EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing, is a mind-body treatment that has traditionally been associated with treating trauma, but can also be used to treat anxiety, depression, relational issues, eating disorders, and more.
I first experienced EMDR as a client to work through issues surrounding a cycling accident that I had experienced a few years ago. I had tried traditional therapy to get back into cycling, but I did not find relief in getting back onto my bicycle and enjoying my old hobby like I once did. Cue EMDR, where I was able to experience in just a couple of sessions what months of therapy was not able to achieve. I noticed from a client experience that my body held onto the trauma in a way that my mind never noticed. Once I was able to get my body to let go of the bike accident, I was able to get over my anxiety of being on a bike.
EMDR is a treatment that helps to get past those feelings that we *KNOW* we should be able to get past, but are just locked away and we can’t seem to get past. The EMDR process does this by helping to identify our thoughts, feelings, and body sensations surrounding our past events and focusing us on the ways that we want to feel about those events. By combining talking about these events with eye movements, alternating sounds, tapping, or vibrations, we can help the body release the trauma and help our minds move past our history.