Tyrone woman says anxiety therapy transformed her life

THERE are growing calls for EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy to be made more available on the NHS, following its positive impacts on the mental health of local people.

Many are questioning why this effective treatment, which has proven life-changing for some, isn’t more readily accessible through the health service.

EMDR is a form of psychotherapy that helps individuals process distressing memories and reduce the emotional impact of traumatic experiences. It often involves bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, to help patients reframe and heal from memories that have caused emotional distress.

One of those who has benefited from EMDR is 41-year-old Claire Cotter from Augher, who has been in recovery for alcoholism.

Over the past decade, Claire struggled with severe anxiety, which made her feel she couldn’t cope with life’s challenges. At her lowest point, she lost her driving license and attempted to take her own life. She was then referred to mental health and addiction services but found that traditional treatments offered little support.

“They referred me to mental health and addictions services but I had been through all that before,” Claire explained. “It just felt like there was no real support, and there was nothing they could offer me that would help in the long term. It very much felt like they would just constantly check if you were sober or not, and that was it.”

Claire described the counselling she received as a ‘tick box exercise’ that had little impact.

“It simply was not working for me,” she said. “It felt like they were there, but they weren’t listening.”

After years of struggling, Claire decided to try EMDR when a friend suggested it.

“During my first session I was certainly suspicious, but open to it,” she recalled. “But within that first session alone I was able to learn and practice practical exercises that I could take home with me.”

By her fourth session, Claire felt ‘ten, maybe 20 times better’ and described the change as if her brain had been ‘rewired’.

She said, “It feels like something has truly shifted for the better.”

Claire emphasised that, although she hasn’t been cured, EMDR has helped her cope with life.

“I have been feeling great since, and I would highly recommend EMDR to anyone. It’s a practical tool that you can take with you and practice anywhere. The only issue is, it can be quite expensive to go private, but it has the potential to help so many if it was more widely available via the NHS.”

Paula Bogue from Enniskillen has also experienced the positive effects of EMDR and has since formed the support group ‘EMDR Family Northern Ireland’. After 20 years of receiving various therapies, Paula turned to EMDR when she reached a particularly low point due to anxiety and trauma.

“For the first time in 20 years, I saw light at the end of the tunnel,” Paula said.

“The great thing about it was that I didn’t have to talk about my problems; it’s about thinking about the problem, giving it a name, and processing the trauma.”

Paula compared CBT therapy with EMDR, explaining, “With CBT, you’re in a hole, and that therapist gives you a shovel to get out. But with EMDR, the therapist gets into the hole with you and helps you out.”

Paula has since recommended EMDR to numerous friends and family members, many of whom have benefited from it.

“So many of us have benefited from it, so we all sat down and decided to set up a Facebook page to share our stories, get others’ stories, and to generally offer support to anyone who may be interested in it,” she said.

Paula also noted that EMDR is effective for children and people with non-verbal autism, as it doesn’t necessarily require talking. “You can use the tools any time,” Paula said. “I often find myself using it while sitting in the car, and that’s the great thing about it, you don’t need to return to a therapist every time you’re struggling.”