EMDR for Anxiety
Anxiety is a common mental health issue that affects millions of people worldwide. It is often characterized by increased heart rate, imagining the worst case scenario, getting sweaty, feeling nauseous or panicky, having shortness of breath, and a general inability to regulate and calm yourself down. Having anxiety can interfere significantly in one’s daily life and hinder your ability to function.
Anxiety is our body’s natural response to danger and while it is useful when we are actually in a dangerous situation - it’s both scary and frustrating to experience anxiety when we are physically safe. An anxiety attack can mirror physical conditions, such as a heart attack. This can in turn make us feel even more panicked, sending our anxiety through the roof.
With anxiety being one of the most common mental health challenges for which people seek counseling, it’s no surprise that as interest in EMDR for trauma treatment grows, many are curious about its potential to help with anxiety, too. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, has gained significant popularity in recent years for its noninvasive and highly effective approach to helping people process and heal from past trauma. If you’re wondering whether EMDR can be used to treat anxiety, the answer is a resounding yes.
You and your EMDR therapist will work together to uncover the source of your anxiety. When this source of anxiety is addressed in your EMDR sessions, you will gradually become desensitized to the memory of it. It’s okay if you don’t know exactly what your anxiety stems from - this is part of the EMDR therapist’s role.
Understanding the Link Between Anxiety and Trauma
While trauma and anxiety may seem distinct, they’re often closely related. Trauma can disrupt the brain's ability to process memories and experiences, leaving unresolved emotional responses that contribute to anxiety. For example, a person who was bullied in their childhood might carry a fear of social rejection into adulthood, creating patterns of social anxiety. EMDR would help this person by targeting and processing these “stuck” memories and emotions, which would then reduce their anxiety and help them respond more calmly in situations that used to trigger distress.
Is EMDR Right for You and Your Anxiety?
While EMDR can be a powerful, transformative tool, your success largely depends on working with a licensed, EMDR-trained therapist who can tailor the approach to your personal needs. A skilled EMDR therapist will conduct an initial assessment to understand the nature and intensity of your anxiety, any underlying memories or beliefs contributing to it, and any past traumas that may be involved. This individualized approach is especially important because anxiety can present in many forms, from generalized anxiety to specific phobias or panic disorders.
For individuals with more severe anxiety, EMDR can be used alongside other therapeutic approaches to provide comprehensive care. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), for example, can be particularly helpful when combined with EMDR, as CBT works on challenging and changing unhelpful thought patterns while EMDR reprocesses and reduces the emotional charge of past memories.
If medication is part of your treatment plan, EMDR can work alongside the medication by helping individuals gain deeper control over their anxiety response. EMDR can also be a good fit for people who prefer a non-verbal approach to therapy, since it relies less on talking through issues and more on guided memory processing. A consultation with an EMDR therapist is the best way to find out if EMDR is right for you and your specific situation.
Conclusion
EMDR therapy offers a tried and true approach to managing anxiety by helping people reprocess their troubling memories and replace negative beliefs with positive, empowering ones. By tapping into the brain’s natural ability to heal and adapt, EMDR provides a safe, effective path to reduce anxiety and improve overall well-being.
If you are struggling with anxiety and are interested in exploring EMDR, consulting with a qualified therapist could be the first step toward lasting relief. With its unique approach to memory processing and belief restructuring, EMDR is helping people find new peace and confidence, free from the limitations of anxiety.
Begin EMDR Therapy in Burr Ridge / Willowbrook, Illinois
Our EMDR therapists at RelationshipStore use bilateral stimulation during EMDR therapy sessions. If you are interested in getting professional help with PTSD, processing trauma, anxiety, or want to know if EMDR is a good fit for you, please text or call us at (630) 974-6777 or fill out our contact form here.
RelationshipStore’s EMDR therapists offer both in-person and online counseling options for residents of Illinois.
Our practice is located at 241 S Frontage Rd #36, Burr Ridge, IL 60527.