How Somatic EMDR Can Support Women in Midlife

I gave a presentation last week on the psychological and emotional effects of menopause and how little they are talked about compared to the physical symptoms. I was quite nervous as I thought that most of the women on the call would find my information “old news”. It turned out not to be the case and I was surprised that even now with the information overload that we are living through, there is still not enough said or done about women’s mental health.

From my experience as a woman in midlife and as a coach working with predominantly women in midlifeI find that the emotional and psychological challenges are often the most disturbing and the most difficult to handle. Anxiety, stress, overwhelm, loss of self esteem and many more have been present in my life over the last few years and are common themes in my coaching conversations.

Over the last year I have been training in a therapeutic approach that I’ve been interested in for a long time and has growing recognition for supporting emotional wellbeing - Somatic EMDR. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, usually known as EMDR has, up till recently, been used mainly to treat PTSD and trauma-related symptoms but I was curious about the potential benefit for women in the menopause transition with the range of psychological and emotional challenges they are facing. 

What is EMDR?

EMDR is a form of therapy, structured around the traditional EMDR protocol which was originally developed to help people process trauma. EMDR is evidenced-based and recommended by leading psychological bodies such as the World Health Organisation and the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Essentially, EMDR helps the brain reprocess distressing memories and beliefs that remain stuck in the nervous system.

As part of a typical EMDR session a practitioner would guide a client through a series of bilateral stimulation exercises. These might include moving the eyes from side to side while the client focuses on a troubling memory, thought or feeling. Bilateral stimulation can also take the form of guided taps or sound pulses. The idea is to activate the brain's natural processing capacity so that stuck or overwhelming experiences can be integrated more adaptively.

How EMDR Works

EMDR draws on what we know about memory, stress and the nervous system. When we encounter stress or trauma the brain can sometimes store the associated experience in a way that keeps it unresolved. This can leave us feeling emotionally triggered long after the original event. In the case of menopause and midlife stress, experiences of loss, life transitions, body changes, career or relationship shifts can all accumulate and affect our mental wellbeing.

During EMDR, bilateral stimulation appears to stimulate parts of the brain involved in memory and emotion regulation. Clients often report that thoughts or feelings that once felt overwhelming become less intense and new perspectives emerge without needing to talk through every detail of the distressing event. Over a series of sessions, the nervous system can become calmer and more resilient.

Image: Engin Akyurt

What is Somatic EMDR?

Somatic EMDR integrates traditional EMDR protocols with an realtime awareness of bodily experience and physical sensation. This means that a practitioner will pay attention not only to thoughts and memories but also to how feelings and sensations show up in the body. For women in perimenopause and menopause this can be particularly helpful as physical symptoms like heart palpitations, muscle tension, sleep issues and hormonal swings are all linked to nervous system regulation.

By linking emotional experience with bodily sensation, Somatic EMDR can help women tune into their inner wisdom and learn how to calm down stress responses that may have become habitual over time. This can reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation and strengthen resilience.

How Somatic EMDR Can Help Women in Midlife

Reducing Anxiety and Stress

Many of us in perimenopause and menopause experience levels of anxiety or stress that feel completely disproportionate to daily life demands. This is because changes in our hormone levels influence our nervous system, which can amplify the feelings of fear or worry. Somatic EMDR helps by working with the nervous system to integrate difficult memories, thoughts and physical reactions related to things in the past or present. Over time, this can reduce the intensity of our stress responses and help us feel more grounded and resourced.

Supporting Emotional Regulation

Shifts in mood and emotion are also another common symptom at this stage and have been a bit struggle of mine over the last few years. We might find that feelings of overwhelm come up more quickly and take longer to settle. Somatic EMDR supports greater emotional regulation by helping our nervous system process emotional triggers more efficiently. This means potentially managing emotional ups and downs with less exhaustion and frustration.

Building Self Esteem and Confidence

Midlife is often a time of questioning identity and self worth as roles, bodies and relationships are changing. So many of us are carrying old negative beliefs about ageing, self worth or attractiveness. Somatic EMDR allows these and any other unhelpful beliefs to be reprocessed so that they no longer hold the same power. Women often report emerging from a Somatic EMDR session with a stronger sense of self, more confidence and a clearer sense of direction.

Improving Sleep and Body Awareness

Sleep disruption is one of the most common symptoms in menopause and can worsen anxiety and stress. Somatic EMDR, by engaging both mind and body, can help calm the nervous system in a way that supports better sleep patterns. We also become more aware of our bodily cues and learn more effective ways to respond to physical discomfort.

Image: Jametiene Resk

In Summary…

The psychological and emotional impact of menopause is less talked about than the physical symptoms but, in my opinion, can be much more challenging. Anxiety, stress, overwhelm and lower self esteem are common challenges that deserve compassionate support. Somatic EMDR offers a powerful therapeutic approach that works with both the mind and the body. Backed by research and clinical practice, Somatic EMDR can help you to reprocess difficult experiences in the past or the present, regulate stress responses and emerge with greater emotional resilience and confidence.

A Final Thought

Somatic EMDR is not a quick fix, but it can be a transformative way to heal old patterns and feel more at ease in your life and body.

If you would like to be a case study and work with me over the summer I would be delighted. Also if you have any questions or would like to know more message me at rachel@rachelhcgrant and I’ll get back to you.