Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a new method of psychotherapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s to treat a variety of disorders. From its infancy, EMDR evolved through contributions from many different sources until it is now a full set of protocols incorporating several different therapy approaches. No one is exactly sure how EMDR works. Research has suggested that when a person is experiencing severe trauma or chronic pain, his or her brain cannot process data in an ordinary manner. Experiences become “frozen in time,” and distressing memories and feelings are relived over and over. There is no apparent improvement. These memories have a lasting negative impact on the way the person sees and relates to other people and the world in general. This can significantly interfere with that person’s ability to live life. It appears EMDR directly affects brain functions by reducing or relieving the stress associated with traumatic memories. The bilateral stimulation used in the therapy triggers brain activity normally associated with the type of information processing that occurs in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. After successful EMDR treatment, normal information processing is resumed, as indicated in the way you experience pain. It’s as though the therapy has changed the way you remember to experience pain. In addition to being a new approach to chronic pain treatment, EMDR is being used to relieve the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, depression, anger, existential angst, performance anxiety, and social phobias or social anxiety disorders. This blog post is an excerpt from A Day Without Pain (Revised) by Mel Pohl, MD, FASAM; Published by Central Recovery Press (CRP). photo credit: helgabj via photopin cc
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