What is EMDR?

EMDR has widely grown to be a therapeutic modality that clients seek out for healing from trauma.

But what exactly is it?

Let’s start with a definition.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an intervention based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) theory that posits that our brains (much like our bodies) move towards helpful integration of experiences when given the right resources. AIP suggests that all of our present day symptoms and reactions are results of how our past experiences have shaped us. For example, if you experience anxiety when you see a spider, AIP would suggest that some past experience has taught you to feel and think in a way that generates anxiety at the sight of a spider.

So how does trauma fit in to this?

When we experience trauma, our memory is encoded differently than when we experience a positive or neutral experience. In trauma, our nervous system gets dysregulated and this impacts brain functioning, thus impacting the way a memory is stored. Trauma memories are encoded in the nervous system as present rather than past. This means that when a present situation activates a past traumatic memory, my nervous system will respond as if that past event is happening in the present. This can make for some very tired bodies and emotional drain due to the intense visceral reactions experienced when past trauma is activated.

Trauma memories also are often stored with maladaptive (unhelpful) meaning. For example, following a car accident, one might have the negative belief of “I’m unsafe.” That maladaptive belief might inhibit the person from driving again, or they might drive with higher anxiety. When adaptively processed, the meaning of a car accident might transform to something like, “I’m okay now,” or “I learned from that,” or “I can keep myself reasonably safe.” Those adaptive beliefs might lead to driving with more caution, but not elicit high anxiety that makes driving less safe or create avoidance of driving altogether.

So what’s with the eye movements?

Neuroscience (the study of the brain) is still developing and exactly what is happening in the brain remains to be found. However, it seems that stimulating both of the brain’s hemispheres bilaterally (side to side) activates some system that helps memories to be processed. It is thought to be similar to what might be happening during the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) part of sleep.

Bilateral stimulation of the brain occurs with eye movements side to side, by watching a light pass across a light bar, or watching a wand being waved side to side. Bilateral stimulation can also occur by tapping each shoulder side to side, or holding a “buzzy” that vibrates side to side. Bilateral stimulation may also be implemented by wearing headphones that beep side to side.

EMDR is a powerful tool as it engages the body and brain in the healing process of painful past memories. Therapies that do not engage the somatic element of trauma processing may be missing a significant factor in the healing dynamic. After all, we are not just brains on a stick - our body holds our experiences in our very cells. There is as much information stored in our physical body as is held in the cognitive formations of story in our minds.

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If you’re looking to process past traumatic experiences, in order to feel relieved from the negative emotions and beliefs associated with the past, reach out today!