Unfreezing Memories: The Power of EMDR Therapy
Understanding Modern Therapy: Beyond the Couch
When you think of therapy, you imagine sitting on a couch and telling a stranger your deepest darkest secrets. This is a common misconception and mental health therapy has evolved to incorporate many different techniques to help as many people as possible. Some techniques have become very well-known like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Others are not as well known, but they are still effective strategies for improving mental health.
The Science of EMDR: Healing Through Eye Movements
One such therapy is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, or EMDR. This therapy involves using the brain to help heal itself and move forward from life experiences. Your brain is processing information every second of every day. This happens seamlessly without interruptions. When something out of the ordinary happens like a car accident or even abuse, your processing system might become overwhelmed and your brain will be unable to sort through the event, freezing it in its unprocessed state. This is stored in the emotional raw form in your limbic system which can then be continually triggered by similar events. Even if you don’t remember the experience, your body remembers all the emotions of that moment and will bring it up in the present moment.
EMDR helps facilitate processing these raw memories and brings them from being ever-present to being in the past. During a session, these memories are activated with a series of questions. Using a hand motion to simulate the side-to-side eye movement of REM sleep, your brain will move through the memory, and it will change intensity. This healing does not only apply to the memory being worked on but can also apply to others that are similar. This linking of memories can lead to rapid improvement in different aspects of life.
Though EMDR is primarily used as an effective treatment for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), it has been shown to improve symptoms of anxiety, depression, phobias, stress, and more. After one processing session, clients can feel resolution on topics they have struggled in therapy for a long time. Though effective, EMDR can be tough. The process is rapid and reliving traumatic experiences can be difficult for many. It is experienced in short spurts before it passes, but it can be too overwhelming for some.
Treatment can be targeted to very specific times of life or used in conjunction with other forms of therapy. Sessions can be 60-90 minutes long or longer with some therapists over hour-long intensive sessions. All the work is in session and does not require homework like some other therapy techniques. This allows for greater success and effectiveness for clients versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which involves work outside of session.
Personal Testimony: A Journey to Overcoming Fear
During my training, I experienced a session. My session was processing a memory involving a time when someone tried to break into my house. After that event, I was very paranoid and anxious about being in the house by myself. The session was intense but that night, I was home alone and did not feel anxious. This was a very targeted session but still proved to improve my quality of life very quickly.
EMDR is a great technique, but not every therapist is trained. If you're interested in learning more about EMDR therapy or finding a qualified therapist, don't hesitate to reach out to mental health professionals in your area. Your healing journey could start today. For those who want to dive deeper into the world of EMDR, check out these additional resources and research articles to explore how this therapy might benefit you.
Resources:
The EMDR Foundation: emdrfoundation.org
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA): emdria.org
EMDR Institute, Inc.: emdr.com
