Can EMDR Help with ADHD? Understanding the Connection Between Trauma, Emotional Overload, and Attention
Can EMDR Help with ADHD? Understanding the Connection Between Trauma, Emotional Overload, and Attention
Living with ADHD isn’t just about distraction or forgetfulness. For many women, it can feel like carrying mental noise all the time—combined with anxiety, self-doubt, emotional overwhelm, or the weight of unfinished tasks. And for those who’ve also experienced trauma, rejection, or chronic stress, the experience of ADHD becomes even more layered.
That’s why many people are starting to ask:
Can EMDR therapy help with ADHD?
While EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) isn’t a cure for ADHD, research and clinical experience suggest it can be a powerful tool—especially for addressing the emotional, cognitive, and relational challenges that often come with ADHD.
Why Look at EMDR for ADHD?
ADHD doesn’t occur in a vacuum. Many women with ADHD also struggle with:
• Anxiety
• Emotional dysregulation
• Shame and self-criticism
• Executive functioning challenges
• History of trauma, invalidation, or rejection sensitivity
EMDR was originally developed for trauma, but it’s increasingly being used to support clients with ADHD—particularly when past experiences have left emotional wounds that continue to affect how they think, feel, and show up in the world.
What the Research Says
A 2021 case study published in The Journal of EMDR Practice and Research followed a 28-year-old woman with ADHD and a history of trauma. After 10 sessions of EMDR, she experienced improvements in attention, planning, and self-regulation, along with a reduction in distress related to traumatic memories.
While this is just one study and not a broad clinical trial, it reflects what many therapists and clients are seeing in practice: when trauma is processed, symptoms like emotional reactivity, anxiety, and executive dysfunction often lessen.
How EMDR Can Help If You Have ADHD
Here’s how EMDR might support you if you’re navigating ADHD alongside anxiety, trauma, or burnout:
• Process painful memories that contribute to self-doubt, shame, or emotional triggers
• Reduce emotional overwhelm by helping your nervous system reset
• Shift limiting beliefs like “I’m lazy” or “I’m too much” that often form early
• Improve regulation and focus by freeing up mental and emotional energy
• Help untangle trauma and ADHD symptoms, especially when they overlap
It’s not a replacement for medication or ADHD coaching—but it can be a deeply supportive piece of the puzzle.
You Deserve More Than Just Coping
If you’re tired of constantly feeling behind, anxious, or emotionally flooded, therapy doesn’t have to focus on just “managing” your symptoms. You deserve space to heal old wounds, understand how your brain and body respond to stress, and rebuild trust in yourself.
In my work with women, I use EMDR and other supportive approaches (like mindfulness, CBT, and ACT) to help you feel more grounded, clear, and empowered—without trying to change who you are.
I offer online EMDR therapy for women in Michigan, Missouri, Colorado, South Carolina, and Texas.
If you’re living with ADHD and suspect that trauma, anxiety, or emotional overload is part of the story, I’d love to help.
Contact me today to learn more or schedule a session.