Skip to main content

What Is EMDR Therapy and Does It Help With Tinnitus?


Close up of woman's eye; EMDR Therapy for Tinnitus concept

EMDR is short for "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing" and is said to help people come to terms with traumatic experiences.

That may be true.

Miley Cyrus is one celebrity who vouches for the eye movement therapy. After a year of treatment to reduce physical sensations associated with painful memories, she calls it helpful.

But does it help with tinnitus?

According to the EMDR International Association, "it is not uncommon for people who experience tinnitus to also experience PTSD symptoms." Additionally, "tinnitus is associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and sleep disturbance," explains EMDR therapist Leslie Pertz. "I have seen many people reduce the distress of tinnitus...and for some, they no longer even pay attention to tinnitus."

The team at The Trauma Practice in the UK says "EMDR is a viable form of treatment for tinnitus because parallels have been drawn between individuals with chronic tinnitus, individuals with chronic pain and traumatic personal experiences which can influence the maintenance of chronic tinnitus."

If you're still not clear on the link between tinnitus and PTSD, Glenn Schweitzer, author of "Rewiring Tinnitus" and "Mind over Meniere’s," wrote a great blog post called "Tinnitus, Powerlessness, and PTSD: Framing Tinnitus as an Acute Stress Disorder" that brings in all together.

But what exactly does EMDR therapy involve? Short answer: eye movements. 

Here's a Forbes Health explanation:

During an EMDR session, your eyes will remain open and your therapist will ask you to follow their fingers with your eyes (or will use another form of bilateral simulation such as tappers) while also recalling a traumatic event. Your therapist will hold space for you to process the experience and allow your brain to make the connections it needs to in order to more adaptively store the experience. They will also guide you to switch to more empowering thoughts and resources. The goal of using this technique is to transform the effect of the disabling event or trauma, calming the nervous system, turning off the fight or flight response and allowing you to heal.

There's a very small study (with 35 people) published in 2018 in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology. It's "the first study to suggest that EMDR is effective in reducing tinnitus distress," write the authors. They find that "randomized controlled trials are warranted."

Again, EMDR isn't usually untaken to reduce the sounds of tinnitus. Rather, it helps with trauma that the unrelenting noise can cause and helps alleviate symptoms of anxiety and stress caused by the tinnitus itself, notes psychotherapist and EMDR therapist Matthew Alderton. 

However, some therapists say EMDR might actually treat the tinnitus symptom itself. Piera Briganti, a licensed clinical psychologist and EMDR psychotherapist says "EMDR is an effective therapy for medically unexplained symptoms such as chronic pain and phantom pain by targeting the disfunctionally stored 'pain memories.'"

"Since tinnitus may be considered as a form of 'phantom' auditory sensation, and the fact that previous research has shown overlapping brain networks between tinnitus and phantom pain, the use of bilateral stimulation to treat tinnitus represents an innovative method that is showing promising results."


Try Eargasm Earplus

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can Allergies Cause Tinnitus?

The short answer is: Yes, allergies can cause tinnitus. Hearing loss, too.  Allergy-related tinnitus is typically due to the congestion that allergies cause. Anything from allergic rhinitis (hay fever) to sinus infections increases the risk of developing tinnitus.  Basically anything that affects the nasal and sinus passages can lead to tinnitus. That's because when allergies affect the nasal passages and sinuses, they can cause inflammation and swelling, leading to congestion and pressure changes in the ear. This pressure change can lead to tinnitus. Allergy meds can be a problem too Tinnitus can also be a side effect of certain medications used to treat allergies, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin. These medications can potentially cause tinnitus as a side effect, especially when taken in high doses. Other causes of tinnitus In addition to allergies, there are several other causes of tinnitus. In some cases, tinnitus can be a symptom of an underl
Post a Comment
Read more

Medications Can Worsen Tinnitus Symptoms

Some common medications can actually heighten the ringing and whistling noises in your head and ears.  Tinnitus sufferers have found this out to their dismay, and warn others to be wary of large dosages (in excess of 600 mg) of Ibuprofen, for instance, and even to be careful when taking aspirin.  In fact, there are people who insist that certain medications don't just make the condition worse, but can actually cause tinnitus. If you have tinnitus and are also taking antibiotics or other medications (even over-the-counter meds) for any medical condition -- running the gamut from arthritis to clinical depression (Prozac's frequently cited) -- let your doctor know. You should also monitor yourself with a daily record of medicines taken and tinnitus levels. You might be surprised to learn that some items known to worsen tinnitus include toothpastes (especially for sensitive gums), antacid tablets, Pepto Bismol, Kaopectate and Pepcid. Click here for a comprehensive list o
Post a Comment
Read more

Try Saline When Your Hearing Is Muffled After Loud Noise Exposure

If you've got temporary hearing loss or tinnitus after being at a loud concert or sports event, you may be able to fix it -- if you act fast. A 2021 Keck Medicine of USC study published in Science Daily  has found that the nerve damage to the inner ear caused by loud noises is basically a build up of fluids. Treating that "fluid buildup with a readily available saline solution lessened nerve damage in the inner ear." A previous study by the same otolaryngologist showed that inner ear fluid level is not affected until noises reach 100 decibels, which is how loud a motorcycle is.  "When researchers applied hypertonic saline, a salt-based solution used to treat nasal congestions in humans, into affected ears one hour after the noise exposure, both the immediate fluid buildup and the long-term nerve damage lessened, implying that the hearing loss could be at least partially prevented." The benefits of this knowledge are twofold: 1. If fluid buildup can be measured,
Post a Comment
Read more