Find Stability in Unstable Times with EMDR Therapy

Written By Rosalie Maduro

If it feels like the world has been especially heavy lately, you're not imagining it. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted, or disconnected, I want you to know: you are not alone, and what you’re experiencing makes perfect sense.

Across the United States, we are facing unprecedented levels of political upheaval, deepening polarization, shifting social norms, and ongoing economic instability. These challenges aren't just shaping our daily lives, they are taking a profound toll on our mental health. It's no wonder so many are grappling with heightened anxiety, depression, grief, and even trauma.

We are living through a time of collective stress. And while our bodies and brains are doing their best to cope, many are finding it harder to feel stable, hopeful, or at ease.

As a trauma-informed psychotherapist, I see firsthand how these forces are affecting emotional and physical well-being. Many of my clients describe feeling stuck, hopeless, or constantly "on edge," even without a single, identifiable event to point to. This is the nature of chronic, cumulative trauma.

One highly effective tool that I use to support clients during these difficult times is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

Why Current Events Feel So Personal and So Painful

Trauma doesn’t always come from a single catastrophic moment. Often, it builds slowly over time through the relentless accumulation of fear, loss, betrayal, and uncertainty.

Consider the world we’re living in:

  • Political divides are fracturing families and communities.

  • Social norms are shifting rapidly, leaving many feeling isolated or overwhelmed.

  • Economic instability is fueling deep anxiety about safety, security, and the future.

  • Marginalized groups are facing real, daily threats to their rights and well-being.

  • A nonstop, often distressing news cycle keeps our nervous systems in a constant state of alarm.

In this environment, feeling powerless, exhausted, or disconnected is not a personal failure; it’s a natural response to overwhelming circumstances. It means your brain and body have been working hard to protect you.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, evidence-based therapy originally developed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Today, it is widely used to treat a range of emotional challenges, including anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and unresolved trauma.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, tapping, or sound, to help the brain safely reprocess distressing memories and emotional experiences. The goal is not to erase memories, but to reduce their emotional charge, allowing you to respond to the present rather than staying stuck in the past.

At its heart, EMDR is about creating a healing space where painful experiences can finally be processed gently, safely, and with lasting results.

How Effective Is EMDR Therapy?

Research shows EMDR’s remarkable potential for healing:

  • Studies report a 100% success rate for individuals with single-event trauma and a 77% success rate for those with complex trauma, often within just a few sessions.

  • A meta-analysis of 11 clinical studies found EMDR to produce greater reductions in post-traumatic symptoms compared to traditional therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

  • Many clients experience significant relief after just three sessions, highlighting EMDR’s potential for faster, lasting healing.

Is EMDR Effective Online?

Yes!! Many studies have shown online EMDR to be effective which matches my own personal experience with clients.

How EMDR Therapy Can Help You Heal During These Times

EMDR is especially powerful in today’s turbulent world because it addresses not just isolated traumas, but also the chronic, ongoing stress so many are experiencing. EMDR meets you exactly where you are, offering support even as the world around you changes. 

EMDR therapy creates a safe, supportive environment where you can process fear, anger, and grief at your own pace without forcing, rushing, or retraumatizing. This approach helps regulate a nervous system stuck in survival mode, creating space for true rest, resilience, and restoration while strengthening your internal sense of safety. As you gain greater confidence and calm to face external uncertainties, EMDR can help you adapt to social, cultural, and personal shifts, making room for clarity, meaning, and belonging amid change.

Healing through EMDR isn't about pretending everything is okay; it's about honoring your experiences, building emotional strength, and reclaiming your power to connect, act, and hope again. Many clients find that as emotional wounds are addressed, physical symptoms like muscle tension, headaches, restlessness, and sleep issues also begin to ease. Over time, this therapeutic approach helps restore emotional balance, physical well-being, and a deeper sense of stability.

You Don’t Have to Wait for the World to Settle Before You Begin Healing

It’s a myth that we have to wait until the crisis is over to start healing. Healing is possible now, even in the midst of uncertainty.

If you're carrying the emotional weight of political unrest, societal shifts, or economic fear, you deserve a space that honors your experience without judgment. You deserve compassionate support that helps you move toward the peace, stability, and resilience you’ve been longing for.

If you’re curious about how EMDR therapy could help you, or if you’re simply looking for a place where you can feel seen and supported, I warmly invite you to reach out.

You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Your healing matters. Your hope matters.
And it’s possible, even now.

Rosalie Maduro is an EMDR-trained Psychotherapist Associate at Beyond Psychology Center. She has availability online and in-person in West Los Angeles.

Click below to set up a free consultation to discuss your situation and whether EMDR could be a good approach for you.

Rosalie Maduro
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