What to Expect After EMDR?
Physical Symptoms
During an EMDR session, your brain will be hard at work. Recalling traumatic memories and exploring the bodily sensations associated with them can lead to exhaustion. Even after your session is complete, your brain is going through a rewiring process after processing stuck memories. This can result in mental fatigue.
It’s not uncommon to feel muscle tension, soreness, headaches, nausea, or lightheadedness. Vivid dreams are sometimes a symptom that can lead to sleep disturbances. That sleep disruption can cause fatigue or a brief mental fogginess.
Mood Improvement
The EMDR therapy targets unprocessed memories and emotions tied to a trauma. As you heal and are freed of those negative memories, you may experience a mood boost. Many people have reported feeling improved self-esteem, optimistic, relaxed, capable of handling stressful situations calmly, and just lighter in general.
After going through something traumatic, it becomes very clear how heavily our emotions are tied to those negative memories. EMDR allows for greater control of the negative symptoms of trauma and helps you transition toward healthier coping.
Improved Memory
Stuck memories can impact how the rest of your memory works, whether it’s recall or memory formation. By working with the EMDR process, you uncover and explore those memories. Your brain makes new connections and rewires itself to help heal.
After EMDR, you may notice your ability to remember more details about past events. Negative memories can be powerful, and this treatment approach allows you to face them in a new way and a safe environment. When you’re not on high alert, you might be able to see things more clearly.
More Self-Awareness and Growth
EMDR leads you down a path of self-reflection to find healing. As you assess your own behaviors, you may start to notice trends and patterns of behaviors worth evaluating.
This new perspective on life allows you to break those old habits and establish newer, healthier ones. Are there any unhealthy coping mechanisms that are no longer serving you? With new insight, how can you adjust your behaviors moving forward? How can you give yourself grace for the things you’ve experienced in the past? Through this method, you have an opportunity to change your viewpoint.
Symptom Change
EMDR treatment can take you on a bit of a roller coaster ride. Due to the nature of the treatment, you may have some increased short-term symptoms. You’re diving into something negative from your past, so it’s not uncommon to have anxiety for the first days after your session. The emotional load can feel intense at first.
You may have a brief period of flashbacks, vivid dreams, or intrusive thoughts. While not ideal, they should be short-lived and exceeded by positive outcomes. Plus, they are all things that can be addressed with your therapist.
Interested in a Consultation?
EMDR is a promising therapeutic option if you are struggling with past trauma. However, beginning any new form of therapy can be scary. If you are interested in EMDR but are wary, contact us today to learn more.