When a traumatic experience occurs, no matter how big or small, the memory of the trauma is stored in the body. This includes all of the negative emotions, thoughts, body sensations, and feelings that were experienced in that moment. Over time, these memories can begin to create distress, which can occur in the form of anxiety, avoidance, nightmares, flashbacks, or sensations of being overwhelmed. The trauma can begin to alter the way you see the world and yourself, and it can impact how you relate to others in your daily life.

Traumatic experiences can affect people of all ages from children to the elderly. Experiences maybe a one-time event such as a car accident or death of a loved one, or they may be an on-going experience such as being bullied or coping with a chronic illness.

A powerful therapeutic tool that can help people to feel more in control of their feelings and emotions is called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR was founded in the late 90’s by Francine Shapiro as a way to begin to heal traumatic memories. EMDR uses rapid sets of eye movements and other types of bilateral stimulation to help you change how you hold on to traumatic experiences. For example, if you have been involved in a car accident and now are struggling to drive, EMDR is an effective way to change the way that driving affects you. EMDR focuses on the brain’s ability to constantly learn while taking past experiences and updating them with current information.

To help understand how EMDR works, it’s important to consider how memories are created in the neural networks of our brain. Our neural network is a group of interconnected brain cells, which are neurons that fire together. Traumatic memories group together as maladaptive neural networks that result in a limited ability to adapt, process, and resolve traumatic stress. People often say that neurons that fire together, wire together for this very reason. Another analogy is to think of this as a record/or CD that has a scratch on it. The needle will skip on that spot repeatedly unless there’s an intervention.

EMDR is also effective in treating issues other than trauma like anxiety, grief, depression, phobias, performance anxiety, stress, and many other challenges. This highly researched intervention uses a variety of techniques from eye movement to buzzing tappers to help access and process through the thoughts, feelings, and sensations tied to a traumatic memory in a way that gives you control. The eye movement and the buzzing tappers both provide a form of bilateral stimulation that operates from one side of your body to another.

EMDR will give you new insights into the patterns and behaviors that have had an impact on you. Utilizing EMDR will also help you to develop new coping skills that will allow healthier views of yourself and the world around you. If you have an issue you are feeling stuck with, perhaps it’s time to find a licensed clinician who’s trained in EMDR.

If you would like to begin utilizing EMDR in your therapeutic process, please contact us at 309-807-5077 or email us at info@TheMentalWellnesCenter.com