EMDR for Depression: How Therapy Can Transform Your Life
If you’re suffering from depressive symptoms, you might be ready to reach out for professional support. Perhaps you’re thinking about working with a therapist, but you’re not really sure what therapy will entail. Before you book an appointment, you want to know what improvements you can expect.
What concrete benefits will you actually gain from treating depression with therapy? And how will the skills you learn in therapy improve your life outside of therapy? If you’re curious about whether therapy is right for you, learning more about how the right therapist can help you find joy in life again might prompt you to ask for help.
For many individuals, EMDR therapy (short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) has been an effective approach to treating depression. This method helps patients process traumatic memories and past stressful life events that may contribute to their current struggles.
Here are a few ways depression therapy can change your life for the better.
Ways EMDR Therapy Can Change Your Life for the Better
1. Skills to Improve Your Mood
Therapy involves discussion and self-reflection, but EMDR sessions can also revolve around learning helpful coping strategies. These skills will allow you to reap the benefits of treatment outside of therapy. You will notice a general improvement in your overall mood.
While the change won’t be instant, you will feel your depressive symptoms gradually becoming less severe as you practice these skills.
For instance, if you frequently ruminate on negative thoughts throughout the day, EMDR therapy can help reframe these thought patterns and allow you to process the root causes behind them. This is especially beneficial for depressive patients who have experienced childhood trauma or other traumatic events that may still be affecting their mental health.
In addition to engaging in self-reflection in therapy, you might also start journaling at home to get to the roots of issues in your life and express yourself honestly. Your therapist may also help you get a handle on mindfulness and grounding techniques, which can help when you’re feeling overwhelmed by a difficult situation.
2. Sharper Thinking
Depression can make it difficult to focus on anything. You may deal with brain fog on a daily basis, making it practically impossible to concentrate at work or in school.
As a result, your performance might suffer. Sometimes, you may even find it hard to tune into conversations and feel truly present during social interactions. This can cause you to feel distant from your loved ones, and becoming isolated from your social circle can worsen your depressive symptoms.
Through EMDR therapy, many individuals find that their cognitive function improves. As you process traumatic memories and past emotional distress, your brain fog may begin to lift. EMDR treatment allows the brain to rewire and heal, helping you regain clarity, improve memory, and enhance your ability to engage with others more effectively.
And when you’re chatting with other people, you’ll feel more engaged in conversations. Depression can take you away from your hobbies, but as your ability to concentrate improves, you may be able to return to some activities that you had given up.
3. Improving Mental and Physical Health
Depression doesn’t just affect your mental health—it can have profound effects on your physical well-being. However, after starting EMDR therapy, you may notice significant improvements in both areas.
For example, if you were frequently getting sick because your immune system was weakened, you might realize that you’re not catching colds as often. And if you were dealing with muscle aches and chronic depression-related pain, these symptoms might lessen as well.
Additionally, sleep disturbances are common in individuals with chronic depression. Many depressive patients struggle with insomnia or disrupted sleep cycles. However, EMDR for depression can help process unresolved emotional distress, leading to improved sleep quality. Once you are no longer tossing and turning at night, you will probably have more energy to socialize, exercise, and focus on other habits that support long-term well-being.
Find Relief with EMDR Therapy Today
If you’re struggling with depression, you might be interested in talking to a therapist. EMDR therapy has been a breakthrough for many individuals seeking relief from traumatic events and unresolved emotional pain.
Reach out to us today to discuss your options for EMDR for depression and schedule your first EMDR session. With the right support, healing is possible.
