EMDR

We’ve all had experiences that affect us deeply. Sometimes we have experiences that are traumatic in nature. We may have been in a car accident or been the victim of crime or abuse. We may have had experiences that have caused us to fear or avoid certain situations, or feel badly about ourselves. When that is the case, it often seems like anything that reminds us of that experience is felt very strongly, out of proportion to the actual situation. That is because of the way the brain stores traumatic memories. They don’t fade over time like other memories. They get stuck. They are re-experienced full strength, sometimes in the form of nightmares or flashbacks, or as unusually strong reactions to people or situations. EMDR can help the brain process those traumatic memories so they fade and become less emotionally charged. This process can often achieve results more quickly than ordinary talk therapy can.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Moving your eyes from side to side stimulates both sides of your brain, and helps your brain make new connections. It helps the logical, rational side of your brain communicate with the part where the memories are stuck, and facilitates the development emotional resolution. It helps you let go of the trauma and put it in the past where it belongs. For more information on EMDR, please visit the EMDR International Association’s website at emdria.org .