Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Brain’s response to emotional stress
If you experience high amounts of stress or are exposed to a trauma, part of the brain responsible for speech can temporarily shut down.
Memories can seem as if they are occurring in real time, and emotions can be just as intense as those experienced from the original stress or trauma.
People who suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, or adjustment disorders are often frustrated by their inability to describe these struggles, even to friends, family members, and mental health professionals.
Our brains are wired for response to intense situations!
We need to respond quickly when faced with threats and dangers. At such moments, your brain focuses all its energy to the part responsible for our fight instinct, our flight instinct, or our freeze instinct.
But what do you do if your brain continues to react to minimal threats in everyday life? For instance, a slamming door, a negative review, or fear of rejection over a difference of opinion can cause a response similar to what you experienced from a major trauma or stress.
All of this can make you feel stuck with misconceptions about yourself. “No one wants me around.” “I’m too much/not enough.” “I’m not in control or safe.” “People find me disgusting.” “It was my fault; I deserved it.”
These thoughts can make your brain “freeze” instead of processing the experience. This is where EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) may help.
Therapy through EMDR
EMDR therapy is an integrative psychotherapy approach that helps people of all ages heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences.
Eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation can activate problem-solving processes and your brain’s own natural healing abilities. By focusing on the negative and positive emotions associated with a specific problem or memory, bilateral stimulation can help your brain begin the process of problem solving.
This process involves communication among different areas of your brain including the area (amygdala) associated with alarm signal for stressful events, the region (hippocampus) associated with memories of safety and danger, and the area (prefrontal cortex) that allows for analysis and control of behavior and emotion.
At times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, but they may not be processed without help. Processing can be enhanced by line drawing and certain types of art making.
Questions? Probably.
It is natural to still have many questions about EMDR, and we would love to explore the ways this process can help you feel safe, in control, and no longer held back by what happened in your past.
Let’s take control of your future with a plan that you feel confident in starting today.