Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is often associated with treating trauma and the lasting effects of negative thoughts and situations. However, as the success of this therapy has grown, research has shown that it can be just as effective with other mental health issues — including anxiety.
EMDR works by changing the way the brain perceives and processes information and memories. Obviously, that’s important for treating trauma. But think about some of the issues that arise with anxiety. It can create a lot of fear and worry, along with negative, distressing thoughts.
Anxiety impacts everyone differently, and there are different types of it to consider before you decide whether EMDR is right for you. Let’s look at which kinds of anxiety EMDR helps with.
How EMDR Works for Anxiety
EMDR is designed to be a short-term therapy that helps to reprocess harmful memories or thoughts. When it comes to anxiety, the treatment will specifically target a person’s fears and potential triggers rather than focusing so much on painful memories.
You can expect to go through a few steps throughout the treatment process. Many people prefer EMDR to traditional forms of talk therapy because you don’t have to do a lot of opening up. However, you will have to give a bit of history throughout the first phase of treatment so your therapist knows how to move forward.
From there, the process includes an assessment by the therapist, desensitization, installation, closure, and reevaluation.
Desensitization and installation are, arguably, the most important stages of treatment. During the assessment, your therapist will work to identify the memories or triggers that create the most anxiety.
You’ll focus on those negative thoughts throughout the desensitization process. Your therapist will guide you through a series of rapid eye movements, creating bilateral stimulation in the brain. When that happens, the adaptive information processing system is also stimulated, and your therapist can then work with you to replace those negative, fearful thoughts with positive ones.
Does EMDR Help With Every Type of Anxiety?
There is still more research to do since anxiety impacts people in a variety of ways. However, this type of treatment has been successful with:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Phobias
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety
- Performance anxiety
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
It can also help with very specific fears, including a fear of flying, fear of medical situations, and more. If you’re dealing with specific triggers or fears, consider talking with your therapist before undergoing the treatment to determine if it’s right for you.
What Are the Benefits?
Again, one of the biggest draws to EMDR is that it doesn’t require you to talk for hours or open up extensively about things that might be triggering. While some talking is involved, this isn’t a traditional form of cognitive behavioral therapy. If you’re someone who doesn’t always feel comfortable opening up, you’ll benefit from this process.
Perhaps the most important benefit is regaining control. When you’re anxious, it’s easy to feel like your worried thoughts are leading you every day, influencing your life in ways you don’t understand or enjoy. You’ll see progress throughout each stage of the EMDR process, empowering you along the way and giving you a sense of control over your anxious thoughts.
You’ll also enjoy symptom relief. EMDR isn’t designed to make you forget about painful memories or anxious thoughts. Rather, it helps you reframe them and change your perspective on those things. In doing so, you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed by the symptoms associated with anxiety, so you can enjoy a better quality of life, overall.
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world, but it’s also often very manageable with the right treatment. If you’re interested in learning more about how EMDR therapy can help, feel free to contact me.