How talking about trauma can make things more complex

Talking about trauma can sometimes make it worse.

Neuroscience shows that when you recall trauma in detail, your brain’s alarm system reactivates. This can reinforce traumatic wiring instead of calming it. It’s kinda like pouring lighter fluid on a brain that is already on fire.

This is why you feel emotionally raw or flooded after talking about trauma.

How EMDR works for trauma

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) interrupts the brain’s stuck trauma pathways while recalling distressing memories. It has decades of evidence for its effectiveness in reducing trauma symptoms.

But the EMDR procedure still requires recalling painful personal details of the event, which you might find triggering AF.

Problems you might encounter with EMDR

Not everyone can tolerate EMDR.

You might feel physically unwell during processing.

You might feel shut down emotionally or can’t stay connected to the present while recalling the event.

No shit, Sherlock.

Who ever said remembering is recovering.

No one. Ever.

If you have trauma, you don’t have to beat yourself up to heal. Pouring lighter fluid on the fire isn’t doing what you think it is except creating a complex inferno in your brain and body.

The EMDR procedure can be too much, even if it is is generally effective.

Why You Should Try OEI Therapy

Observed Experiential Integration (OEI therapy) is based on neuroscience principles but will feel gentle. It allows your brain to cool down.

We don’t require you to recall painful personal details of your trauma. Besides, if you’ve have complex trauma from reinforcing it, you might not even be able to remember.

That’s ok.

Instead, OEI therapy uses precise eye movements to shift how the brain stores distressing memories.

OEI therapy helps integrate fragmented memory networks without forcing the nervous system into high activation, making it a safer option for highly sensitive or complex trauma cases.

Let’s connect.