After going through a traumatic experience, many people find themselves stuck. Unable to move on from the experience, they begin experiencing PTSD symptoms. Most people associate trauma or PTSD with those who were in the military. And while that is certainly true, anyone can experience something traumatizing.
Whether it was abuse, witnessing a crime, bullying, or any other number of things, trauma is a very real and disheartening experience to try and get through. More people are beginning to realize the importance of therapy for helping them to move on from anything that was highly emotional and distressing for them to go through.
One of the most popular and effective methods for healing from trauma is through an approach called EMDR. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization was developed specifically to help someone through their trauma.
How Does EMDR Work?
In our deepest sleep cycle, REM, it was discovered that our eyes rapidly move back and forth as we dream. This stage of sleep is when we are processing our memories and experiences.
EMDR was founded on this principle. After a traumatic experience, there are unprocessed memories surrounding that event. Which is why we are often unable to move on fully or feel healed from that experience. Based on this, EMDR uses bilateral eye movement and stimulation to help someone work through their experience.
Working directly with a licensed therapist, these eye movements will help reprocess the event until the sting of it goes away.
What Happens If You Can’t Remember Trauma
Our bodies have a unique way of protecting us. Including the brain. Part of the brain’s defense mechanism against trauma is to make us forget every detail. That might seem useful, right? However, this is not coinciding with healing from trauma.
If you can’t remember every detail of the trauma, you may question its effectiveness. While it’s normal to wonder about this, remembering every detail of the experience is not necessary.
In fact, therapists understand that every single detail will not come to fully. They actually expect that.
EMDR can still work and be just as effective even if details are lost. With EMDR, the important part of it is being able to identify the emotions and thoughts you had while going through it.
The goal of EMDR therapy is to help you identify what your five senses were experiencing during this time. It’s through these five senses that you are going to be more likely to process the emotions surrounding highly distressing events.
Also, you may start EMDR sessions not fully remembering all the details. However, as you go through the process, you may end up finding that you do actually remember more than you think. As your mind works to clear and untangle the memory, it can reveal other important details.
As the traumatic experience is occurring, our brains have a habit of blocking out certain details as they are occurring. That doesn’t mean they aren’t there or that you didn’t see it happen. It’s just another way the brain harnesses its power to protect us emotionally during a distressing time.
Who Is EMDR For?
EMDR is for anyone who has experienced trauma, anxiety, or depression. In some cases, it can be helpful for those who have bipolar disorder, an eating disorder, or other mental health concerns.
The best way to find out if EMDR could work for you is directly through a therapist who is trained and licensed to practice EMDR. EMDR, unlike other types of therapy, should only be practiced when someone holds the specific training and certifications needed to utilize it with a client.
Reach out to us soon to learn more about Trauma Therapy and how it can benefit you.
