Can EMDR Help With Anxiety?
(Post written by Angelica Nevarez, Psychotherapist)
Anxiety has rapidly become the most common mental health issue in the United States. The fast-paced world that we live in contributes to ongoing stressors for many of us which can make anxiety feel like our norm. Stress can be healthy up to a certain point as it serves as a source of motivation. However, when stress is ongoing and overwhelming feelings of fear or distress affect the way we function on a daily basis, an anxiety disorder could be the issue. Anxiety can present in many forms and it can be difficult to distinguish. Anxiety disorders are often some combination of worrisome thoughts that are difficult to control, feelings of fear, and physical symptoms such as pounding heart and difficulty breathing. Therefore, to fully heal from anxiety means to heal from the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of it.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy has been found to be a successful treatment for a range of mental health issues and populations. EMDR was initially developed as a treatment for trauma and in its early stages of development, it was primarily focused as a treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among war veterans. As it has continued to develop over the years, EMDR has been found to be effective for treating all anxiety disorders including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Specific Phobias, and Social Anxiety Disorder. I have also worked with individuals that did not quite meet the full criteria for an anxiety disorder but experienced chronic stress and they also were able to find relief through EMDR treatment.
EMDR is incredibly powerful when it comes to releasing stuck material in the psyche and the body. Anxious thoughts are often “stuck” as they can be repetitive and seem to loop over and over again. EMDR is a belief-focused approach which targets maladaptive and negative beliefs which seem to be stuck in the psyche. Some examples of the most common beliefs which I see underlying anxiety disorders are “I am not in control”, “I have to be in control”, “I am not safe”, “I have to be perfect”, and “I am helpless”, however, there are many other beliefs that could be part of your anxiety. When you and your therapist are ready to work on processing a negative belief, you’ll connect to the emotions and body sensations that accompany your belief while at the same time engaging in some form of bilateral stimulation which reduces the emotional intensity of any thoughts, emotions, and body sensations. As those three components decrease in intensity, so do the negative beliefs that have been fueling your anxiety. This is because EMDR kickstarts our brain’s natural healing process.
Our minds and bodies are undeniably connected. EMDR recognizes this and allows you to safely feel and process through any stress that is stuck in your mind and body by allowing it to move through your nervous system. Anxiety is often trying to communicate to us that we are holding onto stress and there is a need to let go. EMDR offers hope for those that are struggling with anxiety, for those that just can’t “let go” and relax. As a therapist that is trained in EMDR, I have seen the power of it when my clients gain a new sense of peace and ease. Anxiety can limit your life experience and cause deep pain. It doesn’t have to be your norm. There is life beyond anxiety and it would be my honor to support you in releasing the grip that anxiety may currently have on your life.
If you’re interested in learning more about EMDR, I’d be happy to connect with you! I can be reached at angelica@seaemdr.com
May you be at peace.
(Photo by Ian Espinosa on Unsplash)
