Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy often associated with healing from trauma. While it can be used to help with other mental health issues, it remains rooted in understanding and reprocessing traumatic experiences so you can move forward in your life.
For some, one of the perks of EMDR is that it differs from traditional types of talk therapy. While there is some talking involved to get basic information and a brief history, you don’t have to open up about your experience session after session.
The goal of EMDR is to dive into those traumatic memories and help you reprocess them without necessarily forgetting them. But, it’s not uncommon for people who have experienced trauma to block out some of the details. So, will EMDR still work if that’s the case?
Why Trauma Repression Occurs
Some people experience trauma and still live relatively normal lives. This is often due to repression. When something extremely negative or traumatic occurs, it can cause a person to repress those thoughts as a defense mechanism.
Survivors of trauma can unconsciously block out entire events, or details of events that are too much to bear.
Unfortunately, repression doesn’t always work. Even if the trauma happened years ago, thoughts and memories can start to manifest later in life. Or, they can be so deeply rooted that they impact the way you live, or your relationships.
Can EMDR Still Help?
Even if you can’t remember all of the details of your trauma, EMDR can still help you reprocess it. You don’t need to fully remember the experience in order for your brain to process it. In fact, the memory can actually be pretty vague, and EMDR can still be effective.
It’s the responsibility of an EMDR therapist to work with whatever traumatic memories they’re given. The goal isn’t to create fake scenarios or cause you to believe in something that didn’t happen. Plus, a therapist can help you invoke more memories through things like photographs, smells, or sounds, if necessary.
If there’s any potential downside to not remembering all of the details of your trauma, it’s that the EMDR experience might take a bit longer. But, that’s just because your therapist will want to take their time in uncovering as much information as possible, so the reprocessing state is effective.
Can You Still Benefit From EMDR?
Even if you can’t remember everything about your experience, you’ll still reap the rewards of EMDR. No matter what you remember, you’ll be able to get it out in the open — potentially for the first time. Letting go of that information can be a huge relief, and can make it easier to manage your trauma symptoms.
When you process your traumatic memories, you’ll also allow your mind more room to change your perspective — something your therapist will help with.
Remember, the goal of EMDR isn’t to make you forget your traumatic memories. You won’t finish your sessions believing those experiences never happened. Rather, it’s to help you reprocess them in ways that put you in control. You’ll be able to live with whatever memories arise because your perspective will change, whether you remember details or not.
Is EMDR the Right Solution?
If you’re wondering whether EMDR is right for you, consider your needs and wants, and how you think you would best like to handle your trauma as you go forward. But, don’t let the fact that you don’t remember all the details keep you from getting the help you deserve.
If you’re interested in learning more about EMDR therapy, no matter how long ago your experience occurred, consider reaching out today.