EMDR therapy, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, is a type of psychotherapy that specifically treats those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Currently, this is a commonly recommended form of treatment for military veterans as well as individuals with PTSD regardless of the cause of the disorder.
Common causes for PTSD are a traumatic event where the individual has experienced directly, or indirectly, a life-threatening event, a natural disaster, or rape. There are some misconceptions that only war veterans have PTSD, but this is not true. A car accident can cause PTSD as can a house fire. EMDR therapy is not just for PTSD, but also for panic attacks, addictions, and eating disorders.
The Brain When Traumatized
When a person is significantly distraught, the brain becomes unable to perform tasks as well as it did before. The memories of disturbing moments are retrieved and relieved when the individual does not want to recall these memories. The reliving of these memories can cause significant distress to the point that it becomes hard, if not impossible, for the person to meet their responsibilities and carry out their basic tasks.
It can cause the person to go to great lengths to avoid reminders of the event. For example, if someone is part of a shooting, the sound of anything resembling gunfire will bring about these memories. That person is very likely to avoid events they would have previously attended, like a 4th of July Celebration.
Hearing a car backfire could send them into a panic attack. If the triggering event happened at work or school, the individual could have a very difficult time returning to that place and if they do, have a difficult time concentrating and working to their full potential.
These disturbing memories can greatly affect a person's well-being in a negative manner. In most cases, these memories can be triggered unexpectedly, which can bring a person back to their original severely stressed state at the moment of the memory. At this point, the individual is overwhelmed and, without proper treatment, likely does not have the tools to move forward and may feel hopeless and helpless over these memories.
The effect is overwhelming as it can change the way one perceives the world around them and it could change the way that others see them. For example, if someone were to be socially active and giddy, after a traumatizing event, such as a panic attack, they may become reserved and sensitive.
Post-traumatic stress can be treated by certified professionals as they use EMDR therapy.
The purpose of EMDR therapy is to change the way a person reacts to a traumatizing event or memory rather than eliminating or avoiding the disturbing memory, which cannot be done, at least not successfully. It is very different from talk therapy, which would focus on the memory and processing the memory. With EMDR therapy, the therapist will have the client recall the disturbing event, and then lead the client through a series of eye movements in order to reduce the anxiety and negative emotions surrounding the event.
As was said in the article, "What is the Actual EMDR Session Like?", EMDR therapy is often compared with REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. That is, it centers on the focus of your eyes.
Though EMDR therapy follows a series of steps, one of the key steps is desensitization. During this step, the therapist will present a client a series of scenarios in which the client will rate their scale of disturbance upon. The rates of disturbances can go as low as 0 or no disturbance to 10 or the highest disturbance.
The focus or movements of the client's eyes during this time will be monitored. Throughout the EMDR therapy sessions, the therapist will suggest new sets of eye movement for the client to try. These shifts of focus will change until the rates of the client's disturbance are reduced to 0.
Part of the reactions to disturbing relived memories is the movements, especially when a person was physically affected during the traumatic episode. When triggered, the body can react in response to the associated memory. Body scans are used to identify physical trauma, but desensitization can be used to treat these conditions as well.
After a successful EMDR therapy session, the client should be able to sense triggers and not feel any, or significantly less, emotional trauma or muscular tension.
It is important to note that EMDR therapy is relatively new. It was started in 1989 and while there have been numerous studies, many of them have had a small sample size. There is encouraging research, and clients report success and significant improvement, but we still need more research to gain a greater understanding of how and why EMDR works.
Just as with traditional talk therapy, it is important that a client feels comfortable with his or her therapist. Especially since difficult and disturbing memories will be brought to the surface, it is imperative that the room and the relationship feel safe. Should it be the case that the relationship between a client and therapist is poor, the EMDR therapy may not be successful.
In any EMDR therapy, during the first and last few sessions, there should be some interaction between the client and the therapist in terms of the client's post-traumatic stress and the treatments that will be given to the client. Due to this, being comfortable enough to express yourself plays a large role in the success of EMDR therapy. Do not be afraid to tell your therapist if it is not working for you. You cannot get the help you need if your therapist does not know it is not working.
It is unknown how effective EMDR therapy would be online without the office setting since this is a very interactive process between the therapist and the client. However, if you have questions about EMDR or want to explore your options for other ways of coping with PTSD, panic, eating disorders, or addiction, you have the option to try online counseling. BetterHelp is an online platform where thousands of trained therapists are ready to be matched with you. You can work with your therapist anywhere you have an internet connection and all you need to get started is a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
This could also be a good option for you if you have tried EMDR and had some success but still have symptoms of anxiety and panic. More traditional therapy could give you the additional tools and skills you need to finish healing. PTSD is complex and there is no one size fits all approach, but, with PTSD, the sooner you reach out, the better your chances are at healing faster and more effectively.
It can be scary and overwhelming, but there is help available. Reach out today and get started with a professional counselor.
For someone who has experienced traumatic stress, EMDR therapy can be an effective treatment. EMDR treatment can help diffuse symptoms of PTSD, anxiety or depression, and uses rapid eye movements to gage how strongly an individual is reacting to traumatic events.
The American Psychiatric Association recognizes EMDR therapy as a useful model for a variety of disorders involving traumatic memories.
In an EMDR therapy session, you will be asked to think and talk about physical sensations that are brought up when discussing a traumatic event. If you struggle with post traumatic stress disorder, body sensations associated with the trauma may be triggered. Based on the adaptive resolution approach, this work aims at challenging your stress disorder, and monitoring your eye movements while you reprocess.
Your therapist will attempt to help you get closer to eye movement desensitization. Their medical advice will help you move through life with less uncomfortable interruptions.
If you’re struggling with PTSD or another stress disorder, there are a variety of types of therapy available. EMDR therapy is a great option, but getting medical advice from a licensed therapist is the best way to be sure if it will work for you.
Other forms of therapy that are commonly used to treat trauma include: pharmacotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy.
EMDR therapy focuses on desensitization and reprocessing a traumatic event. When struggling with a stress disorder, it can feel difficult to return to traumatic memories. In order to get the most effective treatment, it’s important to be honest with your therapist about how reprocessing with EMDR is feeling.
Some of the techniques used in EMDR therapy, such as bilateral stimulation, may make you uncomfortable initially. Keeping a positive mindset and engaging with your support system can help offset any obstacles.
Initially, EMDR therapy can be uncomfortable. Movement desensitization and reprocessing is difficult as it challenges you to remember traumatic events. There is a chance you may experience side effects during and after your treatments. Though sessions can be taxing, this type of therapy has a very high success rate.
The EMDR Institute has developed a concise strategy to help diffuse people’s reactions to traumatic events using EMDR therapy.
The 8 phases of EMDR therapy are as follows:
Though you can find coping mechanisms to help you process traumatic events, without an expert guiding you, EMDR treatment isn’t as effective. Some of the techniques used, such as bilateral stimulation, would be near impossible without a therapist there. Since there are a variety of side effects and body sensations that can result from reprocessing, it’s best to seek out a therapist that can prepare you, and keep you safe.
If you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or you have a hard time controlling emotions when they develop, EMDR may not be right for you. It’s always important to do research into a therapy model before engaging in it. For more information, look at medically reviewed sources, like the EMDR Institute.
Before beginning EMDR treatment, it’s important to acknowledge that you may experience some triggers throughout the process. Being honest with your support system, and taking care of your physical and mental health can help. Self care activities like journaling, walking through nature and stretching can be a great way to offset any negative side effects.
It’s also a good idea to do research into EMDR, and talk to your therapist about what to expect. Treatment is different for everybody, and having a good understanding of what you’re engaging in can help balance any stress you may have.
EMDR therapy has a very high success rate. A recent study found that 84 - 90% of single-trauma victims no longer struggled with post traumatic stress disorder after just three sessions.
It’s important to point out that established institutions like the American Psychiatric Association, the EMDR Institute, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs recommend this treatment.
People struggling with post traumatic stress disorder shouldn’t feel ashamed or afraid of seeking out help. Over time, and with the right treatment, your quality of life can greatly improve.