Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): An Effective Treatment for Anxiety
EMDR: An Effective Treatment for Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most a common mental health conditions. It affects millions of people worldwide.
As a therapist who has been practicing for 24 years, I am always looking for the best ways to help my clients manage and overcome anxiety.
For the past 5 years, I've been using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with kids, teens, and adults. I've seen how quickly and effectively it can provide lasting relief from anxiety.
In this blog, I'll explain how EMDR can help with anxiety, even when it's not necessarily linked to trauma.
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy treatment that was originally designed to help people deal with traumatic and painful memories.
Now, EMDR is also shown to be helpful in treating many types of anxiety.
According to the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), EMDR is based on the idea that our minds can heal from emotional pain, like anxiety, much like how our bodies recover from physical injuries.
How EMDR Helps with Anxiety
Here's how EMDR can help with Anxiety:
Understanding and Lessening Anxiety Triggers: EMDR helps identify and work through the root causes of anxiety, which may include past experiences, current stressors, or worries about the future.
Shifting Negative Beliefs About Yourself: EMDR helps you change negative beliefs about yourself that increase your anxiety, replacing them with more helpful thoughts. For example, changing "I'm not safe" to "I can handle this."
Reducing Emotional Upset Of Anxiety Triggers: EMDR can help lessen the emotional upset of anxiety-provoking thoughts or situations.
Help Reduce the Physical Symptoms Of Anxiety: EMDR can help ease the physical symptoms of anxiety; such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, or muscle tension.
EMDR for Different Types of Anxiety
EMDR has shown to be helpful in treating many types of anxiety disorders:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): EMDR can help reduce worry thoughts and shift your perspective on anxiety-triggering situations.
Panic Disorder: EMDR can help lower anxiety around social experiences and change how you view social interactions.
Social Anxiety: EMDR can help reduce anxiety around social experiences and shift internal beliefs about social interactions.
Phobias: EMDR can reduce the intensity of specific fears. Here are three common fears that affect kids, teens, and adults, which EMDR can help with:
Fear of throwing up: An intense fear of vomiting that can affect eating habits and daily activities.
Fear of public speaking: Extreme nervousness about speaking in front of others, which can impact school, work, and social situations.
Fear of dogs: An overwhelming fear of dogs that can limit outdoor activities and social interactions.
Effectiveness and Speed of EMDR for Anxiety
Here are some research studies that show that EMDR is effective in treating anxiety:
This study in the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research (2019) showed how EMDR can help prevent anxiety for children who are about to have medical procedures: https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.13.3.163
A study in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders (2017) found that adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) showed significant reduction in anxiety symptoms after EMDR treatment, with effects maintained at 6-month follow-up: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337565768_Efficacy_of_EMDR_Therapy_for_Anxiety_Disorders
Another study in the Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (2015) showed the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in reducing worry in patients with generalized anxiety disorder: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276816832_The_effectiveness_of_eye_movement_desensitization_and_reprocessing_EMDR_in_reducing_pathological_worry_in_patients_with_generalized_anxiety_disorder_A_preliminary_study
EMDR: A Powerful Tool for Overcoming Anxiety
Here’s a recap of how EMDR can help with different kinds of anxiety. Remember EMDR isn't just for trauma - it can help with many types of anxiety that affect everyday life:
Constant Worry: If you're always thinking "what if" and can't seem to relax, EMDR can help calm those racing thoughts.
Panic Attacks: EMDR can help reduce the fear of having a panic attack and lessen its intensity when it does happen.
Social Worries: If social situations make you nervous, EMDR can help you feel more comfortable around others.
Specific Fears: EMDR is great for tackling those specific fears we talked about earlier. It can help you process these fears so they have less power over your life.
Performance Jitters: Whether it's test anxiety or nervousness about a work presentation, EMDR can help you feel more confident.
EMDR works by helping your brain process anxious thoughts and memories in a new way. It's like giving your mind the tools to rewire those anxiety pathways. Many people find that after EMDR, situations that used to be scary or overwhelming become much more manageable.
Remember, everyone's anxiety is unique. In our sessions, we'll work together to understand your specific worries and how EMDR can help you overcome them. Whether you're dealing with everyday stress or long-standing fears, EMDR can be a powerful part of your journey to feeling more calm and confident. Reach out to me by clicking this link to schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if EMDR could be helpful for your anxiety.