EMDR for Health Anxiety: Finding Calm Beyond Constant Worry

Q: What exactly is EMDR therapy for health anxiety?

EMDR therapy for health anxiety focuses on safely reprocessing distressing health related memories using bilateral stimulation such as guided eye movements. By reducing the emotional intensity attached to these memories, EMDR helps the brain respond more calmly and rationally to physical sensations and health worries. Australian epidemiological data highlight the relevance of this approach, with health anxiety affecting 5.7 percent of people across their lifetime and 3.4 percent at the time of interview [1].

Q: How quickly does EMDR therapy work for anxiety?

Many people notice benefits as they move through the eight phase EMDR protocol, although timelines vary depending on history and complexity. High level evidence supports EMDR for anxiety and phobia symptoms, with ongoing research refining optimal session dose and sequencing alongside other therapies [3].

Q: Can EMDR therapy be combined with CBT or mindfulness?

Yes. EMDR is often integrated with cognitive behavioural strategies and mindfulness based skills. The sequencing and combination depend on individual goals, symptom patterns, and clinical formulation, which your therapist will review collaboratively with you.

Q: Is EMDR effective for social anxiety?

EMDR can reduce social anxiety symptoms when earlier experiences of shame, rejection, or humiliation contribute to ongoing anxiety. Australian data show social anxiety affects approximately 4.2 percent of people over a 12 month period and 8.4 percent across a lifetime, supporting the importance of accessible, evidence aligned treatments. Meta analytic findings indicate EMDR is beneficial for anxiety presentations where distressing memory targets are present [3].

Q: Are there side effects of EMDR therapy?

EMDR therapy is considered safe when delivered by trained clinicians. Some people experience temporary emotional sensitivity or physical tiredness after sessions as processing continues. Therapists use preparation, careful pacing, and structured closure at each session to maintain stability and safety.

nurturedthoughts
Dec 31, 2025
7 min read

Health anxiety, also known as illness anxiety disorder, can feel like an endless cycle of worry. EMDR for health anxiety is a powerful therapy that tackles these persistent fears by helping your mind gently process the underlying traumatic events fueling your anxiety. In this article, we will explore how EMDR therapy can effectively relieve health anxiety, social anxiety, and specific phobias, providing you with practical insights to reclaim your peace of mind.

EMDR for Health Anxiety: How It Works

If you live with health anxiety, each new bodily sensation, such as headaches, dizziness, or a flutter in your chest, can trigger intense fear. These fears often originate from past traumatic experiences, such as serious illnesses, medical emergencies, or losing a loved one due to illness.

EMDR therapy directly addresses these core experiences by guiding your mind through reprocessing these distressing memories. The aim is to reduce the emotional intensity attached to these past events, allowing your brain to respond with calm rather than panic.

Research in Australia shows health anxiety affects about 5.7% of people at some point in their lives, with 3.4% experiencing it currently [1]. Early clinical research in medical populations suggests that brief EMDR protocols can reduce anxiety and health related worries, although broader, high quality trials are still needed to confirm the optimal dose for health anxiety specifically [5].

Here is a simplified overview of EMDR’s structured 8 phase process:

History taking to understand your unique anxiety triggers
Learning coping skills to manage stress
Identifying specific traumatic memories linked to your fears
Using guided eye movements, bilateral stimulation, to process and reduce emotional intensity
Reinforcing positive beliefs about your health and wellbeing
Checking your body for any lingering tension or anxiety
Ending each session feeling calm and grounded
Evaluating progress in future sessions to ensure lasting change [6]

Clients frequently notice meaningful relief during a structured course of treatment, which makes EMDR an appealing choice if you are looking for a focused, evidence aligned approach.

EMDR for Social Anxiety: Rebuilding Confidence and Connection

Social anxiety makes everyday interactions feel incredibly daunting. It involves an intense fear of being negatively judged or embarrassed in social situations, affecting about 4.2% of Australian adults over a 12 month period and 8.4% across a lifetime [2]. This condition can severely impact your ability to build friendships, maintain relationships, or advance in your career.

EMDR helps ease social anxiety by gently revisiting and reprocessing distressing social experiences from your past. This approach reduces the power these memories have over you, allowing you to feel more comfortable and confident in social settings.

High level evidence indicates that EMDR is efficacious for reducing anxiety, panic, and phobic symptoms, which supports its use as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for anxiety presentations that have links to distressing memories [3]. Many people begin experiencing tangible improvements as therapy helps the body and mind disengage from old patterns of shame, hypervigilance, and self criticism.

Common social traumas addressed in EMDR therapy include:

Experiences of bullying during childhood or adolescence
Moments of public embarrassment or humiliation
Harsh criticism or rejection by authority figures
Negative beliefs about your social skills or value in relationships

By reprocessing these memories, EMDR helps you form healthier, more positive beliefs about yourself and others, transforming the way you experience social interactions.

EMDR for Phobias: Reclaiming Freedom from Fear

Phobias can severely limit your enjoyment of life, causing intense fear that can interfere with everyday activities. Whether it is fear of flying, driving, spiders, or public speaking, phobias are common in population studies. Australian prevalence estimates for specific phobia remain limited, and current Australian sources note this gap. Cross national evidence indicates lifetime prevalence around 7.4% and 12 month prevalence around 5.5% [4].

EMDR therapy offers focused, trauma informed help by addressing the memories, images, and learning experiences at the root of your fears. Meta analytic findings suggest EMDR reduces phobic and anxiety symptoms, particularly when there are identifiable distressing memories that can be targeted in a structured way [3].

Phobias that respond particularly well to memory focused work, including EMDR, commonly include:

Aviophobia, fear of flying, often linked with turbulent flights or medical incidents on planes
Amaxophobia, fear of driving, usually triggered by past car accidents or near misses
Arachnophobia, fear of spiders, sometimes beginning in childhood after frightening encounters
Glossophobia, fear of public speaking, frequently tied to embarrassing experiences or ridicule during presentations

Imagine booking flights with more ease, driving with steadier confidence, or presenting at work without overwhelming physical anxiety. EMDR can help you move toward these outcomes by processing the experiences that sustain your phobia.

Understanding EMDR’s 8 Phase Process

EMDR therapy uses a structured approach designed to ensure emotional safety and effective results. This section outlines all 8 phases and what to expect at each step.

History taking and assessment: identifying your symptoms, anxiety triggers, and critical memories to target
Preparation: learning grounding and coping skills to ensure you feel safe and supported during therapy
Assessment and target identification: clearly identifying traumatic memories and related negative beliefs, such as “I am unsafe” or “I am helpless”
Desensitisation: using bilateral eye movements or alternate forms of stimulation to safely reprocess and reduce emotional intensity
Installation: reinforcing healthier, positive beliefs about yourself and your safety
Body scan: checking your physical sensations to ensure no residual tension or emotional discomfort remains
Closure: using grounding techniques so you leave each session calm, secure, and stable
Reevaluation: reviewing your progress, confirming lasting change, and addressing any remaining issues or new insights in future sessions

Clients often report noticeable emotional shifts and relief as processing unfolds, which highlights the value of a clearly structured, phased model.

Proven Benefits of EMDR Therapy for Anxiety Disorders

EMDR therapy provides several advantages within a stepped care approach to anxiety:

Rapid symptom relief is commonly reported during a structured course of EMDR, particularly when anxiety is linked to identifiable distressing memories [3]
Benefits can persist beyond the end of therapy by changing how the brain stores and retrieves past experiences
Minimal requirements for homework outside sessions compared with some other formats
Effective integration with other therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness, chosen according to client preference and clinical formulation
Recognition in Australian guidance for trauma related presentations, where EMDR is included among recommended trauma focused psychological therapies [6]

Many clients describe EMDR therapy as transformational, significantly changing their relationship with fear and anxiety, and restoring their sense of safety and confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is EMDR therapy for health anxiety?

EMDR therapy helps you safely reprocess distressing health related memories using guided eye movements. This approach reduces the emotional intensity of traumatic memories, which helps your mind respond more calmly and rationally to physical symptoms or health worries. Australian epidemiology underscores the need, with health anxiety affecting 5.7% across a lifetime and 3.4% at the time of interview in a national study [1].

How quickly does EMDR therapy work for anxiety?

People often notice benefits as they progress through the 8 phase protocol. High level evidence supports EMDR for anxiety and phobia symptoms, with continued research clarifying optimal dose and sequencing alongside other therapies [3].

Can EMDR therapy be combined with CBT or mindfulness?

Yes. EMDR integrates well with cognitive behavioural strategies and mindfulness skills. The choice and timing depend on your goals, history, and clinical formulation, which your therapist will review with you.

Is EMDR effective for social anxiety?

EMDR can reduce social anxiety symptoms when past experiences of shame, rejection, or humiliation are part of the maintaining cycle. Australian community data show social anxiety affects 4.2% over 12 months and 8.4% across a lifetime, which supports the value of accessible, evidence aligned therapy options 2. Meta analytic findings support EMDR for anxiety presentations with memory targets [3].

Are there side effects of EMDR therapy?

EMDR therapy is safe when provided by trained clinicians. Some people experience temporary emotional or physical fatigue after sessions. Therapists use preparation, titration, and closure to support stability and safety at every step.

Health anxiety, social anxiety, and phobias can significantly disrupt daily life, limiting enjoyment and wellbeing. EMDR therapy provides an evidence aligned, compassionate approach to reclaim your emotional freedom.

At Nurtured Thoughts Psychology, we specialise in EMDR therapy, offering personalised support tailored to your needs. To learn more about our approach, visit our EMDR Therapy Services page or explore broader options on our Anxiety Treatment Services page.

Disclaimer: This information is general in nature, educational, and not a substitute for personalised psychological or medical advice. Please discuss any treatment decisions with a qualified health professional.

References

[1] Sunderland, M., Newby, J. M., & Andrews, G. 2013. Health anxiety in Australia, prevalence, comorbidity, disability, and service use. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 203(1), 56 to 61. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.112.119255

[2] Crome, E., Grove, R., Baillie, A., Sunderland, M., Teesson, M., & Slade, T. 2015. DSM IV and DSM 5 social anxiety disorder in the Australian community. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 49(3), 227 to 235. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867414546699

[3] Yunitri, N., Kao, C. C., Chu, H., Voss, J., Chiu, H. L., Liu, D., Chang, P., & Chou, K. R. 2020. The effectiveness of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing on anxiety disorder, a meta analysis of randomised controlled trials. Journal of Affective Disorders, 266, 69 to 77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.118

[4] Wardenaar, K. J., Lim, C. C. W., et al. 2017. The cross national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys. Psychological Medicine, 47(12), 2147 to 2160. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291717000174

[5] Wallis, O. C., & de Vries, J. 2020. EMDR for anxiety in a medical population, a pilot study of flash forward EMDR. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, Experimental, Translational and Clinical, 6(4), 1 to 9. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055217320974388

[6] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 2024. Trauma focused psychological therapy involving dual attention tasks, EMDR. East Melbourne, VIC, RACGP HANDI. https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/clinical-guidelines/handi/conditions/mental-health/trauma-focused-psychological-therapy