Can EMDR Cause Headaches?

Can EMDR Cause Headaches?

Short Answer: Most people do not experience headaches during or after an EMDR session. However, a small number of people notice a mild headache, usually during or shortly after a session. Researchers have not established a specific reason why this happens, but it may be related to concentration, muscle tension, eye strain, or simply spending time focusing during a session. When a headache does occur, it is usually mild and temporary.

If you've noticed a headache after an EMDR session, you may be wondering whether the two are connected. Although headaches are not the typical EMDR experience, they can occasionally happen. Some people describe them as a mild dull ache, a feeling of tightness, or gentle pressure, while many people never experience a headache at all.

Key Takeaways

• Most people do not experience headaches during EMDR
• A small number of people notice a mild headache during or after a session
• Researchers have not established a specific reason why this happens
• It may be related to concentration during the session, along with muscle tension or eye strain
• When headaches do occur, they are usually mild and temporary

Why Do Some People Get Headaches During EMDR?

EMDR uses focused attention together with bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds, while focusing on a memory, thought, feeling, or body sensation. For a small number of people, that combination of focus and stimulation can be accompanied by a mild headache, similar to the kind of headache that can follow a long period of concentrated reading or screen time.

Researchers have not established a specific explanation for headaches during EMDR. Possible ordinary factors include muscle tension (particularly around the jaw, neck, or shoulders), eye strain from following movement, or simply concentrating for a period of time. It's difficult to know whether a headache is connected to the EMDR process itself or would have happened anyway from an unrelated cause.

Most people never experience headaches during EMDR. Among those who do, the headache is generally mild and temporary.

Does a Headache Mean Something Went Wrong?

A mild headache during or after a session does not mean anything has gone wrong. It's simply one of several physical responses that a small number of people notice.

A headache also isn't a sign of how well a session went. Some people have a highly effective session with no headache at all, while others notice a mild headache during a session that otherwise felt calm and manageable. The two aren't connected in a reliable way.

What Can Help If You Get a Headache

A few simple things can help if you notice a headache during or after a session:

• Take a short break before continuing, if you're mid-session
• Drink water, since mild dehydration can contribute to headaches
• Relax your jaw, shoulders, and neck, since tension there is a common contributor
• Rest in a quiet, dimly lit space for a bit if the headache lingers
• Consider a shorter session next time if headaches happen consistently

None of this needs to be complicated. Small adjustments like these are often enough to ease a mild headache on their own.

Conclusion

Most people never experience headaches during EMDR. For the small number of people who do notice one, it is usually mild, temporary, and may simply be related to concentration, muscle tension, or eye strain rather than the EMDR process itself.

A headache does not mean anything has gone wrong or indicate whether the session was effective. Whether you notice a headache or not, people respond to EMDR in different ways, and there is no single "correct" reaction.