EMDR is a therapeutic technique that uses bilateral stimulation to process the distressing/traumatic events, and accelerates the healing process. Sometimes when a traumatic event occurs, the mind continues to hold on to the trauma in its organic form. When something in the present triggers that trauma, the body reacts as if the trauma is happening in the present. For example, you were in a car accident a few years ago while you were on a bridge on a rainy day. Since that accident, driving over a bridge and/or on a rainy day causes you anxiety. A certain noise, color, or smell may even trigger your anxiety. You may even avoid going over bridges, or driving on a rainy day. You know that your avoidance is limiting, unreasonable, and unnecessary. But you feel stuck because you don’t know how to stop the anxiety.
Krissie Le-Hermida is your San Diego EMDR specialist and can provide you with the relief you need. EMDR helps to identify the distressing feelings and negative thoughts that you have been saying about yourself regarding the incident and removing those negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Once those blocking beliefs and thoughts are lifted and replaced with more positive and realistic ones, the original trauma will no longer affect you. You can think and talk about the upsetting event, but you will be less upset.
What types of problems can EMDR treat?
a. Panic attacks
b. Sexual, physical, or emotional abuse
c. Grief
d. Phobias
e. Depression
f. Addiction
g. Performance anxiety
h. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
i. Stress reduction