More about EMDR

If you’re struggling with difficult memories, anxiety, emotional withdrawal or reactivity, you’re not alone. These are common responses to trauma. trauma that stays in your system long after the event is technically referred to as Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

One of the most effective ways to heal is through a therapy called EMDR.

Can EMDR Help Me?

EMDR ican help if you suffer from:

• PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

• Anxiety or panic attacks

• Grief or loss

• Childhood trauma or abuse

• Difficult memories from accidents or injuries

• Phobias (fears)

• Trouble with environmental triggers (like loud noises, crowded places or people and places that remind you of past trauma)

It’s recommended by experts all over the world, including the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association.

What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. The name is a mouthful, but the idea is simple: EMDR helps your brain process difficult memories in a way that calms the nervous system and leaves you feeling more peaceful and empowered.

• It’s not just talk therapy: EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help integrate your left and right brain while processing memories and negative self perceptions. Two of the most common types of techniques involves gentle eye movements or holding soothing tappers while processing. Bilateral stimulation is just a fancy name for rythmic movement alternating between the right and left side. It sounds complicated, but it’s actually not!

• You don’t have to share every detail: You can heal without having to talk about everything that happened. You can share in small snippets and visual images that represent aspects of the experience.

• It works for all kinds of trauma: From big events like accidents, tragedy or loss, to ongoing chronic stressors.

How Does EMDR Work?

When something upsetting happens, your brain sometimes gets “stuck” on the memory. This can make you feel anxious, sad, or even like you’re reliving the event again and again. through flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, anger or overreactivity to reminders of what happened.

EMDR helps your brain “unstick” these memories. In a session, we will:

• Ask you to puposefully think about the memory or feeling.

• Guide your eyes to move back and forth, or use gentle taps or sounds to help integrate your right brain and left brain experiences of it.

• Ask you to allow your subconscious to freely associate and just notice thoughts, feelings and body sensations that come up as you allow your mind to wonder. Whatever comes up is subconsciously related to the “stuck” experience and will be helpful to process in session

• Help you reprocess the memory in a new, less upsetting way that highlights your strength and resilience

Over time, the memory becomes less painful. You can remember it, but it doesn’t control your feelings or reactions. and when similar situations occur you’ll no longer feel like you’re “back there” again. You are lalso ikely to feel “lighter” and more peaceful.