EMDR Therapy: The Witchcraft Voodoo Shit That Processes Trauma
Let me explain something that, at first glance, sounds like complete nonsense.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
The simplest way I can describe it?
It’s witchcraft voodoo shit that processes trauma… and it worked for me.
Seriously.
You sit in a room with a therapist and follow a finger, a light bar, or some other back-and-forth movement with your eyes while thinking about memories your brain has been carrying around.
That’s it.
On paper it sounds ridiculous.
But here’s the reality:
This shit works.
Or at least it has helped me, and I know several other people who say the same thing.
What EMDR Actually Is
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a type of psychotherapy designed to help people process trauma, PTSD, and other distressing memories.
Traditional therapy often focuses on talking through experiences.
EMDR does something a little different.
Instead of just talking, it helps your brain reprocess memories while your brain is engaged in bilateral stimulation — usually eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds.
That stimulation activates both sides of the brain while you think about the memory.
Over time, the emotional charge attached to that memory starts to decrease.
The memory stays.
But the gut-punch feeling attached to it starts fading.
Why Trauma Gets Stuck
Your brain normally processes experiences and files them away like a well-organized cabinet.
Trauma doesn’t always get filed properly.
Sometimes it gets stuck.
When that happens, the memory can sit there raw and unprocessed, which is why something small — a smell, a sound, a scene — can suddenly bring everything back like it just happened.
For first responders, that stack of unprocessed memories can get pretty damn tall over time.
EMDR helps your brain finally process those memories and store them correctly.
Why EMDR Can Be Effective
During EMDR sessions, the therapist guides you through specific memories while your brain is engaged in bilateral stimulation.
Researchers believe this process helps:
Reduce emotional intensity connected to the memory
Reprocess how the brain stores the experience
Integrate the memory into normal long-term storage
Some scientists think the process is similar to what happens during REM sleep, when the brain naturally processes emotional experiences.
The result?
You still remember what happened.
But it stops feeling like your nervous system is getting hijacked every time the memory pops up.
Finding an EMDR Therapist
If you’re curious about trying EMDR, the EMDR International Association maintains a directory of trained therapists.
You can search for one here:
A Simple Explanation of EMDR
How EMDR Therapy Works (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Explained)
This video gives a straightforward explanation of what actually happens during EMDR sessions and how the process works.
Final Thought
First responders see things most people never will.
Over time those experiences stack up.
For years the culture in this job has been simple:
“Just deal with it.”
But the truth is, dealing with it doesn’t mean pretending it never happened.
EMDR isn’t magic.
But sometimes it feels pretty damn close.
And if something that sounds like witchcraft voodoo shit helps your brain finally process the things it’s been carrying…
That’s worth talking about.
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