Discover how light therapy can support PTSD treatment, improve mood, reduce stress, and offer a safe, non-invasive approach to mental wellness.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Most people who go through trauma have temporary difficulty adjusting, but with time and self-care they usually improve. If symptoms worsen, persist for months or years, and interfere with daily life, you may have PTSD.
Prompt treatment after symptoms appear can help reduce their impact and improve function.
PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms can vary over time and differ between individuals.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an interactive psychotherapy technique used to ease psychological stress. It is considered an effective treatment for trauma and PTSD.
During sessions, you briefly recall traumatic experiences while the therapist directs your eye movements.
EMDR may work because recalling distressing events feels less upsetting when attention is diverted, allowing exposure to memories without a strong psychological response.
Over time, the technique may reduce the emotional impact of these memories.
People with traumatic memories or PTSD may benefit most from EMDR. It can be helpful for those who find it hard to talk about past experiences.
Although evidence is limited, EMDR is also being explored for:
EMDR is divided into eight phases and usually requires about 12 sessions.
Your therapist reviews your history, discusses your trauma, and identifies memories to target.
You learn coping skills for emotional stress, such as deep breathing and mindfulness.
The therapist identifies specific target memories and associated physical sensations.
Using EMDR techniques, you focus on a negative thought, memory, or image while the therapist guides bilateral stimulation.
This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice.
NIMH: PTSD Overview Mayo Clinic: PTSD Symptoms & Causes PMC: EMDR for PTSD
Your therapist will guide you through specific eye movements at the same time. Bilateral stimulation may also include gentle taps or other rhythmic cues, adjusted to your needs.
After each set of stimulation, you will be asked to notice whatever thoughts or feelings arise. Once you describe them, the therapist may invite you to return to the target memory or shift to another.
If distress becomes intense, your therapist will use grounding techniques to help you feel safe before continuing. Over successive sessions, the emotional charge attached to the memory usually lessens.
In the final phase, you and your therapist review the changes that have occurred and decide whether further work is needed.
Several independent, controlled trials suggest that EMDR can reduce PTSD symptoms. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs lists it as a strongly recommended option for PTSD.
A small 2012 study of 22 adults with psychosis and PTSD reported that 77 % experienced fewer hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, and depressive symptoms after EMDR, without worsening of psychosis.
An earlier trial comparing EMDR with prolonged-exposure therapy found EMDR led to greater symptom reduction and lower dropout; both groups improved.
Other studies indicate that gains can persist: a 2004 follow-up showed participants maintained lower PTSD scores three and six months after EMDR ended, relative to standard care.
EMDR is best known for trauma and PTSD, yet it may also ease anxiety, depression, and panic disorders. Some people value it as an alternative or complement to medication.
This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Further reading: PubMed Central | FDA | ClinicalTrials.gov
