What is EMDR? Here’s how it can help you.
Let’s get personal here…
My family and I had just moved into our new house. I was excitedly and absentmindedly vacuuming (too busy dreaming up all the possibilities in our new space lol) and accidentally vacuumed into the base board which created a loud ‘THUD!’. I froze, my heart started to race, and I was wide eyed and on alert. My body tensed and I braced myself expecting another loud and threatening thud. But all I heard was the hum of the vacuum. I was safe now. There wasn't going to be another thud.
The next day, I was arranging glassware and dishes in the kitchen. Again, I accidentally created a loud ‘THUD?’ by bumping a cabinet shut and my startle response fired. I froze. My heart started racing. I braced myself. …. It was in this moment that it became extremely evident that I was experiencing a real problem. When I accidentally bumped the cabinet door and it slammed shut, and my body went into full blown fight/flight (in my case freeze) I flashed back to being in our townhouse terrified of the banging and harassment I was preparing to endure from our neighbor on the other side of the wall. It was that moment, in the safety of our newly purchased home, that I knew I had developed PTS and needed help.
{For a little more context- The townhouse we had lived in shared a wall with an individual who would bang aggressively on our walls unprovoked at all hours of the day and night, as well as in response to any accidental noise we made. Sadly conversations and assertiveness were not effective so we eventually chose to move.}
I had heard about EMDR therapy as a relatively new and groundbreaking approach to treating trauma so I sought out an EMDR therapist. Fast forward a few months, it was EMDR Therapy that enabled me to overcome my trauma. It felt like a miracle to be able to speak candidly about my experiences with a sense of calm and peace in my mind and body. Just the facts, and no inner activation. Phew! Years later I can still think, feel, and talk about my old living situation in a completely neutral way. That ‘bad’ thing happened, it negatively affected my life for a while, but I am completely okay now.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and it is a type of psychotherapy for trauma.
EMDR is successful in treating:
PTSD
stress
grief
panic
anxiety
fear
disturbing memories
and other emotional challenges
EMDR enables people to reprocess and heal from the symptoms, memories, and distress from life experience(s). It also aims to alleviate distress, reformulate negatively held personal beliefs, and reduce physiological arousal through standard phases of treatment. It is a past, present, and future oriented therapy.
The length of time required to successfully complete EMDR therapy varies from person to person as there is no timetable to healing emotional pain and suffering. However, EMDR typically requires about 8-12 sessions in order to facilitate healing.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR therapy works by using dual attention stimulus (eye movements, audio, or tactile stimulation). The bilateral stimulation activates the left and right brain simultaneously, which is a key component of EMDR therapy. Activating the opposing sides of the brain is what aids in releasing emotions and memories that are trapped in the body’s nervous system.
EMDR therapy does not require that the client talk in detail about his/her disturbing memories, unlike other therapies. It also shows that the brain is capable of healing the psychological, emotional, and physical wounds of the body as the brain has a natural inclination toward healing.
Curious?
My personal experience with trauma and EMDR therapy gives me a unique and special perspective as I have been in the client seat with success. If you have questions or curiosities about EMDR therapy, or wonder if it be right for you, I’d be happy to talk with you. Feel free to contact me to discuss.