How EMDR Helps Heal Trauma and PTSD

Written by Lauren Rudolph, LPC

If you work in the mental health field, chances are you have heard the term “EMDR” floating around by now or maybe even have trained in this highly effective trauma treatment modality. If you do not work in the field, chances are probably smaller that you are familiar with what EMDR is and how it can help treat trauma related symptoms. Here is some information to get you started in understanding what EMDR is, how EMDR helps heal trauma and PTSD, and a success story to share! 

What is EMDR? 

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and essentially it works to heal traumatic memories by moving them from a dysfunctionally stored place in the brain, to a place where it can be stored properly. When memories are stored in a traumatized state, there are all sorts of things that can go wrong and symptoms that may start to manifest. And those symptoms look like dysfunction on any level, such as trouble sleeping, eating, functioning at work or home, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and more. A neat thing about EMDR reprocessing is that it’s not teaching you a skill or something you must practice. It uses your brain’s natural ability to process memories so that all the emotions, thoughts, and body sensations of that experience can be fully digested. Anything that we don’t need to keep from that experience, can be discarded. 

Another way to think of EMDR

I like to think about EMDR in the context of what happens when we go to sleep. When we sleep, the brain works through what happened during the day and it also works on things stored in our unconscious minds. It does this specifically during our REM sleep, when our eyes move back and forth rapidly. And this is the same kind of bilateral stimulation that is used during EMDR. Then, when we wake up in the morning after getting enough REM sleep, we can feel refreshed and ready for the next day. Unfortunately, traumatic situations can interfere with our REM sleep and therefore stop this process from completing. Or our REM sleep is not enough to work through the traumatic event and the brain needs some help. This is where EMDR comes into play.  

EMDR essentially will take that once traumatic memory and shift it into what is called an autobiographical memory. This means that instead of the memory carrying all this “yucky” stuff (like nightmares, agitation, uncomfortable body sensations), it is like any other memory where we can say “yes, that did happen, but when I think about it, it doesn’t bother me”. It becomes neutralized. It is important to note that EMDR is only a part of trauma therapy and should be done with an EMDR trained therapist where enough safety and rapport has been established. If you’d like to learn more about EMDR, you can go to https://www.emdria.org and read or watch a video about it.  On their page you can also learn how EMDR is an effective treatment for other mental health conditions in addition to PTSD including: Depressive Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Phobias, Eating Disorders, and more. 

EMDR For Treating Recent Traumatic Events 

In my humble opinion, one of the most powerful EMDR protocols is for recent events. Did you know that EMDR can help your brain to fully digest a traumatic situation that happened as soon as that same day or the day after? The recent events protocol can be used for traumatic or distressing events that have occurred in the last year. The reason why it is so powerful is because it can prevent PTSD from developing, because the memory is not yet stored in our long-term memory. And the results are immediate. This is where a success story comes in that I would like to share.  

EMDR Success Story

Utilizing EMDR for a recent tragic loss – How EMDR Helps Heal Trauma and PTSD

I used the EMDR recent events protocol to help a client who had lost their adult child to an overdose. Prior to them starting EMDR, they were having nightmares, trouble sleeping, and was not able to function enough to be at work. As soon as we got started and completed our first EMDR session, they noticed immediate relief. I’ll never forget how they came into our session the following week and shared “I was able to close my eyes for the first time and not see (the disturbing image)”. This allowed them to meditate, and to get a good night’s sleep without having to self-medicate. This also changed the whole trajectory of their recovery. They had plans to attend Sanare’s Trauma-Focused IOP, but instead they were able to return to work. Their PTSD symptoms screening went from meeting PTSD criteria, to no longer meeting criteria for PTSD, going from a severe level to a mild one. I do want to add that this is an example of how EMDR can help to give us relief from the traumatic aspects of loss. However, EMDR does not get rid of grief, because grief is adaptive and healthy. By doing EMDR, this client was able to have their grief in a healthy way, and to have more positive memories associated with their child again. 

Summary – How EMDR Helps Heal Trauma and PTSD

I hope sharing this story inspires you to learn more about EMDR and to spread the word. I have seen EMDR transform the lives of many people that I work with, as well as members of my family, and even myself. Furthermore, I find EMDR to be a very empowering approach, because we are helping people to see that they have what they need inside themselves. The mind and body have built-in processes to heal from the most traumatic things that can happen to us. And working with an EMDR therapist allows you to go through this process without another human being who can guide you through the healing in a way that is safe and manageable. It is also cool to have learned over the years that everyone’s brain is different and we all process things in different ways. Which is why it is so important to not do EMDR on our own, but to work alongside a professional who will be there to make sure we work through our stuff in a way that is safe. 

 EMDR International Association. https://www.emdria.org