Thread by @IamProHuman

EMDR is the fastest way to heal trauma.

Your brain does this every night during REM sleep, but EMDR triggers the same process while awake.

Traumatic memories that haunt you for years can be processed in weeks.

The science behind EMDR (and how to apply it): 🧵

EMDR is a bilateral stimulation that mimics what happens during REM sleep.

Your brain naturally processes trauma each night through rapid eye movements.

EMDR does this while awake.

Here's the problem EMDR solves:

Traumatic memories get "frozen" in your amygdala (fear center) without proper time stamps.

Your hippocampus fails to mark them as "past events."

So flashbacks feel like they're happening NOW, not then.

Normal memory processing involves three brain parts working together:

• Amygdala (danger alarm)
• Hippocampus (time/place context)
• Prefrontal cortex (rational processing)

Trauma overwhelms this system. The memory gets stuck in emotional fragments instead of integrated stories.

EMDR's bilateral stimulation forces both brain hemispheres to communicate.

Think of trauma as a traffic jam between your emotional right brain and logical left brain.

Left-right eye movements act like a traffic controller, getting both sides talking again.

The 8-phase EMDR protocol includes preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation of positive beliefs, body scanning, and closure.

Each phase matters, like surgery steps, you can't skip the prep work.

Bilateral stimulation goes beyond eye movements:

• Alternating hand taps
• Audio tones in each ear
• Walking meditation
• Drumming rhythms

The key is left-right activation. Even playing piano creates bilateral brain engagement that can be therapeutic.

EMDR creates "dual attention"

Part of you stays in the traumatic memory while part stays anchored in present safety.

It's like watching a scary movie while holding someone's hand.

You can face the horror because you're grounded in current safety.

The "Butterfly Hug" is a safe-and-simple DIY EMDR technique.

Cross your arms over your chest, hands on opposite shoulders.

Gently tap alternating left-right-left-right.

This bilateral self-soothing activates the same neural pathways EMDR uses professionally.

Brain scans show EMDR literally rewires trauma networks.

After successful treatment:

• Amygdala reactivity decreases
• Prefrontal cortex control increases
• Fear-based connections weaken
• Resilience pathways strengthen

Your brain updates its wiring, not just your thoughts.

Memory reconsolidation happens in a 1-6 hour window after recall.

During this time, memories are malleable, like an open document you can edit.

EMDR introduces safety and new meanings during this window, then the brain "saves" the updated version.

Athletes and performers now use bilateral stimulation for peak performance.

Same mechanism that removes "I'm in danger" can install "I'm unstoppable."

Olympic athletes use bilateral beats in headphones before competitions to access "the zone."

EMDR should ONLY be done with trained, licensed professionals.

Stirring up deep trauma without proper containment can retraumatize.

DIY trauma processing is like performing surgery on yourself, dangerous.

But there ARE safe somatic techniques you can use at home to complement professional EMDR work.

I'm teaching these body-based healing methods in my free somatic therapy course.

It's based on 7+ years of experience as a therapist. Join here: bodymindaccelerator.com

The same brain mechanism that can turn nightmares into neutral memories can turn limiting beliefs into empowering ones.

EMDR is about accessing your brain's natural ability to update and integrate experience.

Most people never realize this is possible, but now you do.

I hope you've found this thread helpful.

Follow me @IamProHuman for more.

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