The concept behind eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is that traumatic experiences or memories that cause anxiety are attached to negative feelings and thoughts. When I am conducting this type of treatment, the goal is to have the patient revisit the negative events and memories that may be causing their anxiety. By doing this in a more controlled and pleasant environment and by associating other stimulations with these memories, the brain can then have a better chance to adapt and cope with the problems.

The negative feelings that often cause anxiety are believed to be a result of the brain being unable to cope with what it has experienced and so it’s unable to adapt and to resolve these issues.

This helps to explain why many people turn to substance abuse involving drugs and alcohol after traumatic events and why people may binge eat when suffering severe depression.

These actions reflect an inability and further attempt to cope with the problem because the brain may be unable to heal and cope on its own the way it normally does. When the brain is able to cope with an issue this means that it’s able to detach memories from the negative feelings and thoughts that can trigger anxiety.