The Usefulness of Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) during the holidays to treat PTSD, Anxiety and Depression
The more I use EMDR in therapy, the more I have come to value its transformative powers. I have found EMDR to be especially useful during the holidays. I have given some thought as to why EMDR is often very effective in dealing with intense negative emotions which may be exacerbated during the holidays.
I think the primary reason EMDR is so effective in treating PTSD, Anxiety and Depression during the holidays is that EMDR addresses the root causes of seasonal depression, anxiety, and PTSD. It identifies a client’s emotional needs rather than trying to change their depressive and anxious thoughts along the Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) model. Validating depressive and anxious thoughts is recognizing a client’s emotional pain without judgment. Emotions are heightened during the holidays, with many unrealistic expectations and disappointments. EMDR helps to process negative memories from the past and allows a client to enjoy the present.
Depressive and anxious thoughts are perfectly normal given the stressors inherent in coping with the holidays. EMDR brings suppressed negative thoughts into consciousness so that they can be addressed and dealt with adaptively. There are a myriad of triggers for depressive and anxious thoughts during the holidays, ranging from having to contend with dysfunctional family issues to the expectation that we buy into the crass commercialization of Christmas where expressions of love may be measured in dollars and cents, not by spending quality time together and eschewing the consumerism identified with Christmas.
Intense negative emotions are often rooted in nostalgic feelings of good times past which no longer exist or recalling a traumatic event associated with the holidays. To invalidate those feelings would do more harm than good, which is often the case with “therapy.” Good intentions do not necessarily equate to good results. Competent therapy is helpful, incompetent therapy is harmful.
I think that therapists are prone to making the mistake of placing too much emphasis on changing a client’s negative thoughts and feelings using Cognitive Behavior Therapy. EMDR offers acceptance and insight into all emotions, whether positive or negative. A client who gains insight into why he or she feels the way that they do is enormously therapeutic. If we know the “why,” we can deal with the “how” by teaching effective coping skills. EMDR tries to mitigate the negative effects of intense emotions, but in no way does it try to negate legitimate and appropriate emotions. CBT is often the wrong intervention for emotional pain and suffering based on negative memories.
EMDR identifies the intensity of negative emotions and how it negatively impacts a client’s present-day life. Once a client can identify a memory, whether it be pleasant or traumatic, EMDR helps a client get in touch with their feelings. Ironically, it is often pleasant memories of holidays past that trigger the most intense feelings of depression.
Clients often feel guilty about not being in the “holiday spirit.” My theory is that they have unrealistic expectations of the holidays. They feel that they should be joyful when in fact they are anxious, depressed and pining for days past which can never be duplicated. The cognitive dissonance over what they feel and what they think they should feel causes tremendous emotional pain. EMDR resolves cognitive dissonance and allows a client to freely express genuine and heartfelt emotions which are validated by the therapist. EMDR facilitates that type of healing. It is a beautiful thing.
