How will I Feel After EMDR Therapy? - 18/07/25

As a clinical psychologist and EMDR consultant in training, one of the most common questions I hear from my clients is “How will I feel after my EMDR Therapy session?” and “is it normal to feel like this?”.  Although everyone responds differently to EMDR, there are some common themes that I see time and again so here’s what I want every client to know about what they may feel after EMDR.
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1) Fatigue: Your Brain Is Doing Hard Work

First and foremost, expect to feel tired. Not the “I-stayed-up-too-late-watching-Netflix” kind of tired. It’s more like a full-body, bone-deep fatigue. And it makes sense. The internal effort your brain puts into reprocessing trauma is significant. You’re accessing painful memories, emotionally revisiting them, and forming new neural pathways…all at once. That’s serious work.

Clients often describe feeling:

• Mentally foggy
• Physically drained
• Like they’ve “run a marathon sitting still”
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So if you find yourself wiped out after your session, know that you’re not alone and that it is not a setback. it’s a sign your brain is actively processing and healing. I often tell my clients to make sure they give themselves times to rest after an EMDR Therapy session. This could be hydrating, taking a nap, mindful breathing or having a quiet afternoon to yourself.
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2) Fluctuating Emotions

EMDR often stirs up a broad range of emotional reactions, and every session may feel different. It’s common to experience:

• Relief and lightness: a sense that something has shifted or been released
• Sadness or grief: emotions tied to the pain of what you’re processing
• Anxiety or agitation: your nervous system may still be “on”
• Numbness or emotional detachment:  a temporary state as your brain recalibrates
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Some clients worry that if they feel worse or disconnected then something went wrong. In most cases, these are normal, expected responses. Your emotional system is adjusting to a new reality; one where the trauma may no longer define or dominate you.
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3) The“ Weird” Feeling you can’t quite name

One of the most common post-EMDR experiences I hear about is a vague sense of feeling weird or “off.” You may feel:

• Disoriented or emotionally distant
• Like your memory or thoughts are shifting
• Surprised by new dreams or memories resurfacing
• Unsure if the session even “worked”
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This “weirdness” often signals that something important is happening beneath the surface. Your mind is integrating the work you've done and reorganising how it stores and relates to the traumatic memory. It may manifest as vivid dreams, flashbacks of new memories, or suddenly viewing part of your trauma story from a completely different angle. It can feel uncomfortable and destabilising but it’s not a sign that things are going wrong. Quite the opposite.

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4) Physical Symptoms: The Body Remembers Too

Trauma can beheld in the body, so don’t be surprised if you notice physical reactions in the hours or days after a session. Common symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Nausea or stomach upset
• Muscle tension or body aches
• Restlessness or insomnia
• Tingling in the hands or feet
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These symptoms are temporary and usually connected to your nervous system releasing old patterns. Gentle movement, hydration, and grounding techniques can help.
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5) Dissociation or Numbness: Your Brain’s Safety Switch

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Some clients feel emotionally numb or report “checking out” during or after EMDR. This can be a form of dissociation which is the brain’s natural defense mechanism when emotions feel too overwhelming.

If you notice this happening consistently, bring it up with your therapist. An appropriately trained and qualified EMDR therapist will work with you to slow the pace, strengthen your internal resources, and keep you grounded during sessions. This is essential for effective trauma processing.

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6) Feeling Worse? It Might Be About Pacing

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It’s not uncommon to feel worse before you feel better, especially if the session was intense. Often, this happens when the therapy moves too quickly into trauma processing without spending enough time in resourcing (the EMDR phase where we build tools for internal safety, regulation, and support).

If you're constantly feeling worse after sessions, that’s a cue to slow down, not to quit altogether. You may need more resourcing before diving deeper. It’s nota sign of weakness, it’s a sign that your system is wisely asking for more safety.

7) Long-Term Shifts: Healing You Might Not Notice Right Away

EMDR is unique in that sometimes, the biggest results are subtle at first. Over time, clients notice:

• A calmer response to previous triggers
• The way you think about yourself (in relation to the trauma) changes
• The memory is still there, but the emotional charge is gone
• The way you carry the trauma changes.
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Sometimes, the change is so quiet that clients don’t realise it happened until they’re in a situation that used to trigger them and it doesn’t anymore. That’s how trauma healing often works: slow, layered, and surprisingly peaceful.

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Tips to Support Your Post-EMDR Recovery

Here are some tips on how to take care of yourself after a session:

• Rest and decompress: don’t have anything booked in immediately following a session
• Hydrate and nourish your body
• Move gently:  walking or yoga can support nervous system regulation
• Journaling:  write down what came up or what you’re feeling now
• Talk to someone safe: give a friend or partner a heads-up if you need emotional support
• Practice grounding: mindful breathing
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If You're Still Unsure or Struggling

If you’re not noticing any improvement after many weeks or months of EMDR Therapy (or you consistently feel worse) then don’t hesitate to talk to your therapist. EMDR is a powerful tool, but it must be tailored to you and delivered by someone appropriately qualified and trained (see my blog here and here)

Sometimes, it means going slower. Other times, it means working with a different therapist who is more experienced in complex trauma or dissociation.

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Final Thoughts: There’s No “Right” Way to Feel

Healing with EMDR Therapy is messy. Some days you might feel hopeful and joyful whereas on other days you may feel numb, anxious and completely unsettled. Whatever you’re feeling after EMDR Therapy it’s valid and this forms part of my final message: it’s okay to feel all the things, even the uncomfortable ones. That’s part of healing. Whatever you’re feeling after EMDR Therapy it’s valid. This therapy is powerful because it taps into the deepest parts of our mind, where trauma lives and healing happens. If you’re on this path, give yourself grace. You are doing courageous work. Even if it doesn’t feel like it yet, trust that something inside is shifting.

You’re not alone on this journey.

Stay patient. Stay connected. Stay curious.

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Talking Therapy and Counselling in Hertford

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Dr Maria Tucknott is a Private Clinical Psychologist and EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner (and an EMDR consultant in training). Her and her team of independent psychologists offer EMDR Therapy face to face and online. If you would like to explore whether EMDR therapy in Hertfordshire can help, then get in touch today and book an appointment or email me directly on maria@tucknottpsychology.com

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