Light will someday split you open even if your life is now a cage. ~Hafiz
How does EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD work?
EMDR is most effective when used in conjunction with traditional forms of therapy to treat emotional disorders. At the time of a traumatic event, strong emotions interfere with our ability to completely process the experience and one moment becomes “frozen in time.” When activated, these memories ranging from minor to major traumas, cause a negative impact on our daily functioning and interfere with the way we see ourselves, our world and how we relate to others. EMDR therapy appears to directly alter the brain, allowing the individual to resume normal functioning while no longer reliving the images, sounds, and feelings associated with the trauma. The memory is still there, but it is less upsetting. Unlike many forms of talk therapy, an EMDR therapist helps trauma survivors by linking an image of what was seen, felt, heard and believed at the time of the trauma with a unique, additional element: a pattern of rapid eye movements, tactile or auditory stimuli. The client is gently guided to just notice what comes up without trying to control the content while processing until the information is less and less disturbing. As the treatment continues, the disturbing memory and associated beliefs, feelings, sensations become worked through until it is replaced with a positive belief about the self. For example, “I'm a failure” becomes integrated “I can succeed.” Similar to many forms of psychotherapy, the exact mechanism for the effectiveness of EMDR is yet unknown. It appears that using rapid eye movements or bilateral tactile stimulation relieves the anxiety associated with the trauma so that the original event can be examined from a more detached perspective, somewhat like watching a movie of what happened. Some experts have noted that the eye movements involved in EMDR might be similar to what occurs naturally during dreaming or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Others believe it reactivates parts of the brain that were “shut down” as a coping mechanism. In this way cognitive reorganizing takes place, allowing the negative, painful emotions to give way to more resolved, empowered feelings.
EMDR does not require the client to go into detail about the distressing events of the past. Unlike many “talk” therapies, there is no need to analyze the trauma for long periods of time. The trauma that must be re-experienced during treatment is relatively short-lived. EMDR was created for use as a trauma therapy and as such focuses on intensely stressful subjects. EMDR may also be effective in the treatment of addictions, eating disorders and phobias.
For more information about EMDR you can visit the EMDR Institute here.
EMDR for PTSD & Trauma on youtube
History of EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro. She made the chance observation that eye movements can reduce the intensity of the disturbing thoughts when she noticed her own stress reactions diminished when her eyes swept back and forth as she walked through a park one day. EMDR involves recalling a stressful past event and “reprogramming” the memory in the light of a positive, self-chosen belief, while using rapid eye movements to facilitate the process. Theories as to why EMDR works are still evolving, but many people have found EMDR to be extremely beneficial.
What conditions are helped by EMDR?
- Fears
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Depression related to trauma
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Surviving childhood abuse
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Performance and test anxiety
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Sexual abuse and/or physical abuse
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Anxiety or panic attacks
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Surviving an assault or robbery
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Surviving a rape
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Witnessing violence
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Loss or injury of a loved one
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Childhood trauma
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Rage
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Surviving an accident
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Overwhelming fears
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Low self-esteem
What Experts have said about EMDR:
"This has all the indications of being a major new resource in behavior therapy." Joseph Wolpe, MD., Originator of Systematic Desensitization
"The first seven years of experience with EMDR has shown that it can be a very effective treatment model of PTSD." Bessel A. van der Kolk, Phd
"EMDR is by far the most effective and efficient treatment we have ever used with dissociative episodes, intrusive memories, and nightmares with Vietnam combat veterans." Howard Lipke, Ph.D., Former Director, Stress Disorder Treatment Unit, North Chicago Veterans Administration Medical Center..
"EMDR is a new and exciting treatment method which is now assisting people with a wide range of psychological problems. It is also bound to be a breakthrough in our understanding of the neurological basis of mental processes." Robyn Robinson, Ph.D., Director of Trauma Support Consultants, Founding President, Australasian Critical Incident Stress Association, Melbourne, Australia.
"EMDR is a powerful tool for the treatment of traumatic stress reactions including PTSD. It has been utilized with remarkable effects in both the acute and prolonged versions of traumatic stress." Jeffrey Mitchell, Ph.D., President, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Ellicot City, Maryland, USA.