“Trauma creates change you don’t choose. Healing creates change you do choose.” – Michelle Rosenthal
Trauma can leave an indelible mark on our minds and bodies, affecting how we think, feel, and function. Whether it stems from a single life-altering event, such as an accident, or prolonged distress, such as childhood abuse, trauma can feel overwhelming and difficult to escape.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) offers a unique and evidence-based approach to healing trauma. By targeting distressing memories directly, EMDR helps reduce their emotional intensity, allowing you to move forward with a sense of peace and control.
How Trauma Affects the Brain
Trauma is stored in the brain differently from ordinary memories, often lingering in the amygdala, the brain’s fear centre. This can cause the traumatic event to feel as though it’s happening in the present, triggering flashbacks, emotional distress, or physical symptoms. For example, a loud sound might transport someone who’s experienced a car accident back to the moment of impact.
EMDR helps by reprocessing these memories, shifting them from the amygdala to the prefrontal cortex, where they can be understood as part of the past rather than an ongoing threat.
How EMDR Works
EMDR is an eight-phase process designed to address the impact of trauma safely and effectively:
History and Assessment: Your therapist helps you identify distressing memories and related triggers.
Preparation: You learn grounding techniques to manage emotional responses during therapy.
Desensitisation: Using bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or tapping, your brain processes the traumatic memory.
Reprocessing: The memory becomes less emotionally charged, allowing you to gain new perspectives and let go of distressing beliefs.
This structured process empowers you to confront your trauma without feeling overwhelmed.
Alex’s Story
Alex, a 28-year-old paramedic, experienced recurring flashbacks and nightmares after witnessing a traumatic accident. Through EMDR, Alex was guided to recall the event while following their therapist’s hand movements. Over several sessions, the vividness and emotional intensity of the memory began to fade. Alex no longer felt gripped by fear when recalling the incident and gained the confidence to return to work without constant distress.
In the show The Bold Type, Kat Edison explores EMDR therapy to address a traumatic experience, demonstrating its ability to help individuals process and move forward from deeply distressing memories. EMDR’s real-life application is similarly transformative, offering a lifeline to those struggling with trauma.
Practical Steps to Support Healing with EMDR
Seek Professional Guidance: EMDR requires a trained therapist who can ensure the process is safe and effective.
Understand Your Triggers: Keep a journal of situations that cause distress and the emotions they evoke.
Practice Grounding Techniques: Activities like deep breathing or mindfulness can help you stay calm between sessions.
Be Patient: Healing trauma takes time, and each step in the EMDR process builds on the last.
Want to Learn More?
• Explore the steps of overcoming trauma in “How EMDR Can Transform Trauma Recovery.”
• Learn about managing anxiety with therapy in “Overcoming Anxiety with CBT: A Step-by-Step Guide.”
Trauma doesn’t have to define your life. With EMDR, you can process distressing memories, reduce their hold on your emotions, and create space for healing and growth. If you’re ready to move past trauma and reclaim your future, contact Arcadian Clinic today to begin your journey.
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