Can EMDR be an effective therapy to treat anxiety?
EMDR for Anxiety: A calm path to recovery
Anxiety is a common mental health condition that can present itself in many ways, from generalized anxiety characterized by extreme and persistent worries about everyday life, to more specific phobias. It’s a condition that significantly impacts the quality of life for many, causing feelings of worry, fear and discomfort. Thankfully, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can help.
What is EMDR? How can it help?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective therapeutic technique that can help individuals recover from anxiety and panic attacks. It targets the root causes of anxiety by "rewiring" how your brain responds to triggers such as memories or thoughts that fuel your anxiety. You may not realize it, but anxiety and panic are often linked to past experiences or memories.
How Can EMDR Help?
In a comfortable setting, your Orion Wellness therapist will ask you to recall a traumatic memory as you perform a movement such as moving your eyes back and forth or tapping your hands.
Overtime, this will help your brain to recall the memory in a way that feels less upsetting. You can think of it like teaching your brain a new way to respond to stress, helping you to feel calmer and more in control.
EMDR can help you:
Break the cycle: By reducing the emotional charge tied to distressing memories, the memories will eventually no longer cause overwhelming feelings of worry, fear or panic.
Identify patterns: EMDR can help you uncover connections between past events and current feelings of anxiety, helping you make sense of why you feel the way you do.
Build resilience: EMDR can help you to strengthen your ability to face stressful situations overtime.
Reduce symptoms: EMDR can help lessen the frequency or severity of symptoms such as excessive worry, panic attacks, and intrusive thoughts.
Improve emotional regulation: By processing past trauma, EMDR can help you develop healthier coping strategies.
Build greater self-confidence: As you work through your anxieties, EMDR can help you achieve a greater self-esteem.
What does a EMDR therapeutic appointment look like at Orion Wellness?
An EMDR appointment typically involves:
Client interview: Your therapist will gather information about your past and most recent experiences with anxiety symptoms and triggers.
Reprocessing anxiety-provoking memories: During this core phase of the EMDR treatment, your therapist will guide you through a series of exercises (eye movements, tapping, or other techniques) that will help you your brain process the memory in a new way and will reduce its emotional impact.
Installing positive beliefs: Once the anxiety-provoking memory has been reprocessed, your therapist will help you install positive beliefs and thoughts to replace the negative ones.
Body Scan: Next, your therapist will guide you through a body scan to help address any physical sensations you may be feeling.
Closure: As you near the end of the session, your therapist will leave time to discuss any final thoughts or reflections.
At Orion Wellness, we periodically assess your progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed.
Is EMDR Right for You?
If you're one of the many who struggle with anxiety, EMDR may be a valuable tool to help you better manage your anxiety or fully recover – with time and patience, healing can be done!
With the guidance of a skilled EMDR therapist, you can feel empowered to take on tomorrow, and experience a calmer, more fulfilling life.
Be sure to check with a qualified mental health professional to determine if EMDR is the right treatment for you.
