Physical Side Effects of EMDR
Knowing how a mental health treatment approach affects you, whether positively or negatively is important to making an informed decision on whether to move forward with the treatment, or even to pause treatment for a time. If you are partnered, being aware of what side effects your companion may experience during EMDR may also be helpful in knowing some options of what to expect during their reprocessing of their experiences. Asking what are the side effects of EMDR treatments is a great place to start. People commonly ask what are the physical side effects, which I’ve outlined below. The infographic below that also includes emotional and psychological side effects as well.
Positive physical side effects can include:
- Removal of body sensations associated with the trauma
- Feeling lighter and less burdened
- Increased ability to have sex without shame or discomfort (where not caused by a medical condition) in survivors of sexual abuse
- Recall of sensory abilities lost in childhood
Negative physical side effects can include:
- Having a headache
- Feeling tired or fatigued
- Feeling lightheaded
- Uncomfortable body sensations like pins and needles
- Sleeping difficulties
Read on below for additional side effects not listed here.
Please include attribution to https://www.bridgehopefamilytherapy.com/ with this image and document.
Side Effects of EMDR Treatment
EMDR Therapy Utah
As evidenced above, the positive side effects of EMDR treatments outnumber the negative side effects of this treatment. It’s important to remember that not everyone experiences all of the side effects. If you are interested in EMDR treatments and have additional questions about the side effects of EMDR, send me a message and we can talk about it.
