Can EMDR Therapy Help With Anxiety?
Written by: Mindful Living Counseling Staff
Anxiety can affect much more than your thoughts. Anxiety can be a racing heart, chest tightness, difficulty sleeping, constant worrying, or a feeling that something bad is about to happen. Sometimes you know exactly what is making you anxious. Other times, anxiety can feel like it comes out of nowhere.
If you have tried traditional talk therapy for anxiety but still feel like your body is stuck in the same patterns, you may wonder if a different approach could help.
Good news! EMDR therapy is a modality we share with clients who come in and share they feel stuck. Although EMDR Therapy is often associated with trauma and PTSD, it can also be used to address anxiety, panic, phobias, and other difficult life experiences.
Can EMDR Therapy Help Anxiety?
Anxiety is your body's way of responding to a perceived threat, and this response can be helpful when there is an actual danger, but sometimes your nervous system continues to respond as though you are in danger even when you are safe. You might know that you are okay, but many times your body may not feel that way.
This can happen when anxiety is connected to experiences that your brain has not fully processed. These experiences don't have to be one major traumatic event. Anxiety can develop around repeated experiences, difficult relationships, stressful situations, fears, or moments when you felt overwhelmed, powerless, rejected, or unsafe.
EMDR therapy will help you and your therapist explore what may be contributing to your anxiety and identify the experiences, beliefs, or situations that continue to trigger your nervous system. Rather than simply trying to stop the anxious feeling, EMDR Therapy looks at where that response may be coming from and what is keeping it going.
Do You Have to Have Trauma to Use EMDR Therapy?
The short answer is no. You may think of trauma as something obvious or extreme, but experiences can affect us in different ways. Something that felt overwhelming at one point in your life may continue to influence how you respond to situations today.
For example, you may notice intense anxiety when:
You have to speak in front of others.
You feel like someone is upset with you.
You make a mistake or fear disappointing someone.
You are in a situation where you feel out of control.
You experience a physical sensation that reminds you of a panic attack.
You are afraid something bad is going to happen to someone you love.
You are entering a situation that reminds you of something difficult from your past.
Sometimes the connection between the present moment and the past is obvious. Other times, it takes time to understand why certain situations create such a strong reaction. EMDR Therapy can be used to address past experiences, present triggers, or fears about future situations, depending on your individual needs and treatment goals.
Can EMDR Therapy Help With Panic Attacks?
When my clients experience a panic attack, they become afraid of having another one, and then begin avoiding places or situations where they worry a panic attack could happen. Over time, the fear of anxiety itself can become part of the problem. EMDR Therapy can help address the distress associated with previous panic attacks as well as the fear surrounding future attacks. For some people, the goal is not simply to understand why they are having panic attacks, but to help their nervous system respond differently when those sensations or situations occur.
What If I Don't Know Why I'm Anxious?
You don't necessarily need to know the exact reason for your anxiety before starting EMDR Therapy. Sometimes my clients come to therapy knowing exactly what they want to work on. Other times, they simply feel overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck and want to understand why. Check out this blog, 5 Signs You Have Anxiety, to learn more about your anxiety symptoms.
At Mindful Living Counseling, we can help you explore patterns in your thoughts, emotions, body sensations, relationships, and experiences to better understand what may be contributing to your anxiety. You don't have to walk into your first EMDR session with everything figured out.
How to Get the Most From EMDR Therapy
EMDR Therapy is a collaborative process between you and your therapist. Your therapist at Mindful Living Counseling will guide you through the treatment, but your participation and communication are an important part of the work we will do together.
To get the most from EMDR Therapy, it can be helpful to:
Be Open:
Let them know what feels helpful, what feels uncomfortable, and when you need to slow down.
Give Yourself Time:
EMDR Therapy is not about forcing yourself to process everything as quickly as possible. Your therapist will work with you at a pace that feels appropriate.
Pay Attention to Patterns:
Notice situations, thoughts, memories, or body sensations that seem to increase your anxiety between sessions.
Practice Your Tools:
Your therapist may teach you grounding, calming, or other coping strategies that can help you manage difficult emotions outside of sessions. We share our blog 51 Grounding Techniques with our clients.
Ask Questions:
You should understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. Your therapist can explain the process and adjust the approach based on your needs. I recommend reading our blog What to Expect in EMDR Therapy before getting started.
Self-Care:
Processing can continue after an EMDR session, so it can be helpful to give yourself time to rest and notice how you are feeling.
Most importantly, remember EMDR Therapy is a process, and your therapist is there to help you move through it safely and at a pace that works for you.
Is EMDR Therapy Right for You?
EMDR Therapy may be worth exploring if anxiety continues to affect your relationships, work, sleep, daily activities, or ability to enjoy your life. It may be especially helpful if you notice that your anxiety seems connected to certain experiences, memories, fears, or situations that continue to trigger a strong emotional or physical response.
At Mindful Living Counseling, EMDR Therapy can be tailored to your individual experiences and goals. You don't have to know exactly where your anxiety comes from before reaching out. Therapy can be a place to begin exploring those patterns and understanding what your mind and body may be trying to tell you.
If you are considering EMDR Therapy for anxiety, speaking with a trained EMDR therapist can help you determine whether this approach is a good fit for you.
EMDR Therapy Additional Resources
Orlando Therapist Explains How EMDR Transforms Your Life by Alleviating PTSD Symptoms
An Anxiety Therapist Shares Everything You Need to Know About Anxiety
Orlando Therapist Explains What to Expect in EMDR Therapy
Orlando Therapist Explains How EMDR Therapy Works
Is EMDR Therapy Right for You?
Therapy Services Available at Mindful Living Counseling
About Anxiety Therapist: Lauran Daughtery, LMHC
Lauran Daugherty, LMHC, is a licensed therapist at Mindful Living Counseling who specializes in helping individuals cope with anxiety, attachment issues, and recovery from toxic relationships.
Lauran is a certified EMDR therapist and an EMDRIA-approved consultant, and she is currently accepting new clients for EMDR intensives! She provides both in-person therapy in Orlando and online therapy throughout Florida, offering a supportive space for clients who are ready to feel less stuck in anxiety and more present in their daily lives.