5 Signs You Could Benefit from EMDR Therapy

Have you ever wondered why you feel stuck in a pattern of unhelpful behaviors and can’t seem to make a change? Maybe you desire more calm and less chaos, but chaos seems to find you wherever you go. You tell yourself that you will not take on another project until you’ve completed the five you already have going, but no matter how hard you try, you always add more to your plate. Your daily life feels like you are constantly treading water, barely staying afloat, and can never seem to make it on the dock. 

If this resonates with you, I want you to know you are not alone. Our childhood wounds and past traumas influence our behaviors in our daily lives. While you may have tried to stuff your past traumatic experiences away, avoiding the feelings or telling yourself it was “no big deal,” the unprocessed traumas are still there, stored in our bodies and influencing our current behaviors. 

Healing from trauma isn’t easy, but understanding how it impacts your life and seeking treatment to heal those deep-seated wounds can make all the difference. As a trauma therapist helping women in Idaho, I have seen many women come to my office to discuss present-day issues that are actually rooted in their past trauma. These women desire a life free from chaos and overwhelm. They want to feel more connected in their relationships and not so reactive, but one thing is keeping them from this life they desire….trauma. 

One highly effective approach to trauma healing is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones—to engage both sides of your brain. This process helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories in a way that reduces the emotional intensity attached to them. Instead of reliving the distress from those memories, EMDR allows you to gradually detach the overwhelming emotions and the negative beliefs that have been stuck in your mind.

Through EMDR therapy, the brain essentially “unlocks” the trauma and begins to store it more adaptively, so the memory no longer triggers the same emotional responses. For instance, if you’ve been carrying a negative belief like “I’m not good enough” or “I’m unsafe,” EMDR helps you shift that perspective into a more positive and realistic view. Over time, this can lead to profound changes—not just in how you relate to that traumatic memory, but in how you view yourself and the world around you.

But how do you know if EMDR is the right fit for you? In this post, I’ll share five common signs that indicate EMDR therapy might be exactly what you need to start feeling better and more in control of your life.

1. You Feel Emotionally Numb or Disconnected

If you’ve noticed that you feel emotionally numb or disconnected from your feelings or even your body, this could be a sign of unresolved trauma. People often describe feeling like they’re on “autopilot,” unable to experience joy, sadness, or other emotions fully. This emotional detachment is a common trauma response and can lead to issues in your relationships and your overall well-being.

EMDR therapy can help you reconnect with your emotions in a safe and controlled way. By addressing the underlying trauma and working through it, EMDR therapy allows you to regain a sense of emotional clarity and connection, leading to more authentic relationships and a fuller, more engaged life.

2. You’re Stuck in Negative Self-Talk or Beliefs About Yourself

If you constantly find yourself caught in a loop of negative self-talk or feel trapped by limiting beliefs like “I’m not good enough,” “I’m a failure,” or “I don’t deserve to be happy,” this could be a sign of unresolved trauma. Often, these harmful beliefs are rooted in past childhood wounds, where you internalized negative messages about yourself.

EMDR therapy works to uncover and reprocess the memories that led to these negative beliefs. Doing so helps shift your mindset, allowing you to replace these harmful thoughts with more positive, empowering ones. Over time, you can develop a healthier, more compassionate relationship with yourself.

3. You Have Difficulty Trusting Others or Forming Close Relationships

Trauma can often make it difficult to trust others or build meaningful connections. If you find yourself pushing people away, feeling suspicious of others’ intentions, or struggling with intimacy, this could be a trauma response. When the brain is stuck in survival mode, it can be hard to let your guard down and connect with others.

EMDR therapy can help you process the emotional wounds that are keeping you distant or defensive. By healing past hurts, EMDR therapy allows you to open up to deeper, more trusting relationships, whether it’s with your partner, family, or friends.

4. You Struggle with Emotional Eating, Alcohol Use, or Other Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

Trauma often shows up in behaviors designed to numb or escape painful emotions—such as emotional eating, drinking alcohol, or engaging in other unhelpful habits. If you find yourself turning to food, alcohol, or other behaviors to cope with stress, anxiety, or overwhelming emotions, this could be a sign that unresolved trauma is influencing your actions.

EMDR therapy can be incredibly effective in addressing the root cause of these behaviors. Rather than focusing solely on stopping the behavior itself, EMDR therapy works by targeting the emotional wounds and distressful memories that drive these coping strategies. For example, if you use alcohol to avoid confronting difficult emotions or memories, EMDR therapy helps you safely process those experiences. As you heal the underlying trauma, your reliance on alcohol, food, or other coping mechanisms often decreases, giving you the emotional freedom to make more mindful choices.

5. You Experience Physical Symptoms of Anxiety or Panic

Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind—it lives in the body. If you’re experiencing physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, muscle tension, or frequent panic attacks, it may be because your body is stuck in a trauma response. These physical sensations are a sign that your nervous system is dysregulated due to unresolved trauma.

EMDR therapy is highly effective in helping your brain and body return to balance. Using bilateral stimulation (like guided eye movements or tapping), EMDR helps your brain process the trauma while calming your nervous system. Over time, this reduces both the emotional and physical symptoms of trauma, bringing relief from panic attacks, chronic anxiety, and other body-related trauma responses.

Here’s a BONUS one because it’s too important to leave out!!

6. You’ve Tried Traditional Talk Therapy and Still Feel Unresolved

Talk therapy can be incredibly beneficial for many issues, but when it comes to deep-seated trauma, it sometimes falls short. If you’ve been in traditional therapy but still feel emotionally stuck or unable to heal fully, adding EMDR to your treatment plan could provide the breakthrough you’ve been seeking.

EMDR therapy is designed specifically for trauma recovery. While talk therapy often involves revisiting memories and discussing coping strategies, EMDR therapy works by addressing how the brain stores and processes those memories. This allows for more profound healing at the root of the trauma rather than just managing symptoms.

Is EMDR Therapy Right for You?

If any of these signs resonate with you, it’s worth considering EMDR therapy as part of your trauma healing. Whether you’ve been stuck in old trauma responses, find it difficult to connect with others, or have been using unhelpful coping mechanisms, EMDR therapy could help you finally feel the peace and serenity you have been desiring. 

The beauty of EMDR is that it doesn’t require you to rehash all your trauma verbally. Instead, it works at the brain and body level to help you process trauma more naturally. Over time, this can reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and lead to healthier relationships with food, yourself, and those around you.

Take the Next Step Toward Healing

Healing from trauma is possible, and EMDR therapy offers a powerful way to start that process. If you’re curious about whether EMDR therapy for trauma healing could help you reach out for a free 15-minute consultation. We can discuss your experiences, goals for therapy, and how EMDR therapy might fit into your healing journey.

Take that first step today—you deserve to feel whole, empowered, and at peace with your past.

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Jarae Swanstrom is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor practicing online throughout Idaho. She believes in a holistic approach to therapy, focusing on healing the whole body. Jarae helps women heal trauma, disordered eating, and negative body image. Learn more about Jarae or schedule a free consultation at mountainrivertherapy.com.