EMDR Therapy Treatment - What You Need To Know

One of the most effective treatments for trauma is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR therapy treatment is a type of psychotherapy that helps you process and release traumatic memories in a safe and structured way. EMDR uses eye movements or other types of stimuli, such as sounds or taps, to stimulate both sides of your brain while you recall traumatic events. This helps your brain reorganize and store the memories in a more adaptive way, so they no longer trigger distressing emotions and reactions.

In this article, we will explain what EMDR therapy treatment is, how it works, what it can treat and what to expect from an EMDR session.

What Is EMDR Therapy Treatment?

EMDR therapy was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987 to treat PTSD and other trauma-related disorders. EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, which describes the main components of this therapy.

• Eye movement: During treatment, your therapist will guide you to move your eyes from side to side while you focus on a traumatic memory or a negative belief about yourself. This is called bilateral stimulation, and it activates both hemispheres of your brain. This helps your brain process the memory more effectively and reduce its emotional impact.
• Desensitization: As you recall the traumatic memory with bilateral stimulation, you will notice that your level of distress decreases over time. This means that you are becoming less sensitive or reactive to the memory and its associated feelings. You will also learn to cope with any negative emotions or physical sensations that may arise during the process.
• Reprocessing: After you have desensitized the memory, you will work on reprocessing it with a positive perspective. You will identify a positive belief about yourself that relates to the memory, such as “I am safe now” or “I am strong”. You will then reinforce this belief with bilateral stimulation until you feel confident and empowered by it.

EMDR therapy is based on the adaptive information processing (AIP) model, which states that your brain has a natural ability to heal from psychological wounds. However, when you experience a traumatic event, your brain may not be able to process it fully and store it properly. This can result in the memory being stuck in your nervous system, causing you to relive it over and over again.

EMDR therapy helps your brain access and process the traumatic memory in a way that allows it to integrate with your existing knowledge and experience. This enables you to move past the trauma and resume your normal functioning.

What Can EMDR Therapy Treat?

EMDR therapy was originally designed to treat PTSD, which is a mental health condition that occurs after exposure to a life-threatening or extremely distressing event. People with PTSD may experience symptoms such as:

• Re-experiencing the trauma through flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts.
• Avoiding reminders of the trauma, such as places, people, or situations.
• Feeling constantly on edge, irritable, or easily startled.
• Having negative thoughts and feelings about oneself, others, or the world.
• Having difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or remembering things.

EMDR therapy can help people with PTSD by reducing the intensity and frequency of these symptoms and enhancing their sense of safety and control.

However, it can also treat other mental health conditions that are related to trauma or negative experiences in one’s life. Some of these conditions include:

• Anxiety disorders: It can help people with anxiety disorders by addressing the underlying fears or worries that trigger their symptoms. 
• Depression: It can help people with depression by targeting the negative thoughts and feelings that contribute to their low mood.
• Phobias: It can help people with phobias by desensitizing them to the feared object or situation and reprocessing their irrational fears.
• Substance use disorders: It can help people with substance use disorders by addressing the underlying trauma or emotional pain that drives their addiction.
• Eating disorders: It can help people with eating disorders by addressing the negative body image or self-esteem issues that fuel their behaviors.

EMDR therapy treatment can also treat other issues that are not directly related to trauma, but may affect one’s quality of life, such as:

• Chronic pain: It can help people with chronic pain by reducing the emotional distress and negative beliefs that are associated with their pain. 
• Grief and loss: It can help people with grief and loss by facilitating the natural mourning process and resolving any unresolved emotions or conflicts that are related to the loss. 
• Performance enhancement: It can help people with performance enhancement by boosting their confidence and motivation in various domains, such as sports, academics, or work.