your questions help others who might be facing similar situations.

Until next time… Keep Tapping!
Nick Ortner