But why do these experiences become “stuck”?
When we experience something overwhelming and traumatic, there is reduced control over the pre-frontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for rational thinking) and overactivation in the amygdala and hippocampus (the emotional part of the brain and the area responsible for making memories). In other words, when you are triggered, the rational part of the brain shuts down while the emotional center takes over. Therefore, when you get triggered, you struggle to think and can become extremely overwhelmed- you may react even before you have time to think about what you are doing. Traumatic memories get “stuck” in the amygdala-hippocampal complex and when triggered, they seem to occur in the present (flashbacks and reliving trauma). These stuck memories are considered unprocessed memories, which is why EMDR can be such a useful tool in activating the necessary parts of the brain for healing and relief.
More than 30 positive controlled outcome studies have been done on EMDR therapy. Some of the studies show that 84%-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have post-traumatic stress disorder after only three 90-minute sessions. Another study, funded by the HMO Kaiser Permanente, found that 100% of the single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims no longer were diagnosed with PTSD after only six 50-minute sessions.
At Knox Therapy Center, we have 2 clinicians, Lauren Thomas and Sarah Bruck, who are trained and experienced in offering EMDR. If you are interested in setting up a consultation or an initial session, you can reach out to them at LaurenThomas@knoxtherapycenter.com or SarahBruck@knoxtherapycenter.com