Three signs that EMDR therapy may be your path to healing
Over the past few years, teen therapy has become more and more mainstream, shifting the conversation from “if” therapy can help (answer: yes) to “which approach” is right for you (answer: it depends).
Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all deal. There are many different modalities which may work better for different people depending on culture, personality, and the type of mental health challenge you’re experiencing.
Finding the best modality for you — AND working with a therapist who makes you feel uniquely understood — is the winning combination for healing.
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy model originally developed to treat PTSD, though it’s also an effective tool for dealing with anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles. By tapping into the brain’s natural method of processing memory, it helps clients reframe negative experiences, break harmful thought patterns, and desensitize certain triggers.
For those who have tried therapy before but are looking for something different, EMDR can feel like a breath of fresh air. Here are a few signs that EMDR may be the modality you’ve been looking for.
1. You have done therapy in the past, but old wounds keep resurfacing.
When we go through significant stress or trauma, our brains store these memories differently from our everyday experiences in an effort to keep us safe. Someone who’s been in a bad car accident, for example, might suddenly feel anxiety about getting in a car. Their brain is now programmed to stay on high alert to prevent a repeat trauma.
Those fear-based neural connections aren’t wired with the logical override that says they won’t be in a car accident every time they drive.
EMDR is unique in the sense that it literally helps your brain store trauma or other upsetting memories differently than the way it did originally. This allows you to break the harmful cycles that often become associated with these memories or their related triggers.
2. You haven’t felt the same since a major life event.
“I haven’t felt happy ever since…”
“I’ve been anxious or on edge ever since…”
If you can pinpoint a specific transition or trauma that led to you no longer feeling like your “old self” — whether it’s your parent’s divorce, an injury, a breakup, or assault — this is a major sign that EMDR may be right for you. EMDR will help you reprocess these life events and replace associated negative thoughts or beliefs with self-compassion, positivity, and a healing mindset.
3. You’re feeling intense emotions that are hard to understand or control.
Trauma can often make us feel trapped in a constant “flight, fight, or freeze” state.
It’s intense. It’s exhausting. And it can make everyday life overwhelming.
Our loved ones often see the changes we feel. It’s not uncommon for our clients to hear from their parents, friends, or family that they should go talk to someone. This can be really hard to hear. But it can also be helpful to know you aren’t the only one who feels like something is off. It also means that you have people to love and support you as you process your trauma.
If you, or your loved ones, have noticed that extreme emotions are causing changes in your behavior, EMDR can help. These intense emotions are your body’s way of responding to trauma by trying to warn and protect you from things it has learned may be harmful. EMDR can help your body and mind recognize that you no longer need to be on edge, allowing you to move on from past trauma and live peacefully in the present.
If any of these experiences resonate, please reach out to us for support. Like you, our clients have struggled with painful or traumatic experiences, and we have helped them reframe their pasts to recapture hope for the future.