How EMDR Therapy Affects the Brain
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy used to treat individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attacks, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions. Although EMDR therapy has been used since the 1980s, only recently has it gained popularity as a successful treatment method.
But what exactly happens during EMDR therapy, and how does it affect the brain? Understanding these aspects can help you appreciate the benefits of undergoing this particular treatment.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at EMDR therapy and its impact on the brain.
The Science behind EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy’s underlying principle is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. According to this model, the brain has an information processing system that enables it to receive, analyze, and store new information in a structured way. Traumatic events are said to disrupt the brain’s normal information processing due to the high level of arousal triggered by the stressful event. EMDR therapy’s eye movement component works towards replicating the REM sleep process to reprocess and integrate the traumatic memory into stable memory structures.
The Impact of EMDR Therapy on the Brain
During EMDR therapy sessions, the therapist guides the patient’s eye movements while recalling traumatic memories. Additionally, alternate forms of bilateral stimulation, such as tapping and auditory tones, may be used alongside eye movements. These actions are aimed at stimulating specific neural regions in the brain, causing the patient to experience vivid and intense emotions. During this process, the patient’s amygdala (the part of the brain responsible for fight, flight, or freeze) activity decreases, allowing the prefrontal cortex (the part responsible for decision-making and problem-solving) to become more active. As a result, EMDR therapy rewires the neural pathways associated with traumatic events, leading to a reduction or extinction of PTSD symptoms.
How EMDR Therapy Alleviates Anxiety & Panic Disorder
Studies have shown that EMDR therapy can reduce anxiety symptoms such as emotional arousal, worry, and physiological tension better than other traditional psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or medication. EMDR uses desensitization techniques to help you calm down and alleviate the intensity of anxiety and panic symptoms. EMDR therapy can also help identify the underlying cause of anxiety, thereby making it easier to address and heal.
EMDR’s Effectiveness on Other Psychiatric Conditions
Besides PTSD and anxiety, EMDR therapy can also be beneficial in treating other psychiatric conditions like depression, eating disorders, addiction, and borderline personality disorder. While EMDR protocol varies with each condition, EMDR has proven to be an effective and efficient therapy modality.
What to Expect During EMDR Therapy
Most EMDR therapy sessions consist of eight phases, which include historical, mental preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. During your sessions, the therapist will guide you through each phase while incorporating bilateral stimulation to help rewire neural pathways associated with your traumatic events.
Conclusion
In conclusion, EMDR therapy is a type of therapy that helps patients deal with traumatic experiences. It works through stimulating different neural regions in the brain and rewires associated neural pathways, reducing or eliminating symptoms of PTSD, panic, anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric conditions. Additionally, EMDR therapy has little to no side effects, no medication, or invasive interventions, making it a quick and efficient psychological modality.
