Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured form of therapy most commonly used to treat trauma and post-traumatic stress.

When we experience something overwhelming, memories of that experience can sometimes continue to carry the emotions, physical sensations, thoughts, and beliefs that were present when it happened.

That can make something from the past feel surprisingly present.

A smell. A tone of voice. A particular place. Conflict. Rejection. Feeling trapped. Sometimes you know exactly what triggered you. Other times, your reaction seems to come out of nowhere.

EMDR is designed to help those memories become less distressing so they can be experienced as something that happened, rather than something your mind and body need to keep responding to as though it is still happening.

EMDR has been extensively studied as a treatment for trauma and PTSD and may also be incorporated into treatment for concerns such as:

• Childhood trauma

• Disturbing or painful memories

• First responder and military-related trauma

• Anxiety and panic connected to past experiences

• Grief and loss

• Phobias and fears

• Experiences of abuse, violence, accidents, or medical trauma

• Negative beliefs about yourself that developed from painful experiences

You do not need to have experienced one single catastrophic event for past experiences to continue affecting you.

Sometimes trauma is obvious.

Sometimes it looks more like years of instability, criticism, rejection, loss, unsafe relationships, having to grow up too quickly, or repeatedly feeling like you were not safe, important, or enough.

EMDR is not simply sitting in a room and moving your eyes back and forth.

It is a structured therapy that typically begins with understanding your history, identifying what is affecting you now, building coping skills, and making sure you feel prepared before beginning memory processing.

When you are ready, your therapist will ask you to briefly bring a distressing memory or experience to mind while engaging in bilateral stimulation.

Bilateral stimulation alternates from one side to the other and may include:

• Guided eye movements

• Alternating taps

• Other forms of left-right sensory stimulation

You remain awake, aware, and in control throughout the process.

As processing continues, the emotions, thoughts, images, and physical sensations associated with a memory may begin to change. The memory itself is not erased. Instead, the goal is for it to become less emotionally intense and less disruptive in your present life.

No.

One of the things some people appreciate about EMDR is that it does not require you to repeatedly describe every detail of a traumatic experience.

Your therapist needs enough information to understand what you are experiencing and provide treatment safely, but you generally do not need to give a graphic, detailed account of everything that happened in order to process a memory.

For people who have spent years avoiding a particular story—or who are simply tired of retelling it—this can be an important difference.