EMDR Therapy- What it is and what it has done for me.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a therapist nor am I educated in psychology. ALWAYS consult a licensed office if you have questions or want to consider any kind of therapy for yourself or a loved one. My blog is for educational purposes only.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. If you read my ‘About Me’ section of my blog, you are probably wondering what EMDR Therapy is all about.

EMDR is a mental health therapy method. This method of therapy has been beneficial to those with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), anxiety, depression, eating disorders as well as schizophrenia. There is no discrimination on age, children have gone through EMDR therapy as early as two years old.

I chose EMDR Therapy because I trust my sister Kristin, who had her own journey through EMDR. I also struggled with major anxiety, depression, and specific memories that would pop in and out of my head since I was little. These factors qualified me for EMDR.

My PTSD reared its ugly head when I experienced my first gynecology appointment. My body’s physical reaction to the whole process was completely traumatizing. I had a full blown panic attack on the table during my physical exam. My whole body went numb, my muscles were stiff, and I felt frozen in fear. I couldn’t breathe through my tears…I was a complete wreck. That poor doctor!! She peered over my knees and just straight up asked me, “Honey, were you molested or sexually assaulted?” I was stunned…I was angry…but I knew, from my memories, she was right! I didn’t know how to be normal or polite in this scenario. I yelled at her, “How about you get in and get the F— out!” Ugh…such a cringe moment for me. She was a wonderful doctor, she was extremely patient and kind to me, and she offered me a hug when I got dressed. To which, I gladly took so I could apologize to her.

I consider myself extremely fortunate that I only remember bits and pieces of my childhood trauma. Through therapy and extensive conversations with my sister on timelines…I’ve put significant puzzle pieces together. I finally understood who I was. Why I am the way I am. It’s one of the most liberating moments of my life. My questions started to finally get answered, and some I will always wonder about. These memories don’t haunt me the way they used to.

What EMDR gave me…it gave me my freedom. My therapist helped me take my control back. I was given tools to go into my tool box. Communication was the biggest tool I could have ever asked for. I started to communicate to all doctors I have seen, that I was assaulted and I needed some patience and grace from them. Once those conversations happened, those exams became easier. I still feel those feelings of this is wrong…I feel dirty…I need to hide my face. Those feelings will always be there during a physical exam, but when I leave the office I can actually function the rest of the day. I can run errands or meet up with friends. Before EMDR, I would go home, crawl into bed, sob, and stay there all day.

Everyone has experienced or will experience some form of trauma in their life. If those experiences are hindering you from getting on with your day, or leaving you in a completely panicked state, I strongly recommend therapy. Investing in your health and well being is the best gift you could ever give to yourself.

For more information of EMDR Therapy, please watch this video on YouTube.

Copyright Disclaimer: The content being used in this video has been sourced from EMDRIA EMDR International Association. Original video titled “[Introduction to EMDR Therapy]”, which is publicly available on [YouTube]. I do not claim ownership over any of the copyrighted material used in this video. The content listed above is for Educational Purposes. ALWAYS consult a licensed office if you have questions or want to consider any kind of therapy for yourself or a loved one.