EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a technique that uses bilateral stimulation to treat trauma. In this post, I will continue my explanation of EMDR according to Dr. Jane Dye by describing the science behind the technique.
Biology of Emotions
In order to understand how EMDR works, it is necessary to understand the biology of emotions; what is going on in the body when people have such strong reactions to events. It is also important to understand that both trauma reactions and coping are unique. More specifically, what one person considers a major trauma (also referred to as “Big T”), another person might think of as a minor trauma (“little t”). The criteria will vary from person to person. Similarly, how people cope also varies from person to person.
Understanding the Brain’s Role in Emotions
The brain stem contains our autonomic system, which is working all of the time. The brain stem was the primary neurological system, until the limbic system developed around it. With the limbic system, we could feel feelings such as fear, joy, etc. With these emotions we could more readily ascertain when danger was present, which serves to keep us alive. At the center, the amygdala, is the alarm system for the body. Anything can trigger it and the alarm goes off. When this happens the body sends chemicals for fight or flight, and if we can’t do that we freeze and hold the chemicals in our body.
The cerebral cortex thinks logically. Ideally they work together; i.e. amygdala says “I’m having chest pains,” it could take over, or I could choose to go to cerebral part of brain which says, “you could be just having chest pains from your big dinner.” They are suposed to help each other. But, if the limbic system takes over, the cerebral part of the brain isn’t working. This is why when there’s a death we recommend not making any big changes because you aren’t using your cerebral part of brain yet. Conversely, if the thinking brain takes over then there isn’t a lot of feeling or emotion going on.
Neurotransmitters and Cells
Trauma and negative emotion can change us chemically. More specifically, they can change the composition of the cells in our bodies. Fascinating, right? Let me tell you how this happens.
Whenever we experience something, whether it is a memory, thought or feeling, neurotransmitters and hormones flood our system. In order to be processed, they must enter our cells. Each cell is surrounded by “doorways” that allow specific chemicals to enter. For each chemical, there is a specific doorway, and doorways can change from one type to another. Therefore, in stressful situations, particularly if they continue over time, the doorways that allow the “good” chemicals (i.e. seratonin) can turn into doorways that allow the negative chemicals in, so that they have a place to go. As a result, now our cells are more receptive to negative emotions than positive.
Now small things make the person nervous, when they didn’t before. This is because they are biologically different. This is also why antidepressants take time to work; you are flooding system with feel-good chemicals and cells need to change. More specifically, the negative doorways need to change to positive ones. The problem with just taking antidepressants is that it doesn’t change thinking patterns, and as a result the dose may need to be increased in order to keep the ratio of positive and negative doorways stable. (Negative thinking patterns need to be changed to more positive ones otherwise the effects of the antidepressant can be at least partially negated.) This is particularly important for people who are genetically predisposed to have a more active amygdala or grew up in a stressful environment.
In summary, traumatic memories are stored in every cell of the body.
In my next post, I will continue this explanation of EMDR.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Dr. Barbara LoFrisco
* All of this information is a result of Personal communication from Jane F. Dye, PhD, LMFT February 7, 2014 at the FMHCA annual conference in Lake Mary, FL on February 7, 2014.
For further reading on the subject:
Book recommendation: Molecules of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine by Candace B. Pert
