What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and it's a type of therapy that has shown promise in treating a range of mental health disorders.
EMDR originated in the late 1980’s when Dr. Francine Shapiro made an interesting observation. She noticed moving her eyes rapidly from side to side seemed to reduce the intensity of her own distressing thoughts, beliefs and memories. This led her to develop a structured therapy approach that incorporates eye movements as a way to help people process and heal from traumatic experiences.
EMDR is a versatile approach that can be adapted to various age groups, including children, adolescents, and adults. EMDR is especially helpful for individuals who feel stuck in their healing process or have difficulty verbalizing their traumatic experiences. It provides a structured framework to process and integrate distressing memories, leading to symptom relief and improved emotional well-being.
Multiple studies have shown positive outcomes in treating anxiety, trauma, and depression using EMDR therapy. Here are a few key findings:
Anxiety: EMDR has been found to significantly reduce anxiety symptoms in individuals with conditions like panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). EMDR helps to desensitize and reprocess distressing thoughts, beliefs and memories associated with anxiety, leading to relief in symptoms.
EMDR is especially known for its effectiveness in treating trauma-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma can result from a wide range of experiences, and can be differentiated between “Big T” and “Small T” trauma. "Big T" trauma refers to major, life-threatening events like physical or sexual abuse, combat experiences, or natural disasters. "Small t" trauma, on the other hand, refers to less severe but still distressing experiences such as bullying, divorce, loss of a loved one, or emotional neglect. Both types of trauma can have a lasting effect on an individual's mental health and both types of trauma can be treated using EMDR.
Additionally, some studies have shown promising results in reducing depressive symptoms as well. It's believed that EMDR helps address the underlying traumatic experiences and negative beliefs that may contribute to depression, leading to better mental well-being.
It should be noted that while EMDR has shown effectiveness for many, it may not be suitable for everyone. Individuals with certain psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, may require alternative therapies and support. Additionally, people who have severe dissociation or ongoing substance abuse issues may need stabilization before considering EMDR.
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Sources:
Shapiro, F. (1995). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures. Guilford Press.
Bisson, J. I., & Andrew, M. (2007). Psychological treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cochrane
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