Understanding Trauma and How EMDR Helps

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is listed in the “A” category — meaning “highly recommended” — by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense for trauma treatment. You can read more in their official practice guidelines here.

 

What Happens in the Brain During Trauma?

When you experience something overwhelming or life-threatening, your brain shifts into trauma mode to protect you. In this state, all incoming information—sounds, sights, smells, physical sensations, and emotions—is encoded as short-term, raw memories rather than fully processed experiences.

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For example, a soldier exposed to explosions or a first responder witnessing trauma may have memories of physical sensations like pain or heat, alongside intense feelings of fear, anger, or numbness. These become “implicit memories” stored deep in the brain’s emotional centers (the limbic system), separated from the parts of the brain where we normally process memories into stories we can understand.

 

Why Trauma Symptoms Persist

Normally, the brain would process and file away difficult experiences over time. But with trauma, these raw memories remain “locked” and can be easily triggered by reminders, causing emotional and physical reactions as if the event were happening again right now.

 

This can lead to:

• Flashbacks

• Intrusive thoughts or images

• Nightmares or disrupted sleep

• Heightened startle responses

• Anxiety, anger, or numbness that seems to come out of nowhere

 

Even something like a loud noise (e.g., a car backfiring) can trigger these intense reactions—bringing up feelings and body sensations linked to the trauma, long after the event itself is over.

 

How Trauma Affects Daily Life

​These triggers can cause confusion and frustration—not just for you, but for those around you. You may notice changes in your mood, irritability, or difficulty concentrating, and sometimes feel isolated because others don’t fully understand what you’re experiencing.

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You might hear comments like “You’re not acting like yourself,” or feel misunderstood—except perhaps by others who share similar experiences, like fellow veterans or first responders.

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How EMDR Can Help

If this sounds familiar, EMDR therapy can support your brain’s natural ability to heal by safely reprocessing those “stuck” traumatic memories. EMDR helps integrate these memories into a normal, manageable part of your past—reducing their power to cause distress in the present.

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This process can help you:

• Reduce emotional and physical reactions to triggers

• Improve sleep and reduce nightmares

• Restore calm and emotional balance

• Reconnect with everyday life and relationships

 

​YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

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Healing from trauma is possible—and you don’t have to do it alone. If you feel overwhelmed by past experiences, EMDR might be a good fit to help you regain control and peace.