When Time Doesn't Heal: How EMDR Can Help You Process Trauma

We've all heard the saying, "Time heals all wounds." But for those living with the aftereffects of trauma, time often feels like it's standing still. A sound, a smell, or a specific situation can instantly transport you back to a painful event, triggering panic or intense emotion as if it were happening right now.

This isn't a failure of character; it's a physiological "glitch" in how the brain stored that memory. At Ruth Thomas Wellness, we offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a specialized therapy designed to help the brain get "unstuck."

When a traumatic event occurs, the brain's processing system can get overwhelmed, leaving the memory trapped in the amygdala (the brain's alarm center). EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements—to help your brain finally digest these memories and move them to long-term storage where they belong.

Ruth Thomas combines this powerful neurological tool with a safe, supportive environment. "Your story is important and unique," and that includes the painful chapters. With EMDR, you don't have to forget what happened, but you can lose the overwhelming emotional charge attached to it. You can move from being haunted by the past to simply remembering it.