Many adults I work with experience anxiety that feels constant or difficult to manage. As a Counselling Psychologist specialising in trauma, I often see how early experiences can shape the nervous system and contribute to long-term patterns of fear, tension, and self-protection. Understanding how EMDR therapy for anxiety works can help you move from surviving to truly healing.
How Childhood Trauma Contributes to Anxiety
Childhood trauma can take many forms, not only physical or sexual abuse, but also emotional neglect, chronic criticism, or growing up in an unpredictable environment. When children do not feel safe or supported, their brains adapt by staying alert to threat. As adults, those protective patterns may appear as anxiety: overthinking, people-pleasing, difficulty relaxing, or feeling on edge even in calm situations. These responses aren’t signs of weakness; they are the nervous system’s way of trying to stay safe.
How the Body Stores Anxiety and Trauma
Trauma lives not just in memory, but in the body. The nervous system can remain in a heightened state of alert long after the original danger has passed. This can lead to racing thoughts, muscle tension, or feelings of panic that seem to arise “out of nowhere.”
Even when we intellectually know we are safe, our body may still react as though we aren’t. This is why approaches that work only at the cognitive level are sometimes not enough. For deeper healing, the body needs to recognise that the trauma is over, and this is where EMDR therapy for anxiety can be especially helpful.
Healing the Nervous System with EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychological therapy recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for treating trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.
During EMDR, clients focus on distressing memories or sensations while engaging in gentle bilateral stimulation (such as side-to-side eye movements or tapping). This process helps the brain “reprocess” unintegrated memories so that they no longer trigger intense emotional or physical reactions.
Many people begin EMDR therapy for anxiety after trying to manage their symptoms through talking or coping strategies alone. As the brain processes the root experiences, the nervous system gradually learns that it is safe to stand down from constant alert.
The Lasting Benefits of EMDR for Anxiety and Childhood Trauma
Healing through EMDR does not erase the past, but it changes how the past affects you. Memories lose their emotional intensity and stop triggering the same level of anxiety or distress. Clients often describe:
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Feeling calmer and more present
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Reduced anxiety symptoms and better sleep
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Greater compassion for themselves
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Improved emotional regulation and resilience
In essence, EMDR helps the brain and body communicate safety again.
Taking the First Step Toward Healing
Recovery from childhood trauma and anxiety is a gradual process of helping your mind and body reconnect. With the right therapeutic relationship and therapeutic modality, you can rebuild a sense of safety and self-trust.
If you’d like to learn more about EMDR therapy for anxiety and trauma recovery, you can visit www.drpaulinechiarizia.com or reach out to arrange an initial consultation.
About the Author
Dr. Pauline Chiarizia is a Counselling Psychologist specialising in trauma and eating disorders. She offers online therapy and EMDR for individuals who are ready to explore themselves more deeply, break free from unhelpful patterns, and address challenges like anxiety, depression, trauma, low self-esteem, and burnout.
Dr. Chiarizia helps you develop resilience, strengthen self-trust, and build the confidence to navigate life’s challenges: personally and professionally. Her approach empowers clients to cope with adversity while also being fully present for moments of joy, love, and connection.
She offers therapy online, based in London, and is available to clients across the UK, EU, and US.