4 Reasons Why EMDR is Effective in Treating Trauma
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic method used in the effective treatment of mental and emotional trauma.
It has been widely praised in the United States and is currently used by agencies such as the American Psychiatric Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, and the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Those suffering from PTSD caused by major traumas such as sexual or physical assault, combat experiences, accidents or the sudden death of a loved can benefit from EMDR therapy.
Recent research has pointed to the fact that PTSD can also result from less dramatic life events- hurtful experiences during childhood or being in an abusive relationship.
In some cases, these can cause even more symptoms of PTSD than major traumas like combat or terrorist attacks.
Ultimately, only the individual who faced a particular life changing event can decide if it was traumatic to them or not. Once a situation is experienced and the meaning placed upon it is trauma, there is a disruption in how the brain processes information.
These stored traumatic interpretations come together with current events and color them negatively.
The past becomes the present.
In this instance, you may feel “stuck” or like you just can’t seem to break harmful patterns no matter how hard you try.
How can EMDR Help You Heal?
4 Benefits of EMDR Therapy
1. EMDR techniques allow you to identify early memories that are the root of your problems and change your emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations surrounding them.
These same techniques can also help you achieve desired goals by understanding why you do what you do and how you can manage life and your own behaviors better.
2. No matter how long ago the negative incident(s) occurred or how recent, the bottom line is that EMDR Therapy can help you reprocess the negative memories that continue to have a damaging impact on your life in the present so that you restore your mental health to its best possible functioning.
3. EMDR Therapy sessions work to alleviate symptoms like flashbacks and nightmares, angry outbursts, difficulties sleeping and concentrating, and feelings of depression and isolation.
4. EMDR is an effective method to treat unprocessed memories that are poisoning things for you in the present.
When there is a block in your brain’s natural process of returning to optimal mental health, the negative memories, and emotions, as well as physical sensations and beliefs, are stored in your brain.
If your brain is not over stimulated by a shocking event, an innate processing system within your brain digests information about what has been experienced and makes appropriate connections that help you recover with resilience and the ability to better handle similar situations with mastery should they occur again.
Those reactions to the event that are no longer useful, and any emotions or physical sensations are released so that your body and mind are not dragged down.
When your brain can’t turn on it’s natural healing process to bring your mental health back to optimal functioning, EMDR is a therapeutic option you can turn to for help.
EMDR turns on your body’s natural healing mechanism that removes the anxiety, fear and sadness that can cause you to avoid or overreact to situations.
EMDR is used to treat a variety of issues including:
- Panic attacks
- Complicated grief
- Dissociative disorders
- Disturbing memories
- Phobias
- Pain disorders
- Performance anxiety
- Stress reduction
- Addictions
- Sexual and/or Physical abuse
- Body dysmorphic disorders
- Personality Disorders
If you or a loved one suffer from any of the above and believe you may benefit from EMDR, please contact me. I am happy to discuss how EMDR Therapy can turn your life around in a positive way.
