It’s possible that you’ve heard of EMDR as a method that is frequently used by trauma therapists, but you’re not really sure what it is or how it works.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that might seem to be a bit strange at first. In fact, when it was first introduced, many therapists thought of it as a fad that involved wiggling your fingers in front of clients’ eyes and expecting their thought patterns to change. However, as more research has been done, it’s been discovered that EMDR is actually a very effective way of helping people heal.
Understanding the Method of EMDR
For just a moment, think about a time when you experienced something very unpleasant during the day. It was so unpleasant, that even when you were going to be at night, it was still somewhat disturbing. When you wake up the next morning after a good night’s sleep, the matter that was quite disturbing just a few hours ago is no longer an issue. What happened?!
During sleep, there is something called REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement). As your eyes move back and forth in your sleep, your brain is diffusing your days’ experiences into your consciousness. It does this by activating your Adaptive Information Processing System (AIP) which is the function of the brain that allows us to work through troubling events and experiences. Your brain makes healthier and more adaptive connections with the days’ events and eventually, it is no longer such a big deal. EMDR appears to have a similar effect to what naturally happens when you enter REM sleep. It has an effect on the way your brain processes information. You still remember the traumatic event that you experienced, but it doesn’t have the same effect on you as it did before. When images, sounds and feelings are brought to your mind, it’s much less upsetting. This tends to be the case long term, and the distress that is associated with your trauma becomes less distressing, and even more so as time goes on.
What EMDR Does Not Do
Many trauma victims find it really difficult to put what they’re feeling into words, and that’s one reason why so many people wait to get help. They don’t want to talk about their traumas, and even if they did want to talk about them, they’re not sure what to say, or even where to begin.
With EMDR, talking about the trauma isn’t necessary at all. In his book, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk discusses one of his first encounters with EMDR and how he realized that his patients were not required to discuss what occurred during their sessions. You’re not required to talk about your experiences, and by remaining focused on what’s happening with you internally, the results are often remarkable and very healing.
Because EMDR does not require you to speak of your trauma, this might be a method of treatment that you want to consider as you think about the steps you need to take to heal from a trauma that has occurred in your life. EMDR is a proven method that, in many cases, has shown to be even more effective than medication long-term. If you’re ready to get started with EMDR, I’d love to help you. Please contact me for an appointment.
