Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow EMDR Can HelpThe Pros and Cons of EMDRShould You Use EMDR Therapy? What to Consider
Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
How EMDR Can Help
The Pros and Cons of EMDR
Should You Use EMDR Therapy? What to Consider
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From 2002 to 2021, the number of adults in the United States who received mental health treatment grew from 27 million to almost 42 million people.Our attitudes shifted over the last 20 years, as more of us have come to see the value of seeking mental health care.
Specific eye movements stimulate the brain to help people who suffer with trauma responses access subconscious emotions. A person may use EMDR therapy to process traumatic memories and events in a new way, which is something that can be particularly good for people who struggle to unpack emotions and trauma.—SETH BOLTON, COUNSELOR
Specific eye movements stimulate the brain to help people who suffer with trauma responses access subconscious emotions. A person may use EMDR therapy to process traumatic memories and events in a new way, which is something that can be particularly good for people who struggle to unpack emotions and trauma.
—SETH BOLTON, COUNSELOR
Jonathan Storey/DigitalVision/Getty Images
The therapy is touted as an effective treatment forpost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD). Experts say using EMDR helps people who have previously been stuck reliving traumatic memories, to become “unstuck” and begin to move forward with processing the experience.
Several organizations, including the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), the American Psychiatric Association, and the World Health Organization (WHO), recognize EMDR as a promising treatment for PTSD.
“One of the main benefits of EMDR is you are not required to talk about the traumatic events or memories. EMDR helps you change the emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that result from trauma or distressing experience(s). Disturbing experiences are updated in your mind and body so they are no longer as bothersome,” statesSarah Rollins, LMSW, SEP, Embodied Wellness.
Though supporters say EMDR therapy has numerous benefits, others note concerns and even say there are dangers with the method and its impact. There are questions about the effectiveness of the treatment itself. Some say it creates more severe mental health issues, and that patients can experience severe emotional distress while undergoing EMDR therapy.
Keep reading to dive deeper into the impact of EMDR therapy, risks associated with EMDR, and what things you should be mindful of before moving forward with the treatment.
Understanding PTSD With Psychosis
Like any therapy, EMDR doesn’t work for everyone who tries it, and there are many misconceptions as to what it actually does. For example:
None of those misconceptions accurately describes the way EMDR works.
“The foundation of the EMDR framework is the AIP (Adaptive Information Processing) model. This model posits that our brains have an innate ability to process and adaptively integrate information. From the moment we’re born, we’re learning and storing information. We learn what feels good (safe) and what feels bad (unsafe),” saysJessica Good, MA, LPC, EMDR therapist.
“All new experiences are assimilated into existing memory networks allowing us to use past experiences to quickly make sense of new situations,” she adds.
Research shows that the method can be successful. EMDR therapy reduced PTSD symptoms in patients in one randomized, controlled study.Some claim the method has a success rate of up to 90% in patients.It can also be used to treat depression, anxiety, OCD, and eating disorders.
The Potential Dangers
However, an absence of long-term research on the practice and potential adverse effects cause many to question whether EMDR is a beneficial therapy choice.
“Although research has shown that EMDR is a safe and effective treatment for trauma, there are still side effects. Typically, they are short term and mild," says Rollins.
The most common side effects include an increase in stressful memories, heightened emotions during processing, lightheadedness, fatigue, headaches and vivid dreams. New traumatic memories can also resurface.—SARAH ROLLINS, LMSW, SEP
The most common side effects include an increase in stressful memories, heightened emotions during processing, lightheadedness, fatigue, headaches and vivid dreams. New traumatic memories can also resurface.
—SARAH ROLLINS, LMSW, SEP
What’s more, some research claims that there’s an initial increase in psychosis symptoms with the use of EMDR therapy.But some experts say just the opposite—that in fact, there is not a significant amount of research to support those claims.
“There are very few side effects of EMDR therapy. The psychotherapy may cause a person to experience strong recollections of traumatic experiences which can be upsetting, and emotions may fluctuate between high a low after sessions as a person reflects upon the experience," Bolton says. “Some mild physical symptoms can be experienced too such as headaches and fatigue due to the emotional nature of the therapy.”
Other side effects include becoming lightheaded, heightened emotional awareness, and graphic dreams.
“If vivid dreams occur this is not a side effect to worry about, as the brain often reprocesses information and emotions during REM sleep. As this form of therapy targets the subconscious, experiencing vivid dreams can occur but often wear off over time,” Bolton says.
Like any type of therapy, EMDR has pros and cons. It’s important to consider if the benefits outweigh the risks, before knowing if it works for you.
Treatment for Psychosis
Before making a decision which therapy modality to use, you should understand how the process works, the benefits, and the potential risks. Then, together with your mental health professional, make an educated choice.
As a part of knowing about EMDR, here are a few points to consider:
Of course, depending on your situation, you may decide it’s worth the potential drawbacks to experience the help you believe EMDR therapy can bring.
Whether you decide to move forward with EMDR or choose another therapy method, make sure you take the precautions you need to help ensure a safe outcome, and always consult with your healthcare team before trying any new treatments.
“When doing any form of deeper therapeutic work you want to make sure that you have an effective coping plan in place as well as a form of support system. Any form of deeper emotional work can lead to a spike in behaviors, so you want to make sure you’re prepared in case that happens,” Good concludes.
4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Statista.Number of U.S. Adults Who Received Mental Health Treatment or Counseling in the Past Year from 2002 to 2021.
Susanty E, Sijbrandij M, Srisayekti W, Suparman Y, Huizink AC.The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization for post-traumatic stress disorder in indonesia: a randomized controlled trial.Front Psychol. 2022;13:845520.
AlphaMind Counseling Centers.What Is the Success Rate of EMDR?
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