How Does EMDR Work for Anxiety?
Anxiety is a common feeling that almost everyone will experience throughout their lifetime. Some individuals experience it on a deeper level, which can impact their daily life and routine.
The treatment options for chronic and pervasive anxiety have grown in recent years as the field of mental health care has become more robust. One of these options is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR. Let’s look at how EMDR works, its benefits, and how it can treat anxiety.
What is EMDR?
Dr. Francine Shapiro developed EMDR therapy in the 1980s, and it has become widely used for treating PTSD, anxiety disorders, phobias, and other disorders stemming from traumatic experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapies, it uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps, or sounds, to facilitate processing distressing emotions or memories.
How it Works
The underlying mechanism of EMDR revolves around the adaptive information processing (AIP) model, which theorizes that unprocessed memories contribute to psychological disorders. During EMDR, a trained therapist guides you through 8 phases that help you process those memories and lessen their impact, helping you find relief from your symptoms. Those phases are:
1. History Taking
The therapist gathers information and history, as well as your reasons for coming to therapy, and devises a unique and personalized treatment plan.
2. Preparation
The therapist walks you through what EMDR is, what to expect, and how you can work through disturbing memories that may come up during your sessions.
3. Assessment
You identify target memories or aspects of your anxiety you want to address.
4. Desensitization
This is when your therapist will guide you through bilateral stimulation while you share details and feelings about your negative emotions.
5. Installation
Positive thoughts and beliefs are introduced to replace negative feelings and associations tied to the memory.
6. Body Scan
Your therapist will complete a body scan to see if you have any remaining responses in the body to those past memories. The goal at the end of every session is that you’ll have fewer negative responses.
7. Closure
At the close of each session, your therapist will walk you through relaxation techniques to ensure you feel grounded and stable.
8. Reevaluation
As you continue EMDR, it is important to reevaluate your progress and address any additional issues that continue to cause distress.
EMDR for Anxiety
EMDR is particularly effective for anxiety because it helps the individual process any distressing memories and reduces the emotional charge associated with them. Bilateral stimulation allows for cognitive reconstruction, allowing the memories or negative thought patterns to be rewritten and processed more adaptively. After EMDR, you should see a reduction in anxiety symptoms. Additionally, it helps improve your coping mechanisms, offering you new resources to manage anxiety triggers more effectively. Finally, it helps to build resilience. By addressing past traumas, EMDR improves your emotional and overall well-being.
What to Expect from EMDR Therapy
EMDR sessions typically last 60-90 minutes. The amount of sessions you attend will be based on your needs and the complexity of your trauma. The truth is, EMDR is both emotionally and physically tiring as you are directly facing what is distressing you. However, your therapist provides a safe environment to allow you to process, and any distress you feel should be short-lived.
Next Steps
EMDR has a proven track record for helping people process their trauma and anxiety, and seeing a reduction of symptoms. If you’re struggling with anxiety, EMDR may be an effective therapy option for you. One of the best things you can do is to reach out to a licensed and trained mental health professional to see if EMDR would be suitable for what you are experiencing. Don’t delay getting the help you need and deserve. Reach out to us today to get started.