What to Expect After EMDR: The Good, the Bad, the Healing
If you're undergoing EMDR therapy or considering it for trauma healing, you may wonder about its aftereffects. While each person's experience is unique, many patients report common physical, cognitive, and emotional changes following EMDR sessions. These impacts can manifest immediately after treatment, in the following days, and even long-term. EMDR can trigger profound changes as you work through traumatic memories. Remember that these experiences are often part of the healing process.
After EMDR: Immediate Effects
While many individuals feel perfectly fine, others might notice some uncomfortable symptoms.
Post-EMDR Fatigue
After an EMDR session, you may experience significant physical changes. Fatigue is a common and normal response, even though you've been sitting still. The intense mental and emotional work during EMDR can leave you feeling drained and exhausted. This tiredness may persist longer than usual, affecting your energy levels for hours or even days post-session.
Body Awareness
You might notice increased body awareness or unusual sensations. Some clients report feeling lighter or heavier, experiencing tingling sensations, or even temporary muscle soreness. These physical manifestations are typically part of the healing process as your body processes and integrates the therapy.
Emotional Responses
After an EMDR session, it's common to experience a range of emotions. You might feel relief, freedom, or joy as your brain processes traumatic memories. Conversely, sadness, frustration, or worry may surface. These reactions are all normal and healthy parts of the healing journey.
New Perspectives and Insights
EMDR therapy can profoundly alter your cognitive landscape, offering a fresh lens through which to view yourself, others, and the world. After a session, you might experience a sudden clarity about past events, accompanied by new information or understanding. This "aha" moment can be both enlightening and transformative, shedding light on how past experiences have shaped your present circumstances.
You may notice a shift in your thought patterns, with negative self-beliefs giving way to more balanced, realistic perspectives. This cognitive restructuring can improve self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and increase empowerment. As your brain processes traumatic memories, you might approach challenges with newfound resilience and optimism.
What Are the Short-Term Changes
In the days following a session, you may experience various changes as your brain adjusts to new perspectives. You might notice increased sensitivity, mood swings, or a sense of relief. These are normal responses and part of the healing process. Consider journaling, creating art, or talking with trusted confidants to support your emotional processing.
New memories or emotions related to your trauma may surface. While not guaranteed, EMDR can sometimes uncover previously hidden material during or after sessions. This emergence is a natural part of the therapy's effectiveness in addressing deeply rooted experiences. After EMDR, you might experience intensified dreams or thoughts about your memories, revealing new aspects of past experiences. This is a normal part of the healing process, though it can feel overwhelming. Communicate any new insights to your therapist.
What to Expect Long-Term
EMDR therapy can lead to profound long-term changes in emotional regulation and psychological resilience. As your brain processes traumatic memories, you may notice a shift in how you react to triggers. Instead of feeling aggravated or shutting down, you might experience a sense of calm and acceptance.
Negative beliefs like "I am broken" or "I am not good enough" often lead to more adaptive, positive self-concepts. You may find yourself embracing thoughts like "I am okay as I am," leading to a more positive self-image and increased self-esteem. As EMDR therapy progresses, you may notice a profound shift in your self-beliefs.
Affirmations like "I am good enough" or "I am loved" begin to resonate more deeply, replacing negative self-talk. This transformation is a cornerstone of EMDR, fundamentally altering your self-perception and worldview. As trauma responses diminish, you'll likely gain clarity about your authentic identity, values, and aspirations.
Ready to begin your healing journey with EMDR treatment? I specialize in helping trauma survivors like you process past experiences, find peace in the present, and create a brighter future. Book a consultation today.
