“Often, when something traumatic happens, it seems to get
locked in the brain with the original picture, sounds, thoughts,
feelings, and so on.
Since the experience is locked there, it continues to be
triggered whenever a reminder comes up.
It can be the basis for a lot of discomfort and sometimes a lot of
negative emotions, such as fear and helplessness, that we can’t
seem to control.
These are really the emotions connected with the old
experience that are being triggered.
“The eye movements we use in EMDR seem to unlock the
system and allow your brain to process the experience.
That may be what is happening in REM, or rapid eye
movement, sleep, when our most intense dreaming takes place:
The eye movements appear to be involved during the processing
of unconscious material.
“The important thing to remember is that it is your own brain
that will be doing the healing and that you are the one in control.
Shapiro, Francine. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Therapy, Third Edition (pp. 115-116). Guilford Publications. Kindle Edition.