EMDR Therapy and Childhood Trauma

Understanding the Power of EMDR in Healing Childhood Trauma

Living with trauma is hard. I’m sure you’ve found this website and blog because you’re struggling with trauma, and likely childhood trauma.  This trauma can have a significant and deep impacts.  Thankfully EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy stands out as a great option for helping people move past this childhood trauma.  When looking at trauma, childhood trauma is intricate and diverse, weaving into a person’s sense of self and potentially impacting their well-being long into adulthood. In this blog post we will explore how EMDR therapy can be applied to tackle and overcome childhood trauma, giving individuals the strength to take back control of their lives.

The Lasting Impact of Childhood Trauma

The biggest influence in who we are as people is childhood.  It plays such a profound role in who we are throughout our lifetime.  This includes shaping our emotions, mental state and even physical well-being. Traumatic events experienced during childhood, such as abuse or neglect can have effects on how we view ourselves, interact with others, and maintain our overall health. 

Many individuals who have faced childhood trauma may encounter challenges later in life, including anxiety, depression, struggles in relationships and/or a constant feeling of insecurity. Sometimes clients have some memories that are easy to point to as traumatic, painful, and impactful – sometimes they don’t.  Either way, EMDR and therapy can help move past painful childhood experiences.

How Childhood Trauma Shows up In Adulthood

Let’s dive a little more in to how childhood trauma shows up later in life.  It’s important we have a good understanding of that before jumping in to more information. The effects of such trauma are often pervasive, influencing various aspects of an individual’s life.  Examples of how this can show up include:

·        Emotional Issues with Regulation: Individuals may struggle with intense emotions that seem to not match whatever the situation is.  For instance, a small sarcastic statement can lead to a big anger reaction, or a shame spiral.

·        Attachment Issues: Early trauma can interfere with the ability to form secure bonds with others which shows up as difficulties with relationships with others later in life.  This might manifest as fear of abandonment, difficulty trusting others, or an overwhelming need for approval.

·        Chronic Low Self-Esteem: Childhood trauma often instills self-beliefs that can lead to lower self-esteem.  Common ones we work with include not good enough, worthless, and inadequate, among others. This can make individuals vulnerable to self-criticism, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome.

·        Physical Symptoms:  Trauma is stored both in our minds and our bodies.  Although we used to think it was just in our mind, our understanding of trauma has come a long way. Individuals may experience chronic pain, fatigue, or other unexplained physical symptoms that stem from unresolved trauma.  We can look at studies involving the ACEs, Adverse Childhood Experiences scale, to see we have good research around the long term impact on health (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4617302/).

·        Triggers and Flashbacks: Certain sounds, smells, or situations may trigger vivid memories of the traumatic event, leading to flashbacks or a sudden return of distressing emotions.  Examples of where this can cause problems include at work, home, or in relationships. 

Let’s Get to the Root of Trauma

EMDR therapy works by helping clients like you “reprocess” and “desensitize” the adverse childhood events. It’s particularly effective for childhood trauma because it addresses both the cognitive and somatic elements of traumatic memories. Here’s how EMDR can be utilized in this context:

·        Accessing Fragmented Memories: Experiencing trauma in childhood can lead to memories that are fragmented with some parts being recalled while others remain hidden in the subconscious or completely forgotten. In EMDR therapy sessions the therapist assists the individual in revisiting these memories and employs bilateral stimulation to aid the brain in reprocessing the traumatic experiences. This process aims to reduce the distress associated with these memories and promote a comprehension of the trauma.

·        Reframing Negative Beliefs: People who have gone through experiences in their youth often hold negative views, about themselves that stem from those times. For instance, a person who was neglected as a child may come to believe they do not deserve love. EMDR therapy, along with the non-EMDR therapy that goes with it, works to recognize and question these beliefs exchanging them for optimistic and grounded ones. Here’s some more information about negative beliefs.

·        Reducing Physiological Arousal: Trauma can sometimes keep the body on edge, or what we refer to as “upregulated” in the nervous system, causing long term stress, worry and health problems. EMDR works by soothing the system through trauma processing, which can alleviate the physical symptoms linked to it. This often results in an enhancement of ones overall health and happiness.

·        Integrating the Experience: Healing from trauma often involves incorporating the event into ones life story. EMDR helps by enabling individuals to work through the memory in a manner that transforms it from a disruptive incident into a part of their history that no longer holds power over them. This blending of experiences is essential, for progressing and creating a positive future.

The Unique Challenges of Using EMDR with Childhood Trauma

While EMDR is a tool working with childhood trauma comes with its own set of challenges. Childhood memories often run deep. Can be linked to ones sense of self shaped by past trauma. Here are some factors to consider when using EMDR in situations;

·        Early Stage Preparation: Due to the profound impact of childhood trauma it's essential to thoroughly prepare the client before delving into the reprocessing stages of EMDR. This may involve developing coping mechanisms establishing a feeling of safety and ensuring the client has a support network.

·        Pacing and Safety: The therapist needs to pace the sessions to prevent overwhelming the client with memories or emotions that surface. It's crucial to monitor the clients reactions and adjust therapy intensity as necessary, including occasionally taking breaks or focusing on less challenging memories before addressing more difficult ones.

·        Age Regression: Clients undergoing EMDR may regress in some ways back to their age at the time of trauma. This can be a potentially unsettling experience. The therapist must possess skills in guiding clients through these moments aiding them in processing emotions that emerge while ensuring they feel supported throughout the process.

Healing from childhood trauma typically takes an amount of time. While EMDR therapy can lead to improvements it usually involves numerous sessions spread out over an extended period. It's important for clients to understand and accept that this healing journey is gradual and requires patience.

Success Stories: The Transformative Impact of EMDR

Many individuals who have undergone EMDR therapy for childhood trauma report profound changes in their lives. These success stories often share common themes:

·        Increased Resilience: Clients often report feeling more resilient and better equipped to handle stressors in their daily lives. The trauma no longer has the same grip on their emotions, allowing them to face challenges with greater confidence.

·        Improved Relationships: As clients reprocess their trauma, they often find that their relationships improve. They become more capable of forming secure attachments, are less triggerable, and generally feel better.

·        Greater Sense of Self-Worth: Many clients experience a significant boost in self-esteem as they let go of the negative beliefs formed during childhood. This newfound sense of self-worth can lead to pursuing new opportunities, setting healthier boundaries, and embracing life more fully.

·        Physical Health Benefits: Clients frequently report improvements in physical symptoms, such as chronic pain or tension, as their bodies release the trauma stored within them. This can lead to an overall increase in energy and well-being.

EMDR Therapy Works for childhood trauma

EMDR therapy provides a pathway to freedom for individuals who have been trapped by the consequences of childhood trauma. By addressing the core of the trauma restructuring memories and reshaping negative beliefs EMDR empowers people to heal on a profound level. Though the process may pose challenge, the transformative effects of EMDR make it a potent resource for those striving to break free from their ‘junk in the closet’. For anyone grappling with enduring impacts of childhood trauma EMDR therapy could serve as the key to unlocking a more enriching future. Whether you are embarking on your healing journey or seeking approaches to tackle longstanding issues, EMDR offers optimism and the promise of significant transformation.  Feel free to reach out to us today to start your journey.