What is EMDR and Can it Help Me?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence based approach most commonly connected to treating trauma. Traumas like being in a car accident, unexpected or sudden death of loved one, sexual or physical assault, learning your spouse has had an affair or a porn addiction, or getting a divorce. Or for smaller traumas that build on each other like having or adopting a child, working as a nurse or doctor in a children’s hospital, relocating, planning a wedding, being bullied at school, or conflict with significant other or children.
How Does EMDR Work?
At night, REM sleep is how our body process through our day. But during a heightened state of emotional stress or traumatic event, not everything is processed as it should each night. EMDR creates the same experience during a therapy session to allow you brain to go back and reprocess trauma that has not been fully processed. During the therapy sessions, you are not talking about the trauma but rather allowing your brain to do the work of processing it.
Unprocessed traumas get triggered in present life and cause us to have intense levels of emotion in current life situations. What is happening is your past unprocessed trauma is getting triggered in life experiences today which can result in high anxiety, depression, have memories of traumatic events come to mind, fearful of being alone, unrealistic feelings of guilt and shame, difficulty trusting others, and having relationship problems to name a few. Unprocessed trauma can also result in negative self beliefs (like feeling you are unlovable, unworthy, not good enough, or a failure). By reprocessing trauma, EMDR can help you heal from the symptoms you are experiencing today.
Is EMDR Right for Me?
Wondering if EMDR therapy is the right form of treatment for you? See if you identify with any of the following:
I find it difficult to be assertive in my relationships at work or at home.
I feel anxious or have panic attacks
I have the tendency to procrastinate and feel bad about myself
I have a low tolerance for frustration or anger.
I have a pattern of brokenness in close relationships
I struggle with making decisions.
I experience somatic illnesses that doctors can’t explain.
I have one or more negative self-beliefs (such as unlovable, unworthy, not good enough, a failure, a should have done something, I have to be perfect) that surface in my mind
If you said “yes” to any of the above questions you might benefit from EMDR Therapy.