EMDR for trauma, performance anxiety, and self-esteem .
EMDR is a bottom-up approach, which means we assess from a clinical understanding that the body automatically responds to any perceived danger. The “bottom” of your brain is the region that is responsible for this survival response. By learning to balance thinking and feeling, you will start to learn about your nervous system, attune to sensations in your body, and overcome shameful beliefs about yourself.
You will begin to identify situations and sensations that your brain currently perceives as threats. Gaining control over your ability to connect with safety and security. Empowering you to use your inner critic to become your inner hyper person. One that is kind and resourceful. One that reminds you that you’re capable of doing difficult things as you continuously evolve throughout your life.
What the heck is eMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Densensitization and Reprocessing
Think of it like this: When you scrape your knee, your body attempts to heal itself, right? You may use your resources, like ointment or a bandage, to speed up the process, and, with or without you, your body is going to do whatever it believes is best for your survival at all times.
When we fall asleep and reach REM sleep, our eyes move back and forth rapidly. This is a form of bilateral stimulation. When this action occurs, the brain is able to “heal” itself from all the “cuts” that occur throughout the day.
This process allows our brain to process memories, images, scents, taste, and touch associated with them. When we have experienced trauma, those memories get “stuck” in the brain. Which means our brain gets overridden with emotions stored from these negative events/memories. Causing our amygdala (the alarm system of the brain) to signal incorrectly. But unlike modern-day technology, the amygdala doesn’t send out a courtesy call to confirm your safety before they send for help. Once it is signaled, it sends out all hands on deck. Operating as if it is a do-or-die situation.
As this process continues, the signals from the hippocampus (the coding part of the brain) begin to weaken and shrink. Which means the brain quite literally has difficulty sending signals to remember what safety and security feel, taste, sound, and smell like. Leading humans to live in a chronic state of anxiety. They may try to “make sense” of these symptoms, feeling frustrated by their inability to logically “find a reason” for the current symptoms and sensations they are experiencing.
EMDR targets distressing memories, beliefs, and symptoms, allowing for reprocessing to occur while using bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation might look like moving your eyes rapidly back and forth or tapping the top of your thighs. As you engage in this process, the memory begins to lose its emotional charge. You will slowly begin to notice what changes and what remains as you learn to reconnect with and trust your body.
