How EMDR Therapy Can Heal Emotional and Somatic Flashbacks
How EMDR Therapy Can Heal Emotional and Somatic Flashbacks
Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC
Do you sometimes feel scared, anxious, hijacked by emotions, or really threatened in a relatively safe place, struggling to understand why you’re reacting the way you do? Do you feel overwhelmed by a racing pulse and shortness of breath? These reactions almost always result in shame because you are aware that your reactions don’t fit the situation.
What you may actually be experiencing are emotional and somatic flashbacks.
You see, trauma memory knows no time. So, if you've survived trauma or have PTSD, you know how much it can mess with your life. For example, when something reminds your nervous system of previous trauma, you start reacting as if it’s happening right now.
Emotional and somatic flashbacks are just part of the troubles that trauma may cause. But they can really take a toll on your well-being, making it difficult for you to find happiness and move forward.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Psychotherapy can help.
As a therapist, I offer EMDR therapy in Orlando. EMDR is a highly effective treatment that has helped many people deal with distressing emotional and physical flashbacks.
In this post, I will explain how EMDR therapy can help you regain control of your thoughts and feelings and navigate stress more effectively.
Why Do I Have Emotional and Somatic Flashbacks?
Do you experience a flood of emotions that don’t seem to fit the situation, leaving you feeling terrified, sad, ashamed, or guilty? Or maybe you often have the uneasy sense that something horrible is about to happen.
What are Emotional Flashbacks?
Anyone who has experienced emotional flashbacks knows how intense they can be. They happen when you experience an overwhelming emotional reaction that does not match the current situation. Even though your rational mind knows that your emotions are intense or extra large, that knowledge is not enough to change how you feel. When something comes along and reminds you (either consciously or subconsciously) of a difficult past event, you respond as if it is happening now. You know that your emotions don’t correspond to the current situation, but you can do nothing to calm them down. It’s because your mind reacts by flooding you with emotions that either happened or wanted to happen during the time of the traumatic experience.
What are Somatic Flashbacks?
People who have survived trauma or have PTSD often experience the physical sensations of a traumatic event all over again.
When you’re distressed, your body goes into this "fight or flight" mode. Your hormones, heart rate, and breathing all adjust to prepare you for action. These physiological responses help you manage daily stress, avoid harm, and keep yourself safe.
But the thing about trauma is that the severity of an event often goes beyond our capacity to cope. When something traumatic or difficult happens, it can be so intense that you just can't handle it. You simply freeze or shut down.
But let me explain this.
Our bodies have the ability to remember trauma. So, whenever something reminds you (consciously or unconsciously) of past trauma, the body responds as if it is happening now. Somatic flashbacks might cause you to feel tense, nauseous, or even experience pain. So, when something comes along and reminds you of a past painful experience, the thoughts can send a shuddering wave of fear through your body. Your heart might start racing, you may feel goosebumps down the back of your neck, or you may start trembling.
Imagine, out of the blue, that old song starts playing - the same one that was playing when you had a car accident. This memory can be so intense that you start hyperventilating, sweating, or shaking. It's like your body reacts automatically, leaving you overwhelmed and puzzled.
How Can EMDR Help Process Emotional and Somatic Flashbacks?
At Mindful Living Counseling Orlando, we use EMDR to help our clients overcome a range of mental health issues like trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, relationship issues, physical abuse, OCD, and more.
So, here is how EMDR can help you with emotional and somatic flashbacks.
EMDR Can Provide You with Coping Strategies
As an EMDR therapist, I help my clients develop healthier coping strategies for dealing with emotional and somatic distress and respond to triggers more adaptively. Deep breathing, body scans, physical activity, and other things are some of the things we do in EMDR. By turning these self-help habits into your everyday routine, you will become more resilient and better able to handle stress.
EMDR Helps Reprocess the Trauma Memories
Thinking about a traumatic event from the past while using bilateral stimulation eases the emotional and physical impact, making those intense flashbacks happen less often.
We use EMDR to help our clients work through traumatic events until they don't cause them dark thoughts, painful feelings, or physical discomfort.
We will also definitely focus on dealing with those specific triggers that set off emotional and physical flashbacks. This will eventually help you feel better and give you a sense of control.
EMDR Therapy Can Help You Reclaim Your Life
Do you chastise yourself and think, "If I did that, then that would/wouldn't happen?" "I'm broken," "I'm a failure," or "I'm to blame"? These kinds of thoughts can be disturbing and won't go away.
You’re not alone in this. People who have flashbacks often struggle with distorted negative thoughts and self-perceptions. So, the "what-ifs," "shoulds," and "musts" that are going through your mind may be making you unhappy, scared, ashamed, and lost.
At Mindful Living Counseling, our clients and therapists work together to change these negative thought patterns. We enjoy helping them build better self-images and boost their self-esteem so they can reach their goals, have happy relationships, and feel good about themselves again.
Ready to Start EMDR Therapy in Orlando?
I understand how painful, lonely, and isolating it can be to have emotional and physical flashbacks. But you're not alone. EMDR can provide relief and help you regain a sense of safety. With compassionate guidance from our qualified EMDR therapists, you set goals for the future, heal, and reclaim your life.
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Additional Resources for EMDR Therapy
EMDR Therapy for Trauma-Related Brain Injuries
EMDR Therapy Orlando for a Recent Trauma
Orlando Therapist Explains How EMDR Therapy Works
Orlando Therapist Explains What to Expect in EMDR Therapy
Orlando Therapist Answers the Question - What is EMDR Therapy?
Is EMDR Therapy Right for You?
Types of Counseling: What is EMDR?
Additional Therapy Services Offered at Mindful Living Counseling Orlando
At Mindful Living Counseling, we understand that therapy is not limited to EMDR Therapy. Our team of therapists provides a wide range of counseling services to help you overcome any challenges you may be facing. We offer various therapy options, including Toxic Relationship Therapy, Anxiety Therapy, and Teen Therapy. You can trust us to support you through whatever you may be going through.
Meet the Owner of Mindful Living Counseling Orlando
I'm Lauran Hahn, LMHC, and I'm excited to share that I am offering EMDR Intensives. I discovered EMDR Therapy six years ago and was amazed by the results my clients saw. I am passionate about EMDR Therapy and therefore decided to pursue further certification.