
Anxiety can be challenging as it can make you feel isolated, overwhelmed, and powerless. It can take a toll on your everyday life making it difficult to set goals, achieve them, and have a meaningful relationship with yourself and others. In the United States, 19% of the adult population has anxiety according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Usually, when people think of anxiety treatment, their minds will go to anxiety therapy or medication. However, there are other options such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Typically, EMDR is used for trauma and PTSD but it is also effective for anxiety. In this blog, we will discuss how EMDR can be a powerful tool to overcome anxiety.
What Exactly is Anxiety? 
Anxiety is a normal emotion everyone feels when facing a stressful or uncertain situation. When you’re experiencing anxiety, it can manifest as feelings of fear, restlessness, increased heart rate, and difficulty concentrating. However, the problem begins when it persists past the stressful situation or continuously impacts your life. This may be an indicator of an anxiety disorder.
An anxiety disorder is an umbrella term used to describe different types of anxiety. The different types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety, social anxiety, separation anxiety, and phobias. These may all be under the umbrella of anxiety but all manifest differently and can be effectively treated by EMDR.
The Power of EMDR Therapy
The goal of EMDR therapy is to help people reprocess traumatic memories and experiences. It allows people to take a second look and process the feelings, emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations surrounding the experience. With EMDR, a trained professional will guide you through bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, and/or auditory tones) in order to help you access and reprocess the traumatic memories.
EMDR therapy has been found to be effective at reducing the intensity, frequency, and duration of intrusive thoughts associated with anxiety disorders. It does this by helping you process the emotions, thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations connected to anxiety-provoking memories in a different way. Doing this helps you create new mental associations and gain insight into your thoughts and feelings. Additionally, it can help reduce the associated physical symptoms such as a racing heart or shallow breathing.
How Does EMDR Therapy Help with Anxiety?
EMDR allows people to reprocess memories or experiences that may be causing anxiety. It does this by targeting the underlying negative core beliefs associated with anxiety. For example, your negative core belief may be something along the lines of “I am not good enough” or “I am unworthy.” EMDR will help you replace those negative beliefs with something more positive such as “I am worthy” or “I am capable.”
EMDR for anxiety also helps identify and heal underlying trauma contributing to stress. Past trauma can be a huge factor when it comes to anxiety. These can be small instances that you may not even think of as trauma or major traumatic life events. For example, it could be an argument with a family member or the death of a loved one. EMDR for anxiety can help you identify these traumas and then provide the tools to help heal them and reduce the anxiety they have caused.
During EMDR Therapy For Anxiety, The Treatment Process Involves Several Key Steps.
These include gathering the individual’s history, preparing them for the therapy sessions, assessing specific target memories or events, and engaging in the desensitization. Then begins the reprocessing of those memories using bilateral stimulation techniques. Throughout the process, individuals work with their therapist to reprocess their underlying trauma that are causing their anxiety to create new mental associations and reduce the impact of anxiety in their lives. The therapy aims to provide individuals with effective tools to manage anxiety and cultivate greater emotional well-being.
EMDR therapy for anxiety is an incredibly transformative approach. One that invites individuals to explore the roots of their fears and traumas. By shining a more compassionate light on the negative core beliefs and painful memories that contribute to anxiety, EMDR therapy offers a pathway to healing and growth. It empowers individuals to embrace vulnerability, gives individuals a deep understanding of their anxiety. It also paves the way for profound personal transformation. Through this transformative process, individuals embark on a journey to reclaim their inner strength and rewrite the narratives that have influenced their lives, fostering resilience, joy, and sense of freedom from their anxiety.
Interested in Working With an EMDR Therapist in Roswell, Alpharetta, or Milton GA?
EMDR is an effective treatment for anxiety and can help you reduce the intrusive thoughts, physical symptoms, and emotions associated with it. Our team of therapists at Wellview Counseling understands anxiety can be debilitating and make you feel stuck. That is why we are now offering EMDR for anxiety to help you move forward and live a full life. If you’re interested in starting therapy:
- Contact Wellview Counseling
- Meet with Our Therapists
- Begin reprocessing trauma and reducing symptoms of anxiety with EMDR therapy!
Other Therapy Services Offered at Wellview Counseling
Our therapists at Wellview Counseling understand that you may be needing more services than EMDR for anxiety. This is why we offer child counseling, teen counseling, family counseling, postpartum depression and anxiety counseling, trauma and PTSD treatment, therapy for those with a chronic illness, and more. Regardless of the challenge you face, our therapists are here to help. Our office is in Roswell, GA, but we also offer online therapy to anyone in Georgia. If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment please feel welcome to reach out to us!
About the Author
Meet Ashley Bobo, MSW, LCSW, a compassionate and highly experienced therapist. She is dedicated to helping individuals and families overcome trauma-related stress and anxiety. With over 20 years of experience, Ashley specializes in providing support for managing stress, anxiety, depression, and improving relationships. While Ashley herself is not an EMDR therapist, she understands the transformative power of EMDR therapy in addressing anxiety. Ashley offers tailored treatment approaches. She also guides individuals toward finding qualified EMDR therapists at her Roswell, GA practice. With her deep understanding of trauma and its impact, Ashley supports individuals in navigating challenging times and finding healing. For valuable information and support on your healing journey, visit Wellview Counseling’s website to learn more about Ashley and her practice.
I was looking for birthday presents, and I noticed ads about anxiety therapy. I never knew that EMDR therapy could help treat trauma before it disrupts your daily routines. I think it would be a good idea for individuals to find a reputable counselor for this in the future.