How Does EMDR Actually Work In The Brain?

Yay, you did it! You set up an appointment with your therapist, and the first session went off without a hitch.

Your therapist and you were able to sit down and review your history, speak to your issues, and work together to build a treatment plan.

You were able to speak about the symptoms you have been dealing with. Your therapist recommended Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR Therapy.

After some research on your own, discussions with your therapist, and a little Q&A to learn more about this type of therapy, you feel more comfortable going into your first EMDR session. Your only hesitation is not being fully confident in how it actually works.

So, how does EMDR actually work in the brain? Let’s find out!

How Does EMDR Work?

What once was questioned as “Does it work?” has been changed to “How does it work?”

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a therapy that was formed based on the theory that traumatic events are not processed properly in the brain. This can lead to flashbacks, nightmares, and other types of reactions long after the trauma has passed. The brain has a hard time being able to process if the reaction to trauma is happening in the past or present.

EMDR was introduced to help reduce the intense feelings and emotions associated with traumatic memories. During the session, a therapist helps guide you through the EMDR protocol along with bilateral stimulation, either with eye movement or hand pulsers, to allow your brain to connect the emotional fragments with language that matches and can be filed away properly as part of the past.

To put it simply, EMDR helps your brain process and let go of traumatic memories with the help of bilateral eye movement or hand pulsers.

EMDR in the Brain

Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy and its effects on the brain are still being heavily researched.

Researchers believe that EMDR helps to transform the brain’s information processing system.

With reprocessing, the brain is taught how to associate healthier and more positive ways of thinking with the specific memory.

Based on a significant amount of evidence, researchers believe that two things could be happening in the brain that makes EMDR so successful.

1. Desensitization

The desensitization during the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy session is a crucial component. Desensitization is “a treatment or process that diminishes emotional responsiveness to a negative, aversive or positive stimulus after repeated exposure to it.”

You can tell how important the step of desensitization is in the EMDR process based on the definition. The therapist will carefully monitor the sets of bilateral stimulation to help the client consider the negative cognitions that have been stored up as emotional fragments linked to negative memories.

The client does not forget their memory but the work is to desensitize the individuals to the emotional connection they have with that specific memory.

2. Decreased Anxiety

A decrease in anxiety is another reason researchers believe that EMDR is so successful. The trauma may feel a little less traumatic due to the reduction in anxiety associated with that memory. The question is asked, “What would your rather think/ believe/ feel?” The client has the opportunity to face the memory in a way that they can consider options and with this, a sense of agency. This opens space to consider how the client survived the trauma and strength or resources they see in themselves.

Will EMDR Work for You?

Interested in learning more about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy? If negative memories from your past are starting to creep into your present day-to-day life, it may be time to try to break free from that cycle.

Talk therapy or medications are two of the main treatments options for stress and anxiety related to trauma. It’s important to know that these are not your only treatment options. You also don’t have to continue going through this alone.

Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation. We can discuss your wants and needs and determine if its best suited for your treatment plan. Together, we can figure out what the best choice for your personalized treatment will be.