Do you feel limited and frustrated by panic attacks and phobias? If so, dread, avoidance, and isolation may be a part of everyday life.
Are panic attacks interrupting the calm and flow of your life?
Have persistent fears and intense phobias upset your relationships, goals, and forward movement?
Do you feel that, even though you recognize the extremes of your responses, you cannot control them?
Luckily, recovery and relief are possible. First, you must deal with unprocessed emotion. EMDR for panic attacks and phobias is a proven, effective, and safe method of helping you heal. EMDR can help. How? Let’s see:
5 Reasons EMDR is the Best Type of Therapy for Panic Attacks and Phobias
1.EMDR Links the Body and Mind for Holistic Healing
Basically, the connections that exist between your mind, body, and emotions are vital to overcoming what overwhelms you. Above all, EMDR is an excellent therapy for addressing fear and panic from all sides.
Beyond simply “talking it out”, you pay attention to the ways your body anticipates, incorporates, and holds anxiety. The result? Calm and release. In general, a deep sense of well-being in the body and mind comes with processing your emotions. In return, EMDR makes coping with previous, fear-inducing situations much less distressing or problematic.
2. EMDR Helps Locate Fears for Processing
It is necessary to disconnect the associations and fear that fuel your dread. Research indicates that this happens deep in the brain in a region called the amygdala. Given that, your therapist may gently ask you to bring your attention to physical sensations or thoughts linked to your panic attacks.
One of the most helpful aspects of EMDR is that you needn’t do this through ongoing discussion or harsh, repetitive exposure to what frightens you.Essentially, the goal is to desensitize and adjust your thoughts. Working closely with your trained EMDR therapist, you will process those things that helped form your current anxiety. You may be asked about:
your history regarding panic and phobias
what thing or situation scares you
the types of thoughts that persist
the origins of such anxiety
In all, the EMDR process helps produce a higher tolerance for discomfort. The approach is effective and gentle, ensuring you feel in control and more aware of your situation.
The goal is not to pressure you to aggressively confront the panic or phobia. Rather, it is to break mental connections between your fears and reality. Eventually, invasive, unhelpful thinking will fade. For many, EMDR increases calm, self-control, and relaxation as a result.
3.EMDR Supports Resolution of the Trauma that Triggers Terror
The help of a trained therapist does several key things to help you process past events. For example, you may find that you need to deal with traumatic experiences that still live inside you.
EMDR founder, Francine Shapiro, found that fearful memories shift through the EMDR process as well as faulty beliefs. And the sense of danger and alarm within you is “disarmed.” Thus, all of this is accomplished in a short amount of time with remarkable results and staying power.
4. EMDR Moves You Forward Practically and Positively
EMDR provides more than just initial behavioral change. The addition of bilateral stimulation allows you and your therapist to reprogram your thinking. You can set a template for your future. Moreover, your ability to set goals and reach them will be enhanced as you imagine distressing scenarios and navigate them successfully in a safe environment.
5. EMDR for Panic Attacks and Phobias, Needn't Stand Alone
EMDR is a proven benefit to your mind, body, and emotions. Additionally, when used with traditional treatments it can become more effective. For the simple reason that it helps your therapist identify problems quickly and determine treatment accurately.
Don't be surprised if your EMDR therapist encourages at-home methods like progress journals, relaxation techniques, visualizations and more as practice for noticing your emotions and facing your fears.
Finally, if you suffer from debilitating anxiety in the form of a panic disorder or phobias, you will benefit from an evaluation and session with a trained EMDR therapist.
If you would like some extra support and are looking for a psychotherapist, please contact us for a free consultation to learn about how we can be of service.
Click here to learn more about EMDR Therapy. Serving Boulder, Longmont, Denver...
