Can EMDR Help with Anxiety?A Nervous System Approach to Lasting Relief

Anxiety can be overwhelming. It shows up in racing thoughts, muscle tension, overthinking, irritability, difficulty sleeping—or a constant sense that something bad is about to happen. For many of my clients, anxiety isn’t just “in their head.” It’s in their body. It’s in their past. And sometimes, it’s in the beliefs they’ve carried for years without even realizing it.

If you’ve tried talk therapy or coping tools and still feel like you can’t calm down or trust that things will be okay, there may be something deeper going on.

That’s where EMDR therapy comes in.

What’s Beneath the Anxiety?

Anxiety often isn’t just about stress—it’s about how your nervous system has learned to stay in a state of high alert.
For many people, this pattern starts early—especially in environments where love felt conditional, caregivers were unpredictable, or you had to scan for safety.

Even if you don’t think of your past as “traumatic,” those early experiences can shape how you respond to the world now.
They teach your brain and body to prepare for danger—even when there isn’t any.

And over time, those anxious responses become automatic. You might find yourself always bracing for something to go wrong, overthinking every decision, or feeling like you can never fully relax.

How EMDR Helps

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy originally developed for trauma, but it’s now widely used to help people heal from anxiety, panic, and chronic stress.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t just manage symptoms. It helps you get to the root of the anxious thoughts and beliefs you’ve been carrying—about yourself, your relationships, and your place in the world.

Through bilateral stimulation (like eye movements, tapping, or sounds), EMDR helps the brain reprocess the experiences that may still be stuck—allowing the nervous system to finally recognize that those moments are over.

EMDR Can Help You:

• Shift Core Beliefs That Fuel Anxiety
  Beliefs like “I’m not safe,” “It’s all on me,” or “I can’t trust anyone” often form early and operate in the background. EMDR helps you reprocess the moments that shaped those beliefs—so your body can stop reacting like they’re still true.

• Quiet the Overthinking Mind
  Many people with anxiety feel like their brain never shuts off. EMDR works with the nervous system to reduce hypervigilance, so you’re no longer stuck in a loop of scanning, predicting, or preparing for the worst.

• Process Specific Memories or Triggers
  Whether it’s a panic attack, a childhood experience, or a recent event you can’t shake, EMDR helps your brain process those memories without needing to relive them in detail.

• Restore a Felt Sense of Safety
  True healing doesn’t just come from insight. It comes from feeling different inside—calmer, safer, and more grounded in the present. EMDR helps create that shift, not just in your mind, but in your body.

You Don’t Have to “Just Cope” Forever

If you’ve been managing anxiety through logic, insight, or coping tools and still feel stuck—there’s nothing wrong with you.
It may simply mean the root hasn’t been fully addressed.

With EMDR, we don’t just talk about what happened. We help your brain and body reprocess it—so it no longer runs the show.

Curious if EMDR is right for you?

I offer virtual EMDR therapy to adults across California and Nevada, helping people move beyond anxiety, trauma, and limiting beliefs to find relief that lasts.

📍 Learn more or schedule a consultation at: www.MyEMDRLA.com

Michelle Nosrati, LCSW
Trauma Specialist | EMDR Therapist
Licensed in California & Nevada
Secure Telehealth Services Available
www.MyEMDRLA.com