Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may affect a person’s ability to function every day. While there are many options for treating ADHD symptoms, one particular approach that can help is EMDR. In this article, we’ll talk more about EMDR and how it can help people with ADHD.
Does EMDR Help Treat ADHD?
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is an approach primarily used to treat trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While these are the two main issues that EMDR treats, it may also benefit those struggling with ADHD.
In some cases, ADHD can cause emotional dysregulation, trauma, and difficulty processing experiences. These are some issues that can be addressed using EMDR therapy. For instance, when someone needs to regulate their emotions, therapists can use EMDR to help them process and reframe negative emotional responses associated with specific triggers.
It’s important to remember that EMDR doesn’t directly treat the symptoms of ADHD. Rather, it addresses certain issues that accompany the condition. Through EMDR, patients can eventually develop more effective coping strategies to help them navigate life.
What Is ADHD?
ADHD is a neurological condition that can affect both children and adults. It affects how a person focuses and manages impulses. Whenever someone struggles with this condition, they might find it difficult to regulate energy levels, and they end up doing too many different things at once.
While this condition can be assumed to be easily distracted or disorganised, this assumption is far from the truth. ADHD affects how the brain processes information, and those who struggle with this condition may find it difficult to accomplish everyday tasks.
In addition, this condition affects everyone differently. Some people with ADHD will have trouble focusing, while others will have problems with restlessness and impulsivity. It’s a condition that needs to be assessed professionally to ensure accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment.
Types of ADHD
There are also different kinds of ADHD, which can be categorised into three main types:
Predominantly Inattentive Type (ADHD-I)
This type of ADHD is usually the type that makes it more difficult to focus. Most of the time, a person with ADHD-I is easily distracted, so they’re often lost in their thoughts. They struggle with staying engaged in conversations, which makes it look like they don’t care about the other person, even when they do. As such, people with this type of ADHD may seem insincere or disrespectful when that’s not the case.
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type (ADHD-HI)
This type of ADHD is when someone always needs to move and do something. It can be difficult for someone with ADHD-HI to think before acting, which might seem like they’re always out to do something disruptive. ADHD-HI can build up energy in a person, so they’ll need an outlet to release that energy constructively.
Combined Type (ADHD-C)
ADHD-C is the most common type of ADHD. It’s when someone experiences inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It’s a combination of the two types of ADHD mentioned above, and struggling with this condition can be very frustrating.
Signs of ADHD
Here are some signs that someone is struggling with ADHD:
- Difficulty paying attention or staying focused.
- Quickly getting bored and being easily distracted.
- Forgetting important details and deadlines.
- Frequently losing track of where you place items.
- Emotional dysregulation, such as mood swings and frustration.
- Trouble completing tasks or following instructions.
- Impulsivity, such as interrupting conversations or making hasty decisions.
- Inability to stay still, fidgeting, or feeling the need to move constantly.
- Difficulty unwinding and relaxing, even when feeling exhausted.
If you or a loved one frequently experiences these symptoms and they start to get in the way of daily life, you may want to consider professional help.
How Is ADHD Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of ADHD is a comprehensive process, as it’s important to get to the root of the condition and understand how your brain works. You and a professional will go through different steps to clarify your condition.
Most professionals use the criteria from the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition). To diagnose ADHD, it’s important that someone has symptoms for at least 6 months or has had symptoms before age 12. The symptoms should also significantly impact a person’s daily life.
Part of diagnosing ADHD is running a series of tests, assessments, and questionnaires to determine the presence of conditions. Some healthcare professionals will provide patients with ADHD rating scales to help them self-report their symptoms. In other cases, interviews with parents, teachers, and other loved ones will be conducted to gain additional perspectives.
How Is ADHD Related to Trauma?
ADHD can co-exist with trauma, and sometimes, the former can result from the latter. Their influences on each other can make it difficult to separate their symptoms and other effects.
ADHD and trauma can often share symptoms. For example, those with either condition may struggle with focus and memory or have difficulty regulating emotions or reactions. Since the symptoms of these two conditions often overlap, it’s easy to mistake one for the other.
When people with ADHD also experience trauma, it can exacerbate certain symptoms. Since stress and fear happen alongside trauma, a person with ADHD may experience more impulsivity and emotional reactivity. Trauma can make it more difficult to regulate emotions and manage other negative emotions.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR is a type of therapy that uses bilateral stimulation to process traumatic memories. Unlike traditional talk therapy, where you have to recall your past experiences verbally, this type of therapy uses a specialised approach. This way, the process of recalling and reprocessing traumatic experiences is less emotionally intense.
Many people prefer receiving EMDR rather than traditional psychotherapy because there’s no need to talk about trauma repeatedly. However, you must work with a trained EMDR therapist to ensure your safety during the treatment.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR is a treatment that involves eight structured phases and uses bilateral stimulation. It’s based on the fact that trauma can get “stuck” in the brain. With EMDR, the brain can reprocess these traumatic memories less emotionally so that they no longer trigger the same emotional distress.
The bilateral stimulation in EMDR usually involves the following:
- Guided eye movements, such as following the therapist’s fingers or a moving light.
- Tapping on the hand, shoulder, or knees.
- Auditory cues may involve listening to sounds alternating between the ears.
Focusing on these repetitive motions can help activate both sides of the brain. When a person continuously engages in this therapy, memories become less painful, and emotions become less intense. As a result, EMDR allows patients to live a more normal and fulfilling life.
What Are the Benefits of EMDR?
EMDR has become a more popular therapy over the past years because of its ability to reduce the intensity of trauma in a less distressing manner. Here are some of the benefits of using EMDR therapy for ADHD and other mental health issues:
Reduced Emotional Distress
People struggling with trauma may often operate in survival mode. Certain memories, thoughts, and experiences can trigger deep distress. When these traumatic memories and experiences are recalled, it’s as if the traumatic memory is happening all over again.
Through EMDR, you don’t have to go through negative experiences again. It’s possible to reduce the emotional distress associated with these memories without having to talk about them. Instead of an overwhelming flood of emotions, you can properly acknowledge the traumatic memory and experience life with more peace.
Faster Results
While any type of healing takes time, EMDR often helps people find relief much sooner than traditional talk therapy. This is because you no longer try to “think your way out” of distress. Through EMDR, you let your brain process trauma more naturally. There’s no need to constantly revisit the painful details of this negative memory like you would in traditional talk therapy.
Although EMDR may look like a quick fix from the outside because it provides faster results, it’s a way to access and activate the brain’s natural healing mechanisms. Through the bilateral stimulation during EMDR, your brain goes through a deeper and more efficient processing of traumatic experiences.
Better Emotional Regulation
The emotions that come with trauma can often be unpredictable. After all, these experiences and memories can change the brain and how you interact with the world around you. Feeling stuck on an emotional rollercoaster can often result in big emotional outbursts, while others may feel numb and disconnected.
Going through EMDR can help restore balance because it helps the brain to better respond to different negative situations. This type of therapy helps you accept that past experiences stay in the past. As a result, the typical issues that trigger panic and other emotional outbursts can become more manageable.
It Helps the Brain Heal Naturally
Another benefit of EMDR is that it helps the brain heal naturally. EMDR works with your brain to resolve trauma at its root. It gets into your mind and body so that you can find peace in a way that feels natural.
Whenever you go through an EMDR therapy session, you leverage the brain’s natural healing capacity to resolve trauma. Instead, it minimises the need to recount traumatic experiences. This therapy guides the brain towards a more natural and integrated healing process, where you can better connect with a sense of inner peace.
Other Uses of EMDR
EMDR has plenty of other uses beyond just treating ADHD. Here are some other uses of EMDR treatment:
EMDR for PTSD
EMDR is mainly used to help those struggling with PTSD. This mental health condition can result from experiences like physical or sexual assault, military trauma, car accidents, or natural disasters.
With EMDR, instead of feeling like you’re trapped in the past, you can reprocess these traumatic memories so that they don’t feel as overwhelming anymore. Healthily processing these memories can help you feel more in control and at peace with the present.
EMDR for Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
C-PTSD is a type of PTSD that develops from ongoing and repeated childhood trauma. Emotional neglect or child abuse are common causes of C-PTSD. With the help of EMDR, those with C-PTSD can address deeply ingrained patterns so that they can break unhealthy ways of thinking. This helps them feel safe and have a better sense of self-worth.
EMDR for Anxiety
Anxiety can put someone in a constant state of worry or fear. Being on high alert can be debilitating and affect your ability to live a normal life. EMDR helps identify and reprocess the memories, fears, and other thought patterns that fuel your anxiety. It’s a helpful tool that can change the way your brain reacts to stress so that you can feel calmer and in control.
EMDR for Depression
Depression is often accompanied by unprocessed grief, trauma, and other negative self-beliefs. This can weigh down a person, and finding ways to heal on a deeper level is important. EMDR is an approach that helps change how the brain stores and processes emotional pain. Through this therapy, you can form healthier and more positive beliefs so that you aren’t constantly held down by depression anymore.
Other Treatment Options for ADHD
Treatment for ADHD isn’t just limited to EMDR. There are several other treatment options available to address this condition. Oftentimes, treatment is personalised to your specific situation and needs to provide more effective results.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy, or psychotherapy, is one of the most common treatments for those struggling with ADHD. It helps with challenges like impulsivity and emotional dysregulation so that you can build healthier behavioural patterns.
One of the most common therapies used in this case is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). During CBT, you’ll work with a therapist to recognise negative thought patterns and replace them with more constructive ones. It’s also a therapy that can teach you practical skills for managing your focus and impulsivity.
Medication Management
Those who struggle with ADHD may also be prescribed certain medications to make their symptoms more manageable. Stimulant medications, such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse, help increase dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. As a result, those with ADHD can be more focused and feel more motivated to finish their tasks.
Holistic Therapies
Holistic therapies are also part of mental health treatment. Exploring these holistic approaches for ADHD can help improve brain function and focus. For instance, mindfulness and meditation can help train the brain to be more present and focused. It’s also a way to reduce impulsivity and emotional reactivity so that you can better manage their symptoms in daily life.
Find Healing from ADHD at The Orchid
The symptoms of ADHD can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know how to handle them. While looking for treatment can be very challenging, facing it alone is unnecessary. At The Orchid, we’re here to provide the support you need so that you can feel more ready to navigate everyday life.
Contact us today to learn more about how you can start your journey. Our team is always here to answer your questions about our treatment approach.
