Moving Your Eyes Can Help You Overcome Trauma
The groundbreaking therapy that changed my life
I’ve had this article written in my head for a few years now. Even before my first session of EMDR therapy, I was hopeful — and a bit skeptical, sure, but I was willing to try anything. I had placed my bets on this thing working. I could already envision myself free of my anxiety, sharing the good news of this special form of therapy with the world.
Now, thanks to my incredible therapist, I am doing just that.
What is EMDR?
Developed in 1990, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a type of psychotherapy that helps to alleviate the distressing sensations, emotions, thoughts, and memories that are associated with past trauma. Essentially, it is a way to retrain your brain, to reconfigure how negative memories are stored and how you associate with them.
I won’t sugarcoat this part: the initial stages of EMDR can be a bit triggering, painful, and scary because in order for the therapy to take effect, the patient must first relive the trauma by talking about it and feeling the uncomfortable sensations that arise.
The idea is that with each therapy session, reliving the trauma begins to feel much less emotionally and physically charged than it did before. The patient does not forget the traumatic experience at all, but he or she is no longer bound by fear (or guilt or anxiety) because of it; the amount of “physiological arousal” is reduced.
How does it work?
EMDR works by leveraging external stimuli to momentarily distract you while you discuss your worst memories. The most commonly used stimuli are eye moments directed by your therapist. (“Follow my finger with your eyes while you tell me about what happened”, for example). The more you move your eyes and the more often you engage in the therapy, the less upsetting the memories become.
Scientists have found that EMDR appears to have similar effects to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. In REM, “the mind and body integrates information” in a certain way that is said to heal the body and the brain. EMDR replicates this experience, ultimately resulting in more healthy patterns of information processing.
The experts call it “a way to get past your past”.
Who says?
If you’re a little (or a lot) skeptical, I can understand why. When I first read about EMDR, I thought that maybe it was only for hippies or ancient healers. But it has been extensively studied and is widely recognized as an effective form of treatment for trauma. The American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, and the Department of Defense all stand by EMDR as a legitimate form of psychotherapy.
If that’s not enough, maybe Prince Harry can convince you…
In all seriousness, EMDR dramatically changed my life. In just a few sessions, it had successfully stopped my crippling, obsessive thoughts without making me feel completely emotionless toward my difficult memories. It helped me view my past matter-of-factly, for all that it is and all that it isn’t, without succumbing to an all-consuming emotional reaction.
If you’re struggling with negative thoughts accompanied by haunting memories, EMDR may be a viable option for you. I can’t recommend it enough, and you don’t need to look far to find similar patient success stories.
If you or someone you know might benefit from this particular form of therapy, click here to search for an available therapist near you.
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