If you suffer from obsessive thoughts, they can greatly affect your life. Obsessive thoughts can lead to compulsive actions or keep you from doing something. Not being able to leave the house until you have completed a certain ritual is not only time-consuming but also very tiring. But also when a voice in your head tells you not to eat chocolate, not to cross the street at this spot, or to work in the office only when everything on your desk is exactly straight and in the right order, it takes a lot of energy. This can lead to symptoms such as fatigue and difficulty concentrating, which can become so severe that you are unable to function normally.

Get help if you suffer from obsessive thoughts

Everyone has thought: "If I now make sure I cross the road before the green pedestrian light starts flashing, I will get that new job". A crazy thought that you immediately shake off. But there are also people for whom these kinds of thoughts dominate their lives. This has such an impact on their daily lives that they often become more and more compulsive. It is no longer enough to cross the zebra crossing before the pedestrian lights begin to flash, or to step on the white stripes of the zebra crossing, or to take only a maximum number of steps to get to the other side. Then it's time to get help.

EMDR therapy for eliminating obsessive thoughts

It is easier said than done to get an obsessive thought out of your head. If you are unable to do so and it affects your daily life, you should seek help. First, your therapist will have an intake interview with you to take stock of the problem. Whether EMDR therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is an option in your case depends on the individual situation. Your therapist is best placed to assess this, and often several sessions are needed to clarify exactly what is going on and where the disorder is coming from, although the latter is not always easy to determine.

How does EMDR therapy work?

In EMDR therapy, the therapist moves his or her hands back and forth in front of your eyes. You are supposed to follow these movements with your eyes. At EMDR therapy Tapping" can also be used, in which the therapist touches the patient's knees alternately. Sound fragments may also be used, played alternately left and right through headphones. The way in which EMDR therapy is applied to obsessive-compulsive disorder obviously depends on the patient and the severity of the situation.

EMDR is not a miracle therapy

Although good results are achieved with EMDR, it is of course no panacea. It is certainly not the case that after 1 or 2 sessions with EMDR you will be rid of your obsessive-compulsive disorder. At best, EMDR can be used to support the therapy, which often takes some time. It also depends on how long you have had the obsessive-compulsive disorder and how much it bothers you. For example, does it only occur when you are tense or does it dominate your entire daily life? That is a big difference. But EMDR has certainly shown positive results in helping people with troublesome obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Is obsessive-compulsive disorder something to be ashamed of?

Many people are ashamed of suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder and try to hide it from the outside world. They do not tell anyone around them how much effort it takes to live with the disorder and to lead as normal a life as possible. If your obsessive-compulsive disorder is controlling your life and making it impossible for you to function normally and enjoy life, it is high time to do something about it. The first step is usually to contact your general practitioner. He or she can refer you to a good therapist who can use EMDR and other therapies to try to help you get rid of your obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Always go to an experienced therapist

Do you want to try EMDR therapy to get rid of obsessive-compulsive disorder? Then always look for a certified therapist who has experience with EMDR. It is a form of therapy that you cannot just "try out". It has to be used very carefully in order not to have negative effects. Sometimes one session is sufficient, but it also happens that several sessions are necessary. This depends, among other things, on how the patient reacts to the therapy. As with all therapies, the effect is greatest when the patient cooperates with a positive attitude and strives to get rid of his symptoms or problems.