Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) addresses trauma and changes the way the brain processes information. A successful EMDR sessions will strip away the images, sounds and feelings associated with a past traumatic event. The client will still maintain the memory, but it will be less upsetting going forward.
Traumatic events push many people toward the use and abuse of substances, so taking away the sting of those memories will give the individual a brighter outlook in the treatment and post-treatment phases.
What Can EMDR Treat?
EMDR is considered a relatively new therapy, and more research on what it can effectively treat continues today. New research brings evidence on more and more psychological issues improved by EMDR, one of them being addiction.
EMDR has been so well researched now, with more than 30 controlled studies done, that it is officially recommended by the American Psychiatric Association, the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, and the World Health Organization.
Patients are having successful results in EMDR treatment to overcome:
- Trauma
- Addiction
- Low self-esteem
- Feelings of powerlessness
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- The psychological effects of natural disasters
- Eating disorders
- Negative self-beliefs
And, EMDR can even be used in coaching for achievement in personal, business and sports success.
How Does EMDR Work?
Studies show that when a person experiences the negative effects of trauma, harmful emotion is stored physiologically in the body. One of the main goals of EMDR therapy is to move that emotional memory to a different part of the brain for reprocessing.
In EMDR therapy, traumatic events stored in the part of the brain meant for long-term memory are accessed and moved to the forefront of the mind. While in short-term memory, the mind creates a working narrative memory.
Information can then be reprocessed, with new associations forged between the traumatic physiological network of the body and new cognitive insights developing in the mind. The brain can then reprocess the accompanying emotions in a more neutral way, sweeping the negative feelings away and eliminating emotional distress.
Why Is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Successful?
Many medical professionals believe EMDR treatment accesses some of the biological mechanisms connected to those in REM sleep. The same way the brain rids itself of superfluous information in REM sleep, the rapid rhythmic eye movements seem to damper the power of emotionally charged memories.
Removing the impediments of negative self-thinking opens the channels in the brain’s neurobiological mechanisms for healing. EMDR therapy can lead to a less traumatically charged feeling about the event(s), and then to feelings of survival and strength instead.
A tornado victim that holds onto the inappropriate cognition, “I am in danger,” when the danger has long passed can develop anxiety over wind, flying, driving and so on. “I am safe now” becomes the appropriate thought after EMDR.
Intellectually knowing something like, “I am safe,” or, “I am not to blame,” is entirely different from emotionally feeling it to be true. We may believe in the logic of one thing, but be driven by the emotion of another. Changing these beliefs so rapidly, as only EMDR can, is nothing less than phenomenal for those who have benefited from it.
What Is the Evidence?
In recent years, several studies have shown the efficacy of this therapy. Some studies show that up to 90 percent of individuals suffering from trauma no longer have the diagnosis of PTSD after three sessions. Another study found 100 percent of victims who had experienced one traumatic event and 77 percent of victims who had experienced multiple traumas no longer had PTSD after six sessions.
And another recent study showed 77 percent of combat vets were cured of PTSD after 12 sessions. No wonder EMDR has gained worldwide recognition.
As new data continues to emerge, the range of symptoms and treatable disorders enlarges. Dr. Jamie Marich, a trauma specialist and EMDR trainer, has made important connections in using EMDR to treat addiction and trauma. She concludes that unhealed trauma-related issues block addiction recovery and pose a risk for relapse.
What Makes EMDR Different?
EMDR is a type of psychotherapy that is not talk therapy. This is one of the main attributes that makes EMDR different than most other therapies.
The client does not have to admit to the gory details of their past trauma to gain help from this therapy. In traditional therapy, the client would spend hours upon hours telling a counselor about their problems, anxieties, past trauma and so on. But in EMDR, the client is in control. They only have to remember the trauma and picture it in their mind for the therapy to be effective.
Often, a prevalent issue in those struggling with addiction is the fear of disclosing behaviors that are embarrassing or shameful to the individual. A benefit of EMDR is that the patient need not share if they are not ready to, while still benefiting from the therapeutic effects.
People are finding they don’t need years of therapy to see improvement. The results of EMDR are very rapid in comparison. After only a few sessions, clients often report dramatic results.
If we understand that unhealed emotional wounds play a role in causing or exacerbating addiction, then we can use EMDR as a very effective tool. In helping clients properly deal with wounds – past, present and future – Reflections Recovery Center is able to give them the skills necessary to move forward into long-term recovery with a reduced risk of relapse.
Reflections Recovery Center in Prescott, Arizona takes a dual approach to helping our clients recover from drug and alcohol addictions. On the more evidence-based, traditional side is clinical treatment, and on the more experimental, yet highly rewarding, side is holistic therapy.
Psychoeducation involves precise education about the mental health condition that plagues an individual client. In psychoeducational sessions, our counselor teaches the client about the causes and symptoms of their addiction, as well as specific treatment concepts.
