
EMDR
How Memories are Formed
Event Occurs
Brain tries to make sense of the event
Your brain analyzes whether this information is important and needs to stay relevant in the short-term memory bank....
or get processed into the long-term memory bank
Your brain adaptively stores information in the long-term memory bank since it is no longer relevant or helpful to recall day-to-day...
This leaves space in the short-term memory bank for more important information.
Trauma Memories are Different
Upsetting Event Occurs
Brain tries to make sense of the event... but it's too overwhelming to process.
Rather than transfer the memory into your long-term memory bank, your brain goes into survival mode.
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Your brain mistakenly thinks it might need the information in the future to protect you. ​​This keeps the memory "stuck" in the short-term memory bank,
with all the sensory information your brain took in as well as how your brain interpreted the event.
Since the experience is stuck in the short-term memory bank (along with all of the sensory information from the original event),
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future events that are even remotely similar will "light up" memories from the past upsetting event.
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This convinces both your brain and your body that the old experience is happening again (even though it isn't).
How EMDR Helps
A Single Upsetting Event Occurs
or Multiple Upsetting Events Occur
Your brain keeps the experience(s) in the short-term memory bank, often
leading to anxiety, depression, critical self-talk, perfectionism, etc
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You may be asked to bring up a certain memory or memories that are similar in theme, and focus on the experience. A technique called "bilateral stimulation" is then used, which is a sensation that travels "back and forth" from left to right.
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This back and forth movement helps the right side of the brain and the left side communicate with each other, ultimately desensitizing (reducing) your distress.
This process is similar to how our eyes move back and forth when dreaming during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.
This type of exposure in a safe, calm setting, helps your brain reorganize these memories so that they get filed away into your long-term memory bank, where they belong!​​​​​​
This process also helps you in the future. Since the old memories are stored away, they become harder to activate and you have less reminders of the experiences.
An Example
Upsetting Past Events
Your parent was critical of you as a child. You often heard that you weren't measuring up to their expectations.
You formed a belief "I'm not good enough" or "I'm stupid" and often felt tension in your chest and feelings of anxiety, especially at school.
Today, your boss calls you into work. You know you've been behind, but you've been working late hours trying to catch up.
You're feeling sweaty, there's a weight on your chest, and you're dreading what's about to happen. You feel panicked and frozen.
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In your EMDR session, you bring up this upsetting experience with your boss. Your therapist guides you to the first time you ever felt frozen, stuck, and that you're not good enough.
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Using bilateral stimulation, you focus on past experiences that stayed stuck until they are no longer upsetting and have been stored away into your long-term memory bank.
Using bilateral stimulation, you focus on past experiences that stayed stuck until they are no longer upsetting and have been stored away into your long-term memory bank.
You feel less anxious and panicked, and have greater insight into the recent issue with your boss.