Why Can Thoughts Speed Up During EMDR?

Why Can Thoughts Speed Up During EMDR?

Short Answer: During Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), thoughts can sometimes seem to move more quickly than usual. As you focus on a memory or experience while using bilateral stimulation, one thought may lead to another, followed by a different memory, image, or feeling. These connections can happen close together, making it seem as though your mind is moving rapidly from one thing to the next. This is one possible experience during EMDR, but it does not happen to everyone. You do not need to keep up with every thought or make your thinking move faster for the session to be meaningful.

Key Takeaways

• Thoughts may seem to move quickly during EMDR as different memories, feelings, and associations come to mind.
• One thought may lead to another because experiences and memories can be connected.
• Rapidly changing thoughts do not necessarily mean you are losing focus.
• You do not need to analyze, remember, or follow every thought that appears.
• Faster thinking is not a requirement for EMDR to be effective or a reliable sign of progress.
• If your thoughts feel difficult to follow, you can pause and notice what is most present before continuing.

Why Might Thoughts Move Quickly During EMDR?

EMDR involves focusing on a particular memory, thought, feeling, or experience while using bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, alternating sounds, or tapping.

During this process, your attention may shift between different aspects of what you are working on.

For example, you might begin by remembering an argument with someone.

That memory may remind you of something the person said. You might then think about how you felt at the time, remember another similar experience, or notice a belief you have about yourself.

These thoughts may appear one after another without much deliberate effort.

Because the connections happen close together, they can feel faster than your usual thinking.

This does not necessarily mean your brain is processing information at a measurably faster rate. It describes how quickly different thoughts or associations seem to enter your awareness.

How Are Rapid Thoughts Connected to Memory Processing?

Memories are not always experienced as isolated events.

One experience can be connected to other memories, emotions, thoughts, or beliefs.

For example, a memory of being criticized at work might connect with an earlier experience of feeling embarrassed at school.

That earlier memory might bring up a thought such as, "I always worry about making mistakes."

As EMDR continues, your attention may move between these different parts of the experience.

You might notice:

• A new detail from the original memory
• Another experience involving a similar emotion
• A thought about yourself or another person
• A different interpretation of something that happened
• A change in how you feel about the original event

Sometimes these changes happen gradually. At other times, several associations may appear close together.

EMDR is designed to help people process distressing memories and related thoughts and feelings. However, researchers have not established a single explanation for every subjective experience that occurs during processing, including why thoughts may sometimes seem to move faster.

What Does Fast Thinking During EMDR Feel Like?

The experience can vary.

Some people may notice a quick sequence of related memories or ideas.

Others may feel as though they are moving between several different parts of the same experience.

For example, you might start with a memory of an uncomfortable conversation.

During one set of bilateral stimulation, you may notice:

1. A particular comment someone made
2. The feeling you had when you heard it
3. A memory of another person saying something similar
4. A thought about why those comments bothered you
5. A different perspective on the original conversation

These observations might appear in quick succession.

You may not have time to consider each one in detail before another comes to mind.

That does not automatically mean anything unusual is happening. It may simply be how your attention is moving during that part of the session.

Does Bilateral Stimulation Make Thoughts Move Faster?

Bilateral stimulation is a central component of EMDR. It involves alternating stimulation from one side to the other through eye movements, sounds, or tapping.

During EMDR, you pay attention to this stimulation while also focusing on a memory or experience.

As the session progresses, different thoughts, emotions, images, or memories may become noticeable.

However, there is no established rule that bilateral stimulation directly makes thoughts move faster.

Likewise, using faster eye movements does not necessarily produce faster thinking or better processing.

The speed of your thoughts and the speed of bilateral stimulation are not the same thing.

What matters more is being able to follow the session and notice what comes up without trying to create a particular response.

Do You Need to Follow Every Thought That Appears?

No. You do not need to keep track of every thought during EMDR.

If several thoughts appear quickly, you can simply notice them as they come and go.

You do not have to stop and analyze each one.

For example, if one memory reminds you of another, you can acknowledge the connection without immediately deciding what it means.

If a different feeling or image appears, you can notice that as well.

EMDR does not require you to organize every thought into a complete explanation while bilateral stimulation is happening.

The pauses between stimulation sets provide an opportunity to notice what stands out.

You might find that one particular memory, emotion, or thought remains more noticeable than the others.

That can become your next point of focus.

What If Your Thoughts Change Too Quickly to Remember Them?

You do not need to remember everything that came to mind.

During a set, several ideas may pass through your awareness, but only one or two may remain noticeable afterward.

For example, you might remember that you thought about several different experiences without being able to recall their exact order.

That is not necessarily a problem.

When the stimulation stops, you can ask yourself:

"What am I noticing now?"

You may notice a particular thought, memory, emotion, or physical sensation.

You can use whatever is most noticeable as a starting point for the next part of the session.

If nothing stands out clearly, you do not need to invent a response.

You can simply acknowledge what you noticed and decide how to continue.

Does Faster Thinking Mean EMDR Is Working?

Not necessarily.

The speed of your thoughts is not a reliable measure of EMDR progress.

A session may involve several quick changes in memories or ideas. Another session may feel quieter, with your attention staying on the same memory for longer.

Neither pattern automatically determines whether the session is effective.

More meaningful changes may involve how you respond to the memory or experience you are working on.

For example, you might notice that:

• A memory feels less emotionally upsetting.
• A negative belief about yourself seems less convincing.
• You can think about an experience from a different perspective.
• A situation that previously bothered you feels easier to consider.

These changes may happen with or without a noticeable increase in the pace of your thoughts.

You do not need rapid thinking for EMDR to be worthwhile.

What Can You Do If Your Thoughts Feel Too Fast?

If your thoughts are moving more quickly than you would like, you can pause the bilateral stimulation and take a moment to notice where your attention has settled.

You do not need to stop every thought or try to slow your mind down deliberately.

Instead, you might:

• Pause between stimulation sets.
• Notice which thought or feeling is most prominent.
• Return to your original focus if you prefer.
• Make a brief note of something you want to revisit later.
• Take a longer break if you no longer want to continue.

Sometimes a short pause is enough to help you decide what to focus on next.

You also do not have to explore every new memory or association that appears.

If several thoughts seem connected to different experiences, you can choose to stay with your original focus and return to the others during another session.

What About Thoughts Moving Quickly During Self-Guided EMDR?

Thoughts may shift during EMDR whether the session is guided by a therapist or completed independently through a structured online program.

With Virtual EMDR, a self-guided online EMDR program, you manage your own pacing and can pause or stop a session when you choose.

If your thoughts begin moving quickly, you can finish the current stimulation set, pause, and notice what is most present.

You do not need to follow every thought or immediately change your session focus.

You might continue with a thought that seems connected to your original memory, return to your starting focus, or make a note to explore something later.

The purpose is to work with what you are noticing rather than trying to control the speed or direction of every thought.

Can Thoughts Slow Down Again During the Same Session?

Yes. The pace at which thoughts come to mind may change as a session continues.

You might notice several quick associations during one set and relatively little change during the next.

For example, a series of memories may come to mind, followed by a period when your attention remains on one feeling or image.

You might also find that a thought which seemed important earlier becomes less noticeable.

There is no fixed pattern that every EMDR session must follow.

Some sessions may involve quick shifts in attention, while others may feel more gradual or steady.

Neither experience needs to be forced.

Conclusion

Thoughts can sometimes seem to speed up during EMDR as your attention moves between memories, emotions, beliefs, and related experiences.

One thought may lead to another, and several associations may come to mind within a short period.

This does not mean you need to follow every thought, remember everything that appeared, or make your mind work at a particular speed.

Some sessions involve quick changes, while others feel more gradual.

Whether you are using therapist-guided or self-guided EMDR, the important thing is to notice what comes up and allow yourself to work at a pace that feels manageable.

The speed of your thoughts does not determine the success of your session.