5-Minute Health Tip: EMDR Therapy for Body/Mind Healing

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a relatively new comprehensive therapy that frees the body and mind of past emotional traumas, thus clearing the way for physical healing to begin. EMDR is used by such respected organizations as the Psychiatric Association and the Department of Defense to treat Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In fact, EMDR therapy has been validated by more controlled studies than any other trauma treatment used for PTSD. Over 20 randomized studies have proven the efficacy of EMDR on PTSD and other emotional disturbances, including…

• Trauma

• Anxiety

• Phobias

• Addictions

• Panic Disorders

• Chemical Dependency

• Grief

• Violence

Woman eyeThe Link Between Emotions and Disease

While it may seem as though emotions pass right through us—happiness gives way to sadness and then melts back into joy—emotions actually become lodged in the nervous system, creating cellular memories that cause the vast majority of health problems…some estimate 95% of disease is created by these trapped cellular memories!

“Our best hope for healing incurable illness and disease in the future might very well lie in finding a way to heal destructive cellular memories,” said Dr. John Sarno, Ph.D., New York University. “If you can heal that cellular memory, then the illness or disease or chronic pain is very likely to heal.”

An alternative to talk therapy and prescription drug treatment, EMDR has been shown to unlock the stored emotions in the nervous system swiftly and easily. According to Dr. Linda Dubrow-Marshall and Dr. Steve Eichel, five of the most recent EMDR studies made up of individuals suffering from events such as rape, combat, loss of a loved one, accidents, natural disasters, etc. showed that 84-90% no longer had post-traumatic stress disorder after only three treatment sessions. A recent study financed by Kaiser Permanente revealed that EMDR was twice as effective in half the amount of time compared to standard traditional care.

 How EMDR Works

EMDR uses right and left eye movement to activate opposite sides of your brain, which stimulates the neurophysiologic system (the mind-body connection). Since its inception in 1989 by originator Francine Shapiro, approximately 20,000 therapists have been trained and licensed. It’s best to begin EMDR therapy in a structured environment with a trained professional. An EMDR session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. The practitioner will guide you through recalling the traumatic event, while focusing on the movement of her fingers moving right and left. Tracking her hand movements while focusing on a painful memory frees your body of trapped cellular memories and your mind of anxiety and stress.

Self-administered EMDR is safe, as long as you do not get locked in a distressing memory. Once you’ve mastered EMDR with a professional, you can conduct five-minute sessions at home. Click here to visit a Youtube video that provides a focal tracking system and guides you through the session. Remember to focus on a past emotional trigger, while following the tracking device with your eyes.