“I know logically that it doesn’t make sense but I still feel…”
It can be incredibly frustrating when we know logically what to do, or can list 100 coping skills but for some reason, in the moment, all those feelings from before still come right back up. It could be that we are aware of exactly what memory is being triggered in the moment, or we have no idea why every time a certain situation happens it brings out anger, sadness, frustration, etc.
Our brains are primed for survival. The human brain has 86 billion neurons that form 100 trillion connections to each other (Caruso 2023). These neural connections work to keep us alive. We learn to be on high alert when hiking down a path that we saw a bear on previously because it is way safer to assume that there is a bear, than to ignore that a bear could be on the path again. When there is a physical danger, fight, flight or freeze is incredibly helpful. We do not want to have to stop and think logically about the next course of action, we need to react immediately to survive. However, when the perceived danger is your spouse asking for the second time to take out the trash and now that request starts to bring up past feelings of inadequacy – fight, flight or freeze is less helpful. And yet, those previous memories bring us back into fight, flight or freeze before we can think logically about how we want to respond. This is where Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be helpful.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy treatment that was developed by Francine Shapiro, PhD to alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories (emdr.com). EMDR is an eight-phase treatment looking at past history, and how memories or associations may be impacting a person’s nervous system now and in the future. EMDR uses eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation such as tapping or buzzers to create new neural networks that empower or transform.
Who is EMDR helpful for?
EMDR was originally developed as a treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and has grown to aid in reprocessing difficult thoughts and memories related to anxiety and depression. Ongoing research supports that EMDR can be helpful for other conditions such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions and other distressing life experiences (Maxfield, 2019). Talk with your clinician to determine if EMDR may be a good fit for you. In trauma treatment, there is evidence that EMDR therapy has been superior to Prozac (Van der Kolk et al., 2007).
As an EMDR therapist, I have had clients share EMDR therapy feels like magic in how quickly it has reduced distress and desensitized the stressful event. I have also had other clients where it’s not the right time or intervention for presenting concerns. Healing is a journey that is not linear, and it is okay to be ready for EMDR and it is okay if there is another intervention that is a better fit.
What are the benefits of EMDR and/or positive outcomes?
Studies show a variety of positive outcomes such as a rapid decrease in distress (emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy). EMDR therapy is a natural way for the brain to recover from traumatic memories. EMDR “involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion)”. EMDR therapy can aid the brain in processing challenging memories, leading healing to resume.
What should someone consider when thinking about pursuing EMDR treatment?
EMDR can be exhausting. When considering EMDR, I encourage clients to think about what external stressors they currently have, and we look at ways to increase meeting emotional needs outside of session. When there is a history of complex trauma, it may take time to build therapeutic safety before jumping into EMDR. In addition, EMDR therapists should assess for symptoms of dissociation. It will be necessary to discuss a plan for if dissociation occurs with your EMDR therapist, such as having items (ie., a candle, lotion, water) to help a person ground.
What if the idea of thinking about my trauma is too much? Will I re-experience my trauma with EMDR?
Therapeutic safety is important when starting EMDR, and your EMDR therapist may recommend waiting to start EMDR until that safety is built, and external stressors have decreased. When starting EMDR, you are in control and can pause or stop at any time. EMDR therapists are trained in strategies to decrease distress, and will lead you through containment or grounding techniques to help you manage the distress.
What age group is EMDR for?
EMDR can be helpful for all age groups. However, with children, EMDR may integrate play-based techniques to aid in processing.
After reading through this article, if you are interested in EMDR therapy, please reach out to your provider to discuss if it may be a good fit for you. If you do not currently have a provider, our intake care team can match you to an EMDR therapist.
