What is EMDR and What Does it Help With?
Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs when painful memories affect the way you live. Unprocessed memories can cause you to re-experience them through the triggers of sights, sounds, words, or smells. If these traumatic memories continue to get to you, emotional distress will follow you at every turn. There may not be any therapy to erase the memories you have experienced, but there is a therapy that can relieve psychological stress by changing the way you see them.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy that changes how memories are stored in your brain. Through side-by-side eye movements, you will remember traumatic memories in small glimpses until those memories no longer bother you. Ultimately, you will be able to go through life without distressing memories holding you back.
Knowing what EMDR helps with will give you an idea of if this particular therapy is the right choice for you.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Having PTSD can make it hard for you to make sense of what has happened. EMDR does its job by helping you process your trauma to promote healing.
EMDR will allow you to recall memories as you watch a therapist’s finger move back and forth. This will continue for about 30 seconds until you feel differently about that memory and more information is being processed. You will then focus on a positive belief and feeling while you hold your traumatic memory in mind.
Depression
Depression can cause you to ruminate on depressive thoughts that make you feel terrible about yourself and the world. EMDR can help identify the powerful negative thoughts or feelings that trigger depression.
You could be experiencing thoughts like “I am not good enough for anyone” or “I am unlovable.” By identifying the life events, experiences, or memories that have led to these thoughts, you can alleviate your symptoms of depression. You will feel better about yourself and feel less intensely about bad experiences.
Children
Children have upsetting experiences that stay stuck in their body and mind as well. For example, your child may have needed surgery after falling off of their bike. They could experience nightmares about the experience or be defiant when pushing them to get back to bike riding.
EMDR can help your child take in the traumatic memory while not letting it consume their life. While your child concentrates on a memory as they watch a therapist’s finger move back and forth, they will not be prone to anger or sadness when they see their bike. They will have the confidence and self-esteem to see that one bad experience should not take away the potential for many good ones on their bike.
Panic Disorder
If you have a tendency to experience panic attacks when your anxiety goes up, this means there are plenty of times where you feel like you are going to die. Your brain will bookmark any experiences or similar experiences that will activate a panic attack. Being afraid of a panic attack increase your chances of experiencing another. EMDR can teach you how to take control of your panic attacks.
EMDR allows you go to back to where the panic attacks first began. You will learn that you are not in danger and be able to cope. This type of therapy will help you connect to the fear that brought on these panic attacks with the logical part that tells you that you are fine.
By the end of your sessions, you will no longer connect yourself to the dark place that triggers your panic attacks. If you believe EMDR is beneficial towards your mental health, Please get into contact with a mental healthcare professional.
At Balance Counseling we offer Teen Counseling, Child Counseling and Trauma Therapy.
