EMDR & How it Can Help Through Menopause

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional stress that are the result of a disturbing life experience such as menopause.  Because of this hormonal change, the brain’s information processing system is changing alongside the physical changes in our bodies.  From this, women can become mystified and confused by the way they are reacting through anger, depression, anxiety, stress, and mood swings, often resulting in hurt feelings and harm to relationships.  It also can cause sexual dysfunction, low libido, and painful sex that creates moments of sexual avoidance or even misunderstanding with your partner.

The unique technique of EMDR prompts the client to call to mind the disturbing issue or event, what was seen, felt, heard, thought, etc., and what thoughts and beliefs are currently held about that event.  During the therapy sessions, the therapist works with the client to identify a specific problem as the focus of the treatment session.  For example, I’m a horrible person is a negative thought.  EMDR helps the client to recall a more positive thought, such as “I did the best I could.”  Then, with eye movement, the positive thought becomes identifiable, thus bringing a sense of peace to the client.

Mind and body—in the real world, we cannot separate them. In the real world of menopause, they are sides of the same coin ….