A relatively recent, unconventional kind of psychotherapy is called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). It is becoming more and more popular, especially for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD frequently develops after a traumatic incident like sexual assault, automobile accidents, military combat, or physical abuse. EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, is a kind of therapy that helps get rid of painful memories that have been brought about due to traumatic experiences. It is like the way your brain processes and stores traumatic memories so they are not painful anymore and do not disrupt your life. In EMDR therapy you will be talking about the traumatic and unpleasant experiences with a therapist. The therapist will help you process those traumatic memories more healthily and change your thoughts related to those memories using bilateral stimulation. EMDR helps process traumatic memories less painfully, stay focused and relaxed, boost confidence and self-esteem, and reduce physical symptoms like anxiety, stomachaches and headaches.
EMDR is found to be effective for:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Eating disorders
- Grief and Loss
- Personality Disorder
There are eight distinct phases of EMDR. The first three essentially describe how treatment works and assist in identifying the problems that need to be addressed. We refer to the next three stages as "EMDR bilateral stimulation." They are the therapy's active component. These stages establish a connection between the distressing memories and emotional trauma, your present mental state, and how your body is reacting to therapy. To address traumatic memories or challenging emotions in a new way, bilateral stimulation engages both sides of the brain, frequently with the assistance of a therapist guiding side-to-side eye movements. Your psychotherapist will refer to this as "reprocessing."
EMDR therapy is widely used globally and formally authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The duration of EMDR therapy lasts for several weeks to months. Between the therapeutic sessions, your therapist will give you some self-care tips to manage the overwhelming emotions. The recovery time is usually short with EMDR therapy and the session duration is usually between 50 min to 1 hour.