In the last decade EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) received popularity as a rising treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, but many people across different communities still do not fully understand its framework. Several misconceptions regarding EMDR continue to persist. One of the biggest misconceptions I’ve heard is that EMDR is associated with sorcery or metaphysical activities. While I smile hearing such myths, it breaks my heart that a great number of people are missing out on an effective short-term treatment for trauma that could have a profound impact on healing their mind and body from trauma. Through this blog, I hope to debunk such myths regarding EMDR, provide relevant information, and offer hope and help in healing from trauma, attachment injury, and emotional injury. In addition to traumatic experiences, EMDR is proven to treat substance use disorder, eating disorder, OCD (Obsessive-compulsive Disorder), and couples relational issues among many other issues.

              EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. These are really just fancy words that mean reducing symptoms response through bilateral brain stimulation since EMDR mimics our REM (Rapid Eye Movement) movements. The eye movement going back and forth helps our brain to process traumatic incidents that would otherwise be triggering. The trigger further leads the brain to enter an overactive mode and you might react in an inappropriate or abnormal manner. Although it is called Eye movement, many different ways such as (tapping the shoulders or knees or using auditory and tactile devices) are utilized so that the brain can re-process the incident effectively and remove the maladaptive response associated with it.

              EMDR was stumbled across by psychologist Francine Shapiro around the 1980s when she noticed that moving her eyes from side to side seemed to reduce her negative thoughts or distressing memories. Later on, she developed a protocol that could be duplicated and studied, which is why EMDR is an evidence-based treatment approach to trauma. EMDR is a minimally invasive treatment as it does not require you to talk about your traumatic experience in order for it to be effective. Studies have shown that when you enter the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep stage, your daily memories are filtered through to decipher emotionally relevant information to file away in your memory bank while assisting insignificant information to diminish. PTSD typically impacts your ability to enter and remain in REM sleep which further perpetuates the cycle of intrusive and unwanted traumatic memories. As a result, the traumatic incident is unable to file away properly. Interestingly, because EMDR mimics your REM movements through moving eyes back and forth or tapping bilaterally, this permits traumatic memory processing and trauma resolution. Therefore, the memories lose their traumatic charge and power. What is equally effective and wonderful about EMDR is that you’ll be able to find some meaning in your experience and will no longer be confined and defined by that traumatic event. By achieving this phase, you will be completely present in the here-and-now which will allow connection with self and others to create meaningful relationships.

If you are ready to try EMDR to find relief from distressful memories, then Call me Lily Desir at 813-606-5683 or email me at Lily@telecounselingforrelationships.com to schedule a free 15 minutes consultation on how I may serve you.