EMDR
Some memories get tucked away, waiting to be revisited with a different perspective.
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Some memories get tucked away, waiting to be revisited with a different perspective. •
When Anxiety Takes Over Your Life, There Is Usually More Going On Beneath the Surface
You may call it anxiety.
But what if the racing thoughts, constant worry, food noise, obsessive thinking, perfectionism, overthinking, procrastination, people-pleasing, emotional overwhelm, or feeling like your brain won’t “turn off” are actually pointing to something deeper?
Many of the women I work with come to therapy believing they have anxiety. And they do. But often we discover that anxiety is only part of the story.
Sometimes it’s OCD.
Sometimes it’s ADHD.
Sometimes it’s the experience of being neurodivergent in a world that wasn’t designed for how your brain works.
And sometimes it’s all of the above.
One of the most common questions I hear from clients is:
Why is my brain doing this?
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Why is my brain doing this? •
we can look at an old experience with new understanding rather than through the beliefs formed during it.
Why can’t I stop thinking about this?
Why do I know what I should do but can’t seem to do it?
Why do I keep making decisions that have negative consequences for me?
Why can’t I relax when everything is technically okay?
Why do I feel exhausted from fighting my own mind all day?
For many women, the answer isn’t a lack of willpower, motivation, or self-discipline.
It’s that their nervous system has been working overtime for years.
Therapy can help you finally understand what is happening beneath the anxiety and learn how to work with your brain instead of constantly battling against it.
Anxiety and OCD: When Worry Becomes Obsessive
Many people with OCD don’t realize they have OCD.
They simply believe they are anxious.
OCD doesn’t always look like handwashing or checking locks. It can show up as:
Constant mental reviewing
Replaying conversations
Excessive reassurance seeking
Fear of making the wrong decision
Intrusive thoughts that feel disturbing or out of character
Health anxiety
Relationship anxiety
Perfectionism
Obsessive guilt
Difficulty tolerating uncertainty
You may spend hours trying to get certainty, reassurance, or relief, only to find the anxiety returns again.
Through therapy and EMDR, we can begin identifying the underlying fears, beliefs, and patterns that keep the cycle going.
Is EMDR right for me?
Anxiety, Food Noise, and Eating Disorders
Many women describe a constant internal battle with food.
Food noise may sound like:
Thinking about food all day
Obsessing about what you should or shouldn’t eat
Constantly planning, restricting, bingeing, or compensating
Feeling consumed by guilt after eating
Using food to soothe anxiety, loneliness, boredom, or overwhelm
Others experience noise around alcohol, prescription medications, or other compulsive behaviors that temporarily quiet emotional distress.
What often looks like a food problem is frequently an anxiety problem.
Together we explore what the behaviors are trying to accomplish, what emotional needs are underneath them, and how to create a healthier relationship with food, your body, and yourself.
Anxiety and ADHD in Women
Many women spend decades believing something is wrong with them.
Instead it may appear as:
Chronic overwhelm
Anxiety
Perfectionism
Procrastination
Emotional sensitivity
Difficulty starting tasks
Trouble prioritizing
Mental clutter
Feeling constantly exhausted from trying to keep up
They describe themselves as:
Lazy
Unmotivated
Disorganized
Forgetful
Too emotional
Always behind
Unable to follow through
Then, in their 30s, 40s, or even later, they discover they may have ADHD.
For many women, this realization brings tremendous relief.
Suddenly their life makes sense.
Girls and women are often overlooked because ADHD doesn’t always look hyperactive.
Many women have spent years treating anxiety without realizing ADHD may be contributing to the problem.
Therapy can help you better understand how your brain works and develop strategies that fit you rather than trying to force yourself into systems that never worked.
Anxiety and Neurodivergence
Being neurodivergent often means living with a nervous system that processes the world differently.
You may feel:
Easily overstimulated
Exhausted by social demands
Highly sensitive to criticism
Burned out from masking
Frustrated by executive functioning challenges
Different from others without knowing why
Many neurodivergent women become experts at hiding their struggles.
From the outside, they appear successful and capable.
Inside, they feel overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted, and alone.
Therapy provides a place to understand your unique wiring, reduce shame, and build a life that works for you rather than constantly trying to fit yourself into someone else’s expectations.
How EMDR Helps Anxiety
Many people think EMDR is only for trauma.
While EMDR is highly effective for trauma, it can also help address the experiences, beliefs, and emotional patterns that contribute to anxiety.
EMDR helps us identify and process the memories, experiences, and negative beliefs that may be keeping your nervous system stuck in survival mode.
Common beliefs we work with include:
“Something bad is going to happen.”
“I can’t trust myself.”
“I have to be perfect.”
“I’m not good enough.”
“I’m too much.”
“I’m not enough.”
“I’m failing.”
“I have to get this right.”
As those experiences are processed, many clients notice:
Less overthinking
Reduced anxiety
Improved confidence
Greater emotional regulation
Less shame
More self-trust
Greater ability to be present
EMDR doesn’t simply teach you how to cope with anxiety. It helps address the roots of why your nervous system learned to respond this way in the first place.
EMDR doesn't erase your memories. It just makes it so the memory is less intense. And your body can trigger those experiences but now realize you are safe. The nervous system can register safety. We can teach your body that.