TARGETING NEGATIVE COGNITIONS WITH EMDR AND A SHORT LIST OF EXAMPLES

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) treatment is particularly beneficial for people struggling with traumatic memories or who have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). This type of therapy identifies a target image and a negative cognition as part of the standard procedure, which allows the individual to have some distance from the significant psychological reaction.

EMDR’s primary components include building safety by stabilizing negative symptoms such as suicidal behavior, addictions, medical issues, and other negative symptoms. Targeting negative cognitions aims to build internal resources with positive visualization, mediation, and stabilization through the five senses.

Another important component of targeting negative cognitions is to attain dual consciousness while discussing one’s experience. This includes talking about the past objectively without being engrossed or disturbed by it. The memory is retained, but the negative reaction is no longer present.

EMDR is very successful in assisting people with digesting emotionally difficult and traumatic experiences. When combined with other therapeutic methods, EMDR aids the individual in transitioning from emotional discomfort to peaceful settlement of the issues or events at hand.

THE PROCEDURE OF TARGETING NEGATIVE COGNITIONS WITH EMDR

The first sessions will address what the individual wants to work on and strengthen their capacity to regulate negative cognition when the therapist and client agree that EMDR treatment is a good fit.

As the client transitions into the next stages of EMDR treatment, they will be instructed to concentrate on a specific incident. The negative thoughts, pictures, beliefs, feelings, and physical experiences associated with this occurrence will be examined. The client will then select a sense that indicates a negative self-perception connected to the experience. Even if the individual is aware that the statement is false, they must concentrate on it. These negative thoughts are only expressions of lingering negative memories.

LIST OF COMMON NEGATIVE COGNITIONS

Survival

·        I am abandoned

·        I am alone

·        It’s not safe to feel

·        I am unimportant

·        I am invisible

Responsibility/Control

·        I am powerless/helpless/trapped

·        I have to be in control

·        I am responsible

·        I should have done something

Responsibility/Shame

·        I am unloveable/undeserving

·        I am worthless

·        I am bad

·        I am not good enough

·        I am inadequate

Responsibility/Guilt

·        I am bad

·        I am a failure

·        I have to be in control

Vulnerability

·        I am vulnerable

·        I am powerless

·        I am helpless

·        I am trapped

The individual will then choose a more positive self-statement to embrace.

List of Common Positive Cognitions

·        I can survive

·        I have value regardless

·        I can get my needs met

·        I can control what I can in…

·        I did what I could

·        I am okay as I am

·        I am good enough

·        I can accept myself

·        I can learn from my mistakes

·        I did the best I could

·        I can protect myself

·        I can control what I can

Categorization of obligation, safety and control are used to identify all linked past, present and future situations when negative beliefs are the central topic. EMDR is recognized as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress and other mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression and panic attacks. EMDR helps change your negative cognition and the unpleasant emotions that go along with them to become more emotionally healthy.