What is EMDR?
“The past affects the present event without us being aware of it”
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). It is a mental health treatment for trauma, developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987. Francine Shapiro made the discovery while she was walking in the park and thinking about a disturbing event. She noticed that while her eyes moved back and forth thinking of this problem, it became more manageable.
She made the connection between this eye movement and the fact that she felt relief. Francine Shapiro continued to do research using this “bilateral” stimulation to “desensitize” emotional pain. She continued to prove that people can have a reduction in emotionally charged symptoms with the use of this intervention. Although it has been widely proven effective in numerous studies, it remains somewhat unclear how and why it works. Learn more about EMDR at the linked video.
“Every single person has a story that will break your heart. And if you’re paying attention, many people... have a story that will bring you to your knees. Nobody rides for free.”
But… What is trauma?
How do we define “Trauma”?. Most people think of trauma as an event and in some respects this is true, but it may have more to do with how the event impacts us than the event itself. The most basic definition of trauma is, “Trauma is a very severe shock or very upsetting experience, which may cause psychological damage”.-Collins dictionary. In my view trauma is an inherent part of being human. It seems that no one is really spared from these types of experiences that overwhelm the brain and threaten our sense of safety. As Brene Brown says, “Nobody rides for free”.
Psychotherapy Is One Way To Lessen The Impact Of Trauma
“Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence”
This is a concept that appears in most spiritual, philosophical and psychological traditions. Suffering is an inherent part of being human. It is unlikely we will ever be able to stop difficult things from happening, but we can alter the impact.
Psychotherapy is one way to do that, and EMDR is a tool that can be used that is both effective and efficient. It is said that psychotherapy is both an art and a science. This might be another way of saying that for the most part, the recipe for healing remains relatively unknown. Sometimes suspending belief and putting faith in the mind's ability to heal is the most active ingredient, and this is especially true for EMDR therapy.
“Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls your life.......”
Having experienced EMDR and been trained in it, there appears to be an element of something even deeper in the EMDR process. Infact, it is still unknown what exactly makes EMDR work. Its popularity has grown because people experience healing, but the mechanism is still unknown. There seems to be an almost mystical element to EMDR. Understandably this creates an immediate skepticism. Many practitioners will simplify it as the brain healing itself. Can it be that simple?
Maybe so, we often accept this as it relates to physical health concerns. With our bodies we easily accept this as truth, but somehow resist it with the mind. When you sprain your ankle the doctor will advise you to rest and “let it heal”. We accept the body's ability to heal itself. Similarly, you might cut yourself and protect it with a bandaid, but the healing is done automatically by your body. Why do we feel the mind is any different? EMDR is like that bandaid. It aids in the natural ability of the mind to heal itself from trauma. This is done through reactivating a difficult memory and negative belief and using bilateral stimulation to self induce healing.
“Our bodies are gardens- our wills are the gardeners”
So, How does EDMR work?
EMDR focuses on how past emotionally charged experiences intrude on the present. It uses eye movements to help you “update” your brain. This is best compared to what occurs during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. During sleep we often alternate between regular sleep patterns and REM sleep. The REM sleep pattern helps to process troubling memories from the day. It is believed that EMDR replicates sleep patterns by creating sets of eye movements that allow memories to be processed and therefore change thinking patterns to a healthier perspective.
“The best eraser in the world is a good night’s sleep”
A unique form of EMDR taught by EMDR Consulting allows three different “speeds” of treatment. Learn more about EMDR Consulting here. This opens up treatment to include issues like anxiety, interpersonal stress, grief, anger, depression and other concerns.
Navigating the effects of past trauma will often require a system of support. Psychotherapy can be useful to help understand how it affects you in your current life. A therapist will listen to you without judgment, providing space for you to take an honest look at what causes you stress and why. If you are looking for this type of support, or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out by using the form below.
