Can EMDR Help with ADHD?
Exploring the Overlap Between Attention, Trauma, and the Nervous System
If you’re an adult living with ADHD, you may have noticed moments of forgetfulness, feeling scattered, or getting easily overwhelmed. While these experiences are often linked to attention, they can also be connected to how your nervous system has learned to respond to stress.
For many people, especially those with a history of trauma, ADHD symptoms can be deeply connected to the nervous system. That’s why more individuals are turning to EMDR therapy for ADHD as a way to reduce chronic overwhelm and heal from emotional dysregulation at its root.
ADHD and Trauma: What’s the Connection?
Research has shown a strong link between ADHD and childhood trauma.
In fact, adults with high Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) scores are more likely to experience:
Distractibility or brain fog
Emotional dysregulation
Chronic anxiety or shutdown
Difficulty starting or completing tasks
Shame around productivity and performance
These aren’t just “ADHD traits”—they’re often nervous system responses to early experiences of stress, neglect, or emotional invalidation.
The result? A brain wired for survival, not focus.
The Inner Dialogue: “I’m Lazy,” “Something’s Wrong With Me”
Many of my clients with ADHD don’t just struggle with attention—they struggle with how they see themselves.
After years of missed deadlines, report card comments, or being misunderstood by parents or teachers, they often internalize painful beliefs like:
“I’m lazy.”
“I’m too much.”
“Something is wrong with me.”
These beliefs aren’t just thoughts—they live in the body.
They shape how you approach work, relationships, and your own healing.
This is where EMDR therapy can be especially powerful.
How EMDR Therapy Supports ADHD Symptoms
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a trauma therapy that helps the brain reprocess stuck memories and shift negative self-beliefs. While it’s often used for PTSD, it’s also a powerful tool for those navigating ADHD alongside a history of stress or shame.
Here’s how EMDR helps with ADHD:
🔹 Targets root experiences behind shame, perfectionism, or fear of failure
🔹 Interrupts negative beliefs like “I’m lazy,” “I’ll never get it together,” or “I always mess things up”
🔹 Regulates the nervous system, making focus and calm more accessible
🔹 Improves emotional regulation and stress resilience
🔹 Rebuilds self-trust and inner safety
Rather than trying to force productivity, EMDR helps you work with your body—not against it.
EMDR for ADHD Isn’t About “Fixing” You
Let’s be clear:
ADHD is a neurotype, not a flaw.
It affects how your brain processes information, emotion, and time. EMDR won’t "cure" ADHD—and it’s not meant to.
But it can help reduce the trauma-related layers that make living with ADHD more difficult.
Trauma-informed ADHD treatment acknowledges this complexity.
It offers a way to feel more grounded, less reactive, and more compassionate toward yourself.
Final Thoughts: A Nervous System-Based Approach to ADHD
If you’re seeking therapy for ADHD that addresses the deeper layers, EMDR might be the missing piece.
By helping your brain reprocess stuck memories and recalibrate your nervous system, EMDR therapy for ADHD and trauma can help you:
Feel more emotionally regulated
Release internalized shame
Access clarity, calm, and self-acceptance
Interested in EMDR Therapy for ADHD?
I specialize in EMDR for adults navigating ADHD, trauma, and nervous system dysregulation.
My practice offers secure telehealth sessions across California and Nevada, and I work with clients who want more than just symptom management—they want lasting change.
📍 Learn more or schedule a consultation: www.MyEMDRLA.com
Michelle Nosrati, LCSW
Trauma Specialist | EMDR Therapist
Licensed in California & Nevada
www.MyEMDRLA.com