Moving the eyes also affects the pattern of activation in the brain, forcing the nervous system to turn on specific locations in sequence. This enables the characteristics of the memory, emotions, and accompanying beliefs to change. One consequence of this reprocessing is to allow the events to assume their proper place and time in our personal histories, so that they no longer feel current. EMDR can be a powerful and often rapid treatment for trauma. The experience can be intense, however, and may temporarily stir up symptoms.
Effective treatment requires teamwork between patients and therapists.
With a cooperative effort and open communication, symptoms can be relieved and fundamental changes can occur in the way people experience their world and themselves. While most borderline stories are not about fairy tale princesses, many can have happier endings.