You’re worried EMDR will make you feel worse.
11/12/2025
You finally take the step.
You start EMDR therapy, ready to feel lighter — but instead, you feel more emotional, tired, or overwhelmed.
If that’s you, take a breath. Feeling worse for a little while doesn’t mean therapy is failing. It often means your brain is beginning to heal.
Why You Might Feel More Emotional After EMDR
EMDR helps your brain reprocess stuck memories — the ones that never fully got filed away as “over.”
When those memories begin to move, old emotions, sensations, or thoughts can temporarily rise to the surface.
It’s not regression. It’s your system finishing what it couldn’t finish before.
Your Nervous System Is Doing Its Job
During EMDR, your brain accesses stored material connected to past distress.
That can make you feel:
More tired than usual
Extra emotional or tearful
Irritable or restless
Detached or spacey for a short time
These are signs that your nervous system is shifting from suppression to processing.'
Your brain is literally trying to file away what used to feel like danger.
Safety First: What to Expect
A well-trained EMDR therapist will never rush you.'
Sessions begin with stabilization and resourcing — learning how to ground and regulate before touching distressing material.
You should never feel pushed past your limits.
If you do, that’s something to bring up with your therapist right away.
The goal is steady healing, not overwhelm.
When the Hard Part Means It’s Working
Feeling temporarily worse can be a sign that your system is active, not broken.
It’s similar to cleaning out a wound — uncomfortable at first, but part of long-term healing.
The emotions that surface during EMDR were already inside you.
Therapy just gives them a way out.
You’re Not Doing It Wrong
If you feel heavier after a session, remind yourself:
Your brain is adjusting to safety after years of surviving danger.
That takes time.
Healing isn’t linear, but it’s worth it.
You’re not falling apart — you’re reassembling yourself in real time.
Ready to learn what to expect from EMDR therapy?
Get answers and support before you start.
Schedule a free consultation to explore how trauma-informed EMDR therapy can help you move from activation to integration.