Untreated trauma significantly affects mental health. Individuals impacted by trauma have a higher risk of developing substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health disorders. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and other trauma-focused treatments provide individuals with the tools they need to reprocess trauma.

According to Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, EMDR is effective for “empowering individuals to redefine their relationship to their trauma and move forward with an improved quality of life.” Emerge Recovery TX offers evidence-based treatments, including EMDR, to help women heal from the effects of trauma.

What Is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing?

EMDR therapy is a form of psychotherapy used to effectively treat trauma-related disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the previously mentioned article by Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, “EMDR is an eight-step treatment modality that aims to distance patients with PTSD from the negative self-conception that can develop following traumatic events, while affirming and installing positive self-assessments.” 

Sessions involve guided discussions about traumatic triggers and bilateral stimulation. Clients use specific back-and-forth eye movements and simultaneous bilateral stimulation to access traumatic memories and reduce their impact. EMDR allows clients to reprocess traumatic memories, thoughts, or beliefs safely.

What to Expect During an EMDR Session

EMDR sessions follow a standard format with eight distinct phases. Generally, each stage is not completed during the same session. Before each phase, the therapist explains what to expect from the next step. The initial phase involves discussing the possible benefits of EMDR and the client’s history. After being educated on how EMDR therapy works, clients must identify what trauma they wish to target during subsequent sessions. The client is asked to identify any sensations or thoughts associated with the traumatic trigger. Clients usually collaborate with the therapist to create a positive thought to counter any negative thoughts related to the trigger. 

Bilateral stimulation for the therapy is achieved using a variety of methods. The type of stimulation used varies depending on what makes the client feel most comfortable. Some common forms of stimulation include:

• Sound
• Movement
• Pressure

Bilateral stimulation is used to help clients reprocess traumatic memories by activating both sides of the brain while accessing the memory. The back-and-forth stimulation and eye movement stop the memory from being “stuck” and allows it to be reprocessed. Clients are often instructed to develop a positive thought or imagined ending to replace the trauma trigger. In most cases, sessions last 40 minutes to an hour. The client may talk about their trauma during the session or remain silent while the therapist guides them through reprocessing their thoughts, feelings, and memories. 

Reprocessing the trauma allows clients to reframe how they think about the trigger. For example, someone who had felt guilt over being abused as a child will reach a point where they accept what happened wasn’t their fault. It often takes multiple sessions to fully reprocess a traumatic trigger.

Untreated Trauma Affects the Mind and Body

People sometimes have delayed reactions to trauma. For some individuals, delayed trauma symptoms take years or even decades to manifest. Substance misuse may trigger trauma responses. Clients diagnosed with SUD have a higher risk of experiencing more severe trauma symptoms. People can experience extreme changes in behaviors, thoughts, and temperament due to unaddressed trauma responses.

Untreated trauma affects the mind and body by doing the following: 

• Increasing paranoid thoughts and behaviors 
• Reducing a person’s ability to trust others 
• Causing physical and emotional reactions to triggers 
• Decreasing a person’s energy level and ability to concentrate

Professional mental health treatment ensures women receive the support and care they need to identify and address untreated trauma. 

Evidence-Based Therapies Reduce the Effects of Trauma

Our years of experience has taught us there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for addressing trauma and trauma-related issues. According to studies,  “Trauma, including one-time, multiple, or long-lasting repetitive events, affects everyone differently.” Some individuals with SUD might react positively to EMDR treatment, while others may require different modalities to fully reprocess their trauma. Clinicians at Emerge Recovery TX use comprehensive assessment and screening tools to ensure clients have access to the treatments they need to heal. EMDR is one of the most effective tools for treating trauma and co-occurring mental health disorders. 

How Does Emerge Recovery TX Utilize EMDR?

Emerge Recovery TX uses EMDR and other evidence-based treatments to help women reprocess events and heal from trauma. EMDR is also effective for overcoming emotionally distressing negative self-talk during recovery. 

Clinicians use EMDR to do the following: 

• Reduce the severity of symptoms 
• Increase positive mental health
• Improve overall well-being
• Reduce the risk of retraumatization

Women in recovery don’t have to continue living with the effects of untreated trauma. We know that treating trauma significantly reduces the symptoms related to SUD.

According to the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, “PTSD severity reductions [are] associated with SUD improvement.” We have gone to great lengths to ensure the care teams at Emerge Recovery TX prioritize trauma recovery during treatment. All clinicians are certified in EMDR therapy. 

Love and light,

Leah & Laurel

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Untreated trauma profoundly affects how a person thinks about themselves and others. Many women who live with the effects of trauma feel overwhelmed and have difficulty functioning. Professional mental health programs reduce the risk of developing additional trauma-related issues. Some women in treatment for substance misuse and co-occurring trauma-related issues may find it challenging to move forward unless their care team addresses the trauma. Evidence-based treatments like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy allow clients to reprocess the trauma in a new and healthy way. Emerge Recovery TX uses EMDR to treat trauma and trauma-related mental health disorders. To learn more about our programs and services, call us today at (737) 237-9663.