Connect: A Blog for Self-Compassion, Attachment, and Relational Growth
How to Learn to Tolerate Emotions with EMDR Therapy
The Importance of Tolerating Emotions
Emotions are a natural part of life, but they can often feel overwhelming. For many people, the instinct is to avoid or suppress these emotions, believing that doing so will protect them from pain. However, this emotional avoidance can actually lead to greater emotional distress in the long term.
Learning to tolerate emotions—especially the difficult ones—can be one of the most powerful skills you can develop. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a highly effective treatment for helping individuals process and regulate their emotions, especially when it comes to trauma or emotional overwhelm. In this blog, we’ll explore how EMDR therapy helps build emotional tolerance, and why it's a crucial step on the path to healing.
Understanding the Difference Between Experiencing and Expressing Emotions
Understanding Insecure Attachment Styles
Attachment theory, originally developed by psychologist John Bowlby, explores how early relationships with caregivers shape our ability to form healthy, secure bonds throughout life. When those early attachments are disrupted—whether due to neglect, inconsistency, or emotional unavailability—individuals may develop insecure attachment styles.
Insecure attachment can manifest in a variety of ways, including:
Anxious attachment: A fear of abandonment and a desperate need for closeness can lead to clinginess, insecurity, and constant worry about the relationship.
Avoidant attachment: A tendency to distance oneself emotionally, resist intimacy, and value independence over connection often results from neglect or emotional unavailability during childhood.
Disorganized attachment: This style combines elements of both anxious and avoidant behaviors, often resulting from trauma or chaotic caregiving.
These attachment styles can have a profound impact on our relationships, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. If you're struggling with the consequences of insecure attachment, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy can offer a powerful and transformative way to heal and foster secure, healthy connections.
Trauma and the Body: How EMDR Therapy Helps Release Stored Emotions
Trauma and the Body: A Powerful Connection
We often think of trauma as something that only affects the mind, but the truth is, trauma also deeply impacts the body. Whether it’s a single traumatic event or chronic stress over time, our bodies store emotions, sensations, and memories linked to those experiences. These emotions and memories don’t just live in our minds—they are often "held" in the body, leading to tension, discomfort, and even pain.
This mind-body connection is where EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy can play a key role in healing. In this blog post, we’ll explore how trauma gets stored in the body and how EMDR can help release these emotions, bringing you closer to emotional and physical healing.