EMDR promotes neural plasticity — the brain’s ability to rewire itself. By repeatedly activating the traumatic memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, EMDR helps create new neural connections. Over time, this rewiring reduces the emotional charge associated with the memory. The brain links the traumatic memory with more positive networks, fostering healing and adaptive responses.
Furthermore, EMDR promotes amygdala calming: The amygdala, a key player in emotional processing and threat detection, can become hyperactive after trauma. EMDR’s bilateral stimulation mimics slow-wave sleep, calming the amygdala and allowing it to synchronize with the rest of the brain. As a result, the traumatic memory becomes less distressing.
EMDR aims to process unhealed or unprocessed memories. Traumatic events often get “stuck” in our brains, leading to distressing symptoms. During EMDR sessions, your therapist guides you through eye movements (or other bilateral stimulation methods) while you focus on the traumatic memory. This process helps the brain reprocess the memory, allowing it to move from a state of distress to a more adaptive resolution.
Finally, EMDR allows the hippocampus to be repaired. The hippocampus, responsible for memory consolidation, can suffer damage due to trauma. EMDR encourages the brain to integrate fragmented memories, allowing for a more coherent narrative. As a result, the traumatic memory becomes less fragmented and overwhelming.
References:
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.
Shapiro, F. (2001). Introduction to EMDR. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy was initially developed in 1987 for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is guided by the Adaptive Information Processing model (Shapiro, 2007).
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