E.M.D.R.

 EMDR is a psychotherapy guided by information processing therapy – it focuses on memories of difficult life experiences, including traumas. A traumatic event is any event that is overwhelming, any event in which the stress is greater than the person’s personal capacities and social supports. Trauma comes down to What is the story you tell yourself about what happened? Sometimes, people are unable to effectively process the trauma. Essentially, trauma gets “stuck” in the brain and gets in the way of adaptive processing. Rather than combining together to be an integrated experience, the traumatic experience is laid out in isolated pieces – images, body sensations, smells, sounds. It is like having all the ingredients for a cake laid out on the counter, but being unable to make the cake. Additionally, it is important to note that when trauma gets “stuck,” it is state-specific… in other words, if you were five years old when the trauma occurred, then you are emotionally five years old when you are triggered. 

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to establish dual attention; in other words, it uses sensory experiences (either eye movements or taps) to keep you grounded in the present, while focusing on an event that occurred in the past. Traumatic memories are stored in the emotional memory, in the limbic system. When reprocessed with EMDR, the memories are moved to cognitive memory. It additionally pairs the trauma with positive memories and thoughts, which allows us to use the traumatic incident in positive ways in the future.

Sometimes during the EMDR process, clients experience intense emotions. EMDR is not causing this emotional reaction; it is releasing it. If this occurs, rest assured that it will end. 

In addition to being used for trauma, EMDR also helps manage distressing affect, facilitates the development of positive capacities, alleviates performance anxiety and enhances people’s functioning at work, in sports, and in the performing arts, and treats a wide range of illnesses. 

The best thing about EMDR is that your own brain is doing the healing, and you are the one in control. 

An Analogy for Trauma and EMDR: Imagine a river surrounded with trees on the river banks. Now imagine lightning hitting a tree, which falls across the river. The river slows for a bit while finding a way over and around the tree. Then lightning hits another tree, and another. The river gets dammed up, which results in the water overflowing and flooding the area. This is how the brain and trauma works. The river is flowing easily (the brain processes information) until the trees fall (trauma occurs). As the traumas build up, the brain gets stuck, and the individual starts to experience significant symptoms (like the river flooding the surrounding areas). EMDR essentially removes the trees from the river and allows the river to flow freely. 

The Chinese character for crisis is a combination of two words – danger and opportunity. People who fully engage in recovery from trauma discover unexpected benefits. As they gradually heal their wounds, survivors find that they are also developing inner strength, compassion for others, increasing self-awareness, and are developing a greater ability to experience joy and serenity than ever before.