First responders are routinely exposed to stressful events in the line of duty. This includes witnessing terrifying situations, experiencing the death of a child, or the death or injury of a partner or peer.1 For many members of the military, being deployed or serving in combat can considered stress events. On top of that, first responders experience cumulative stress and prolonged feelings of helplessness in the face of overwhelming demands.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective therapy that can desensitize the brain and body to the physiological arousal and stress of traumatic events and experiences to find healing and resolution.2 The Unified Wellness Center offers EMDR for First Responders as one of our many treatment modalities. We encourage you to learn more about EMDR and how it may benefit our first responder community.
What is EMDR?
Created in 1987, EMDR is a psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Our brains have a natural way of recovering from traumatic memories and events. This process involves the amygdala, which is the “alarm” for stress, the hippocampus, which assists with memories and learning regarding safety and danger, and the prefrontal cortex, which controls behaviors and emotions.
The response to stress is part of the ingrained “fight or flight” instincts. With trauma, the distress from the thoughts, images, and emotions remains long after the threat has passed. This triggers the fight or flight instincts. EMDR helps the brain process these memories and heal naturally – the memory doesn’t go away, but the response does.3
Unlike other types of therapy, EMDR doesn’t require detailed discussions about a distressing issue or “homework” that occurs between sessions. Instead of focusing on the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors associated with a painful memory or event, EMDR allows the brain to “reset” using its natural healing mechanisms and processes.
How Can EMDR Help?
EMDR is suitable for all ages and backgrounds, but it’s particularly beneficial for first responders and their unique experiences. People who have experienced prior or prolonged trauma, such as first responders, are more vulnerable to PTSD and other trauma disorders than those who haven’t.
Therapists often use EMDR to address a wide range of conditions, including:3
- Anxiety
- PTSD and trauma and stress-related issues
- Depression and bipolar disorders
- Sleep disturbances
- Complex grief
- Performance anxiety
- Substance use disorders and addiction
What to Expect with EMDR Therapy
EMDR typically includes eight phases of therapy with a trained professional.4 Each session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. The early sessions focus on identifying the memories or experiences you wish to improve with therapy.
The next phases of EMDR involve focusing on the specific event and the negative images, thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations related to it. While focusing on the event, the therapist uses sets of side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or taps, allowing the brain to reprocess the event.
With EMDR, the key is that the results aren’t up to the therapist’s interpretation. You’re not forced to discuss the event and share details. Instead, your body is given the tools to process and heal on its own to reframe the traumatic memories or experiences.
Is EMDR for First Responders Helpful?
EMDR offers an integrative approach for trauma-related conditions in first responders. At Unified Wellness Center, we provide exceptional, culturally competent care for trauma and addiction in first responders. Contact us today to learn more about our EMDR treatments and tour our facility.
Sources:
[1] https://institutesofhealth.org/ptsd-in-first-responders/
[2] https://emdrfoundation.org/emdr-info/
[3] https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
[4] https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/experiencing-emdr-therapy/
