If you had told me a few months ago that two EMDR sessions could change the way I experience anxiety, I would have laughed- probably nervously, because that’s what I do. But here I am, trying to process the fact that it actually worked. And not just worked, but worked fast.
Let me back up a little.
I’m in my early thirties, juggling full-time work while finishing my degree. I live alone, which I usually enjoy, but after losing my brother, everything changed. The grief hit hard, but what scared me the most was what happened after—a full-on mental health crisis. I’m still embarrassed by that time in my life. The lack of control, the constant fear, the feeling that I was unraveling. Even though I’ve gotten better, the thought that it could happen again has never really left me.
Lately, my anxiety has been relentless. Daily dread, multiple panic attacks a week, my brain running a never-ending marathon of worry. I knew I needed help, but I also knew talking about my feelings wasn’t going to magically fix me. My therapist suggested EMDR, and honestly, I wasn’t thrilled. The idea that moving my eyes back and forth while thinking about old memories could change anything? Yeah, right.
Finally Giving In
It took weeks of preparation before I finally agreed to start EMDR. I stalled, made excuses, asked too many questions- anything to avoid it. But eventually, I ran out of reasons not to try. My therapist guided me through two sessions, focusing on some of my earliest childhood memories, and then… something weird happened.
My anxiety decreased.
Like, noticeably.
Wait… That’s It?
At first, I didn’t trust it. It felt too sudden. Anxiety had been my constant background noise for as long as I could remember—how could two EMDR sessions turn the volume down so much? Part of me was thrilled, obviously. Who doesn’t want less anxiety? But another part of me was frustrated because I couldn’t wrap my head around how it worked. It made no sense. Therapy is supposed to be a slow grind, right? I was prepared for years of work, not immediate relief.
And yet, the evidence was undeniable. My body felt different. My mind felt quieter. And the biggest shock?
So Much Free Time…
I didn’t realize how much of my life had been spent worrying.
For years, I lived in a constant state of planning for the worst—thinking through every possible disaster, every way things could go wrong, every tiny mistake I might make. It was exhausting. But after EMDR, I suddenly had all this free time because I wasn’t spending every waking moment in a loop of stress and fear.
It’s still strange to me. Some days, I catch myself waiting for the anxiety to come crashing back, like I don’t quite trust that this peace is real. But for now, I’m just trying to enjoy it. And if this is what two EMDR sessions can do?
I think I’m ready for more.
Dr. Josephine G. Moss, PsyD, MS in an EMDR therapist based in Jacksonville, Florida providing online EMDR therapy to adults throughout the state.
