Over recent years, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has become widely recognized in the therapy realm as an effective approach to treating a variety of mental health conditions. This approach identifies a specific target and works to develop a healthier emotional response.
With EMDR, practitioners have had successful outcomes, and there is evidence to back it up in multiple areas. Here’s a look at common conditions EMDR can be used for.
EMDR for PTSD Treatment
The origins of EMDR go back to the treatment of symptoms stemming from a traumatic experience leading to PTSD. The changes that occur in the brain after living through a trauma can result in lasting wounds. Negative memories become “stuck” and find ways to wreak havoc on daily functioning.
This can explain why certain sounds trigger flashbacks or why similar situations can cause nightmares. Without proper memory processing, they maintain a tight hold over you. This is where EMDR can be exceptionally helpful.
EMDR works to reprocess any distressing memories into the correct place, replacing negative associations with more positive ones. By doing so, it reduces the emotional intensity that often leads to triggering scenarios.
EMDR and Anxiety Management
Anxiety can have several root causes, ranging from genetics to environmental factors. When anxiety is related to a negative memory or a specific stressful experience, EMDR can help manage symptoms.
By focusing on the specific memory or experience, EMDR can work similarly to managing PTSD. The desensitization and reprocessing will help remove negative associations and replace them with positive ones, reducing the severity of the trigger.
The use of bilateral stimulation during treatment helps to alleviate symptoms in a less distressing way, also reducing anxiety. If you’re someone who becomes anxious at the idea of talking through past memories or experiences, EMDR can be helpful since the approach is different than traditional talk therapy.
Using EMDR to Help with Depression
Depression can often stem from a negative, stressful, or traumatic experience. This could be along the lines of childhood trauma like abuse or neglect, significant loss, chronic illness, or social rejection. It can send you on a negative downward spiral, leading to thoughts of hopelessness and worthlessness.
EMDR comes into depression treatment as the process is well-suited to identifying negativity that lingers around these experiences. It can help reprocess events, reframe negative depressive thought patterns, and transform them into something positive.
Because EMDR mimics your natural REM sleep cycle, it taps into a natural route of relief and healing. Using this approach can give you a neurological reset and help return your brain’s wiring to a “normal” status quo.
EMDR Can Reduce Phobias
Phobias are triggered by something very specific. Maybe you had a traumatic encounter with an animal. Maybe you had a negative experience that led to a panic attack.
EMDR will help identify the underlying core memory and work to reprocess it. Once you work through the eight-phase process, those memories won’t be able to fuel the phobia as effectively anymore. The bilateral stimulation helps the brain shift that memory, so you won’t be triggered with the same fear response.
Unlike exposure therapy options that are more commonly used with phobia treatment, EMDR doesn’t require you to have any physical confrontation with the thing you fear. This is also helpful for fears that aren’t as easily addressed within a clinic setting.
Let’s Chat
Mental health struggles can weave a tangled web throughout your day-to-day functioning, making normal things feel quite challenging. Whether you have PTSD, anxiety, depression, phobias, or another condition, EMDR is an option available to help.
Is EMDR therapy something you would like to explore? Let’s connect to get started.