PTSD and complex (cPTSD) can make past experiences feel painfully present, even when the danger is over. 

Symptoms may include intrusive memories, nightmares, insomnia, avoidance, emotional reactivity, shame, hypervigilance, dissociation, difficulty trusting others, or feeling stuck in survival mode.

EMDR can help clients process traumatic memories, reduce emotional intensity, and work through stuck beliefs such as “It's happening again,” “I’m powerless,” “I can’t trust anyone,” or “I’ll never be free from this.” 

For complex trauma, treatment is paced carefully, with added attention to stabilization, emotional safety, attachment wounds, and building a stronger sense of self in the present.