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Understanding EMDR and Trauma Healing

Traumatic experiences can sometimes be processed naturally by the brain but other times the fight or flight response is triggered and prevents healing. EMDR therapy can help the brain resume normal processing by reactivating the hippocampus to calm the overactive amygdala, reducing flashbacks and confusion. It also strengthens signals from the prefrontal cortex so traumatic memories no longer overpower reasoning. EMDR therapy allows the brain to heal from trauma by reestablishing normal communication between regions affected by distressing events.

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2K views1 page

Understanding EMDR and Trauma Healing

Traumatic experiences can sometimes be processed naturally by the brain but other times the fight or flight response is triggered and prevents healing. EMDR therapy can help the brain resume normal processing by reactivating the hippocampus to calm the overactive amygdala, reducing flashbacks and confusion. It also strengthens signals from the prefrontal cortex so traumatic memories no longer overpower reasoning. EMDR therapy allows the brain to heal from trauma by reestablishing normal communication between regions affected by distressing events.

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TRAUMA AND THE BRAIN

EMDR THERAPY CAN HELP


Our brains have a natural way to recover from distress. Many
times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved
spontaneously. Other times, our fight, flight, or freeze
response prevents distress from being processed without help.

AMYGDALA ACTIVITY INCREASES


The amygdala acts as an alarm signal for stressful
events and helps protect us from danger. Trauma can
cause the amygdala to stay overactive, which can lead
to feelings of anxiety or being in danger.

HIPPOCAMPUS SHRINKS
The hippocampus assists
with learning and memory
storage, including how to
remember safety and
danger. It helps calm the
amygdala. Trauma can cause
the hippocampus to shrink.
Cues to calm the amygdala
are weakened, which may
cause flashbacks or
confusion around the
trauma memory.

PREFRONTAL CORTEX SHRINKS


The prefrontal cortex manages thoughts, behavior, and helps us control our
emotional response to events. Normally, this area helps us decide that a situation
is okay. Trauma can weaken the signals from this area, allowing negative
emotions from the trauma memory to take over the prefrontal cortex's reasoning
ability.

EMDR therapy helps the brain process traumatic memories, allowing


normal healing communication to resume. After successful EMDR
therapy, the fight, flight, or freeze response from the traumatic event is
resolved. 

www.emdria.org

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