Healing From Narcissistic Abuse With EMDR Therapy
Narcissistic abuse is a type of emotional abuse that is inflicted by a person who has narcissistic traits or narcissistic personality disorder. This type of emotional abuse involves a lack of empathy, manipulation, and exploitation. Narcissists will use tactics like shifting blame, love bombing, or gaslighting as a way to gain control over their victims.
This type of relationship can be difficult to break free from since there is often a cycle of abuse that can make the victim feel like things will get better, only to be left feeling stuck in the relationship. Dealing with narcissistic abuse can lead to low self-esteem, relationship problems, difficulty setting boundaries, and emotional trauma.
EMDR therapy can be a powerful tool that can support your recovery and help you heal after narcissistic abuse. Let’s find out more.
What is EMDR Therapy?
First things first, what exactly is EMDR therapy? EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. EMDR is a structured form of therapy that can help individuals process and resolve their traumatic memories and stressful experiences. This type of therapy focuses on a specific memory while simultaneously incorporating bilateral stimulation. This bilateral stimulation is done with the help of tapping, sounds, light bars, or finger movements to help the brain reprocess and institute new and healthier memories and associations.
How EMDR Therapy Can Help
Addressing Cognitive Patterns
Traumatic experiences like narcissistic abuse can impact a person’s thoughts about their abuser and even themselves. EMDR helps individuals challenge and change negative thoughts about themselves so they have a more realistic and positive view of themselves and the world moving forward.
Improved Self-Esteem
Experiencing a traumatic event can impact a person’s self-esteem. EMDR works to help individuals rebuild their confidence and self-esteem inside and outside of the sessions of treatment.
Healthy Boundaries
Boundaries can be difficult for a person to implement, especially if that person formerly dealt with narcissistic abuse. A part of the healing process involves setting and enforcing boundaries, which EMDR can assist with.
Reduce Emotional Distress
Reprocessing those painful memories can help reduce the emotional distress and potential triggers.
Regain Control
After a traumatic event, it can feel like the trauma is taking control of your entire life. EMDR can help individuals regain a sense of control.
Reprocess Traumatic Memories
EMDR has proven to be extremely effective and helpful for survivors of traumatic experiences to reprocess the traumatic memories they have. The use of bilateral stimulation mimics how the brain can process memories during the REM cycle of sleep. By reprocessing them, the brain can integrate the memories in a healthier way, which in turn, helps reduce and relieve the associated symptoms.
Self-Care
Self-care is essential, especially after dealing with as serious as narcissistic abuse. It’s time to put yourself first again. This may be easier said than done, but doing so is essential for the healing process. EMDR can help a person learn how to prioritize self-care again and promote a greater overall sense of well-being.
Next Steps
Narcissistic abuse doesn’t occur within a short time frame. This means that healing from it won’t happen overnight, either. Keep in mind that healing from narcissistic abuse is a marathon, not a sprint. It will require attention, hard work, time, and dedication. EMDR is one of the many tools that can be beneficial in supporting a person’s long-term process.
You aren’t a victim; you’re a survivor. It may be easier said than done, but let others in to help you. Seeking additional support through a trained mental health professional can help you work through the unique challenges that come along with narcissistic abuse. We’re here to help you when you’re ready. Reach out today to get started.