When Anne (not her real name) first came to see me, I could see the hurt and the pain she carried on her shoulders. It was as if the trauma that she had experienced in life was wearing her down. It was making it hard for her to even stand straight. Most recently, she had been in a car accident where she was t-boned by a truck that had run the red light. She shared her story with me and the anxiety she had with driving again. It wasn’t even just this but other experiences where she just didn’t feel in control and that life wasn’t safe. It takes so much courage to come and admit that these events are still upsetting and that even with the best of trying to move on, there are still triggers and feeling like this will never get better. We spent time talking about her triggers and how the brain responds when there is a traumatic event. I then explained to her how EMDR is a useful tool in helping the brain process trauma and gain new insights into what had happened to her.
The Goal of EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, was developed by Francine Shapiro 30 years ago. EMDR is a technique that was initially intended for the treatment of traumatic stress reactions, grief and anxiety-provoking memories.
Bilateral stimulation is used to link into the information processing system within our brain. These processes are similar to what occurs when we are in R.E.M (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. The bilateral stimulation consists of either vibrations or tapping movement on different sides of the body, or tones delivered through one ear, then the other, via headphones.
The goal is to let the brain’s information processing system make new internal connections as you focus on the thoughts, emotions, memories and other associations that are freely made during the sets of bilateral stimulation.
How does EMDR work?
Anne and I began by identifying the various aspects of the car accident that were disturbing to her. These included intrusive images, negative thoughts and beliefs she had about herself and if she could have avoided the accident. Part of this included the negative emotions she carried, such as fear, guilt and anger. Her main thought was that “I will never be safe again.”
During the memory reprocessing, Anne recalled the worst part of the car accident for a short period (40 seconds). At the same time, she simultaneously listened to beeps going back and forth with the headphones. Anne told me that it felt like she was on a moving train, with many scenes of the accident going by her window.
It helped her to notice the emotions, the sound of metal crashing, the jarring in her body and the sense of not being in control. By doing this in small chunks, Anne was able to continue the process until the original thought and memory were no longer frightening or uncomfortable for her. Each distressing memory, in turn, received this treatment. New associations emerged for Anne and often became the new focus of attention.
At this point, Anne was able to imagine the scene of the accident and associated it with the comforting thought, “It is over. I am safe now.” Again, listening to the beeps going back and forth, she began to learn what was necessary and useful from the accident that she had experienced. She liked that no homework was required and that she was not asked to describe the memory in detail.
EMDR can be used to help
Learn from the negative experiences of the past
Desensitize present triggers that are emotionally distressing and unwanted for you
Incorporate new ways of doing things for future situations or actions that help you excel individually and within your community
Anne shared with me that it felt like she had gathered together all the aspects of the accident that were scattered in her brain and put them into a filing cabinet. It hadn’t changed anything of the past, and she could still remember what had happened. However, she did not experience the old emotions or the sensations that she had been having in the present. She stated, “I am informed by my memories, not controlled by them!”
Conclusion
The effectiveness of EMDR therapy continues to be well-established in research. The research shows reduced rates of symptoms from PTSD and less intrusive thoughts and emotions. However, it is not for everyone, and it is important that you are assessed to determine if this would be helpful for you. EMDR is a tool used in Psychotherapy and other types of therapy, such as Sand Tray Therapy.
Do you want to learn more about EMDR and see if it would help you? Fill out the Contact Form or schedule a free 15-minute consultation.