What Happens to your Body While Going Through EMDR?
If you've ever heard of EMDR therapy and thought, "How can moving my eyes back and forth help me heal from trauma?" — you're not alone— it’s a super weird concept when you first hear about it. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) might sound unconventional, but it's backed by powerful science and trusted by therapists worldwide. The WHO Organization recognizes EMDR as a first line of treatment for PTSD, but also recognize it as a very effective therapy with other mental health issues.
In this post, I’ll explore exactly what happens to your brain and body during EMDR, and why it’s becoming one of the most sought-after trauma treatments available today.
What Happens to Our Brain During EMDR?
During trauma or any adverse life event, the brain’s normal processing system can go offline. The fight-flight-freeze response takes over, and the memory — along with all the fear, images, and sensations — can get “frozen” in time.
EMDR helps "reboot" the brain’s natural healing process by doing the following:
1. Activates Both Sides of the Brain
Bilateral stimulation (like eye movements) activates the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing for better communication and memory integration.
Think of it like defragmenting a hard drive — your brain reorganizes the traumatic memory so it no longer feels overwhelming.
2. Reduces the Emotional Charge
As you revisit a painful memory during EMDR, your body may initially react — racing heart, tight chest, tears. But over time, the memory becomes less intense and feels more distant.
Why? Because EMDR helps the brain reprocess the experience, filing it away like a regular memory instead of an ongoing threat. Think of it as a virus in a computer system- then needing to “clean” your hard drive to get rid of the virus for the computer to work properly.
3. Calms the Nervous System
EMDR shifts the body from fight-or-flight mode into a more relaxed, grounded state. Clients often report feeling physically lighter, more clear-headed, or like a weight has been lifted after a session.
What You Might Notice in Your Body During EMDR
Everyone’s experience with EMDR is unique, but here are some common physical responses:
Deep sighs or yawns (your body releasing tension)
Tingling or warmth in the arms, hands, or chest
Tears or emotional release
Lighter breathing or a sense of calm
A shift from panic to peace
Feeling tired (your brain is working hard!)
These sensations are signs that your nervous system is regulating and your brain is doing deep emotional work.
Your Body WANTS to Heal
If you break your arm and do not seek out medical treatment, your arm is going to eventually heal on its own. Will it heal the proper way? Probably not. Same thing happens with an adverse life event or any trauma. Adverse life events and trauma live in the body. EMDR gives your body and brain a safe, effective path to release it.
If you’re curious about how EMDR could help you or a loved one, don’t hesitate to reach out. You don’t have to keep reliving the past — real healing is possible.
