How can EMDR help me?

Is Your Mind Stuck on Repeat?

 

 

Do you ever find yourself replaying the same memory over and over? Does a past experience still bring up anxiety, shame, or even physical tension no matter how much time has passed? Do you avoid certain thoughts, places, or people because they remind you of something painful?

​

If so, you're not alone. More importantly, you're not broken. These are signs that your brain may be holding onto unprocessed memories and could benefit from EMDR. EMDR is a powerful, research-backed therapy that helps people heal from emotional distress caused by painful or traumatic experiences. 

​

When something overwhelming happens and your brain does not get a chance to properly process an experience, the brain gets “stuck.” This feels like the memory is frozen in time, along with all the emotions and body reactions that go with the memory. EMDR helps your brain "finish the job"  it couldn't do when you were overwhelmed by trauma or emotion. Instead of talking about the problem over and over, we will allow your brain to finally fully process the experience so you can let go of the pain associated with that memory.  Once reprocessed, the memory becomes just like any other normal memory and no longer one that triggers distress. In EMDR treatment, we re-visit the past but also prepare your brain and body to respond differently when a trigger happens in the future. 

​

EMDR helps the brain and nervous system:

​

• “Unfreeze” the memory

• Reprocess it so it feels like it's in the past (instead of still happening or just under the surface)

• Reduce the emotional charge, fear, shame, or pain attached to it

• Reduce any behaviors you’re using the cope with the emotional pain such as shopping, over working, or drinking alcohol. 

• Reduce any negative beliefs about yourself or the world that your brain created after the event  such as “people always disappoint me.”

​

The memory becomes a faded scar rather than an open wound.  Over time, people often say:

 

• "It doesn't bother me anymore."

• "It feels farther away."

• "I remember it, but it doesn’t hurt like it used to.”

• “It feels like the emotion just left my body”

 

EMDR is used for more than just PTSD. It can help with:

​

• Childhood trauma or neglect 

• Anxiety and panic

• Phobias

• Grief

• Addiction and codependency*

• Cravings, urges, and triggers

• Low self-esteem or attachment wounds

• Disturbing memories that won't go away

​

Please reach out if you’re interested in starting EMDR and finally getting out of the cycles of pain, fear, or self-doubt you’ve been in. 

 

 

*A note on the word codependency. Some individuals prefer not to use the word codependency because they feel as though it stigmatizes a normal, relational response to someone they love being sick or in pain. I use it here because it has been used for decades now, so people have a shared understanding of what it means, and I want people to be able to find the help they need if they search this term.