What is EMDR Therapy?

<p>EMDR Therapy, a powerful psychotherapy method of eye movement systematic desensitization and reprocessing with bidirectional stimulation, allows the traumatic memory to be reprocessed with bidirectional stimulation, allowing the unprocessed memory to be recorded in a more appropriate way for life, as well as desensitization in the face of stressful stimuli, allowing the person to develop appropriate attitudes and skills for better functioning in the future. The development of EMDR began in 1987, when Dr. Francine Shapiro discovered by chance that eye movements could reduce the intensity of disturbing thoughts. Today, EMDR is a holistic therapy method with standardized protocols specific to different diagnosed conditions that include elements from many different therapy schools.</p> <h2>How Does EMDR Therapy Work, How Does It Work?</h2> <p>EMDR therapy uses the brain's adaptive information processing mechanism. According to the Adaptive Information Processing Model, the brain, with a physiologically based system, processes and renders dysfunctional the information that reaches it through each new experience. Information such as emotions, thoughts, sensations, scenes, sounds, smells, etc. are processed and integrated into associated memory networks. This system is disrupted when traumatic events or events that disturb the person too much occur. The brain processes information from experiences during REM sleep (rapid eye movement sleep). It is predicted that the bidirectional eye movements applied in EMDR can provide a similar physiological effect while awake. By moving the eyes left and right, bidirectional stimulation is given to the hemispheres of the brain. In the same way, it can be done by giving sound through headphones and vibration with the hands.</p> <p>With EMDR therapy, not only the symptoms disappear. Positive beliefs and positive emotions gained through new perspectives will positively change the way people view themselves, their relationships and the world, and support personal development. Its use in children is usually done by touching the knees and shoulders.</p> <h2>EMDR Therapy and Trauma Relationship</h2> <p>Trauma can be defined as any event that has negative effects on a person's psychological and daily life. Traumatic experiences; natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, traffic accidents, diseases, major traumas such as neglect and abuse in childhood, or traumatic experiences in childhood that are interpreted as disturbing by people and that the person's coping skills<br /> incidents that are insufficient can be minor traumas such as school traumas, attachment problems. More important than the nature of the trauma is HOW the person PERCEIVES it. Those who are exposed to trauma feel that they are helpless in the face of the event, beyond their control, and cannot use the coping skills they have, and therefore cannot codify the events in their minds in a healthy way. In this way, the trauma is stored inappropriately in the mind and leads to dysfunctional reactions. Since our new experiences are connected to our old memory networks, when they are fed with the dysfunctionally stored memory, they are stored inappropriately in the new experience. In EMDR therapy, we start to process these dysfunctionally encoded memory networks, and to bring new connections to the mind, such as unfinished emotions, thoughts and body sensations, and to make them work in a positive and functional way.</p> <h2>Areas where EMDR Therapy is used</h2> <p>EMDR therapy can be applied to anyone who requests it. There is no specific age range and only therapists who have received hands-on training with children can administer it to children. It is used to treat most psychosomatic or psychological disorders. EMDR targets negative life experiences that lead to spiritual, mental, emotional and relational problems.</p> <p>- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder<br /> - Depression<br /> - Panic attacks<br /> - Yas<br /> - Phobias<br /> - Eating disorders<br /> - Stress reduction<br /> - Headache<br /> - Weight loss<br /> - Airplane phobia<br /> - Addictions<br /> - Sexual and/or physical harassment<br /> - Body perception disorders<br /> - Personality disorders<br /> - Performance enhancement (e.g. in sports, performing arts and other performance-related fields)<br /> - Performance concerns<br /> - In the acquisition of emotional resources that need to be built, such as self-worth and self-confidence.<br /> - Lack of self-confidence<br /> - Early childhood traumas such as violence, abuse, neglect<br /> - Anger issues<br /> - Death and bereavement issues<br /> - Test anxiety</p> <h2>Is EMDR Therapy an Effective Method?</h2> <p>It is a fast and effective therapy approach. Since it is a fast and effective therapy approach, its recognition has increased in recent years, and the range of studies has expanded thanks to different protocols and research.</p> <h2>Is EMDR Therapy Suitable for Me?</h2> <p>Your therapist can decide whether you are ready for EMDR therapy or whether this therapy technique is right for you. If the EMDR therapist anticipates that you are not ready, the first few sessions can strengthen and prepare you for EMDR therapy.</p> <h2>How many sessions does EMDR Therapy take?</h2> <p>The duration of EMDR therapy will vary from client to client. The process may vary depending on the client's experience and understanding of this moment. EMDR therapy is included in the "short-term treatment" group in the literature. The duration of EMDR therapy depends on the type of problem, the client's current life circumstances, the number and impact of previous trauma. The unique processing of information for each person, based on their values and experiences, also affects duration. First of all, the EMDR therapist must have a very good therapist-client relationship. The length of EMDR therapy is determined by the patient's mental state, the presence of other comorbid psychiatric illnesses, the complexity of the trauma and the patient's psychosocial support systems.</p> <h2>Can EMDR Therapy Techniques be Used to Erase Painful Memories?</h2> <p>EMDR therapy aims to desensitize past and present traumas. After EMDR treatment, past traumatic memories will no longer disturb the client as before. This is why people describe EMDR therapy as the removal of painful memories. It is not correct to see EMDR therapy as a way to eliminate memories, but it can help us to reprocess past traumatic events, reduce the impact of the events on the person, change our perspective and view of the event and eliminate our discomfort.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Updated: 1 Jun 2022, 16:49</p> <p>This content has been published with the approval of Atakent Health Group Medical Editorial Board. The content published on the page is prepared with scientific data at the time of registration and is for informational purposes only. There is no content on curative health care. Consult your physician for accurate diagnosis and treatment</p>