If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why are my eyes leaking?” while sitting in a therapist’s office, you’re not alone. Many who go through Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy find that tears seem to come out of nowhere. These aren’t just ordinary tears—they are a signal that something profound is happening within you. The emotional journey through EMDR therapy is both intense and transformative, often unlocking feelings that have been deeply buried.

EMDR therapy is designed to help people process trauma in ways traditional therapy often doesn’t reach. It can bring up strong emotions, sometimes leaving you with tears streaming down your face without fully understanding why. But those tears, in essence, are part of the healing process. They are a release of emotional pain, memories, and traumas that you may not have even known were lingering under the surface.

What is EMDR Therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a psychotherapy treatment initially designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR focuses on the brain’s natural healing process. It’s based on the idea that traumatic memories become “frozen” in the brain, causing emotional and psychological distress. Through EMDR, these memories can be reprocessed and integrated into your life in a healthier way.

During an EMDR session, your therapist will guide you through recalling distressing experiences while stimulating your brain through bilateral movements—usually with their fingers or a light bar. These eye movements are designed to mimic the way your brain processes and organises information during REM sleep, enabling it to work through the trauma. What’s fascinating is that, often, emotional release follows, and tears can flow as the body releases pent-up stress and anxiety.

Why Are My Eyes Leaking During EMDR?

The experience of “leaking” or crying during EMDR is a powerful signal of emotional release. Many individuals are surprised when their emotions surface so suddenly. You may find yourself weeping unexpectedly, as if the floodgates have opened. The reason for this is that EMDR is not just about intellectual understanding—it’s about processing emotions that are often stored in the body.

Trauma is like a wound that hasn’t healed properly. EMDR works to revisit these emotional wounds, not to reopen them in a harmful way, but to finally allow them to heal fully. The leaking eyes, or sudden onset of tears, often come from unlocking emotional tension that has been long-held within the body. Essentially, your body is finally letting go of the stress, sadness, or fear that you’ve been carrying for years.

This form of emotional release can feel cathartic and, in many cases, signifies a critical breakthrough in your healing journey.

The Science Behind Emotional Release in EMDR

It’s essential to understand that emotional release during EMDR is not merely a side effect but a key part of the therapeutic process. The tears represent your brain’s way of releasing stored trauma. When trauma occurs, your brain can get stuck in a loop, replaying the event over and over, causing emotional and physical distress. This unprocessed trauma can affect your daily life, even if you’re not fully aware of it.

EMDR works by accessing the brain’s natural processing system, allowing you to reprocess traumatic memories safely. Your brain effectively works through the trauma as it does during dreaming, and this can evoke powerful emotions. Tears and the feeling of your “eyes leaking” are your brain’s way of saying, “I’m ready to let this go.”

Why Do People Feel Emotional During EMDR Therapy?

People undergoing EMDR therapy often report feeling emotional during and after their sessions. This isn’t surprising when you understand how deeply rooted trauma can be. Trauma affects not only the mind but also the body. Even if you’ve suppressed a painful memory for years, it remains lodged in your body, causing subconscious emotional turmoil.

During EMDR, as the mind begins to reprocess these experiences, it releases the emotions tied to them. This process can bring up feelings of sadness, fear, anger, or relief. The “leaking” tears are a visible representation of this emotional purge. They indicate that your body is shedding the weight of these emotions, providing you with a sense of relief and a new perspective on the trauma.

How EMDR Helps Unlock Suppressed Emotions

One of the unique aspects of EMDR therapy is its ability to unlock emotions that have been suppressed for years, sometimes decades. Many people who have experienced trauma cope by burying their emotions deep inside, often as a survival mechanism. While this may help in the short term, it causes long-term emotional blockages.

EMDR helps remove these blockages by accessing the brain’s trauma-processing center. It encourages your mind to bring the suppressed emotions to the surface, allowing you to confront and process them. This is why people often feel a flood of emotions—whether sadness, anger, or joy—during and after their EMDR sessions.

What Should You Expect During an EMDR Session?

During an EMDR session, your therapist will ask you to focus on a specific traumatic memory. As you concentrate on that memory, they will guide your eye movements by moving their hand or using a light bar in front of your eyes. Alternatively, they may use auditory tones or taps, known as bilateral stimulation.

As this process continues, your brain will begin to reprocess the memory. You may find that different emotions, images, or sensations come up, sometimes leading to tears. Many people describe a sense of release as these memories are worked through—almost as if the emotional weight they’ve been carrying has finally lifted.

The beauty of EMDR is that, even though it can bring up strong emotions, it doesn’t require you to talk through every detail of your trauma. It allows your brain to do the heavy lifting by processing the trauma naturally.

Why EMDR Is Emotionally Exhausting

It’s common for people to feel emotionally drained after an EMDR session. You may have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, or perhaps you’ve cried for the first time in a long while. This emotional exhaustion is a natural part of the healing process. Much like physical exercise can leave your muscles sore, EMDR can leave you feeling mentally and emotionally tired.

But the exhaustion is a sign that something powerful is happening. Your brain is finally doing the work it needs to heal. It’s essential to rest after a session, allowing your mind and body the time they need to recover.

How EMDR Can Change Your Relationship with Emotions

Many people who undergo EMDR therapy find that their relationship with their emotions changes in profound ways. If you’ve spent years suppressing your feelings, EMDR helps you reconnect with them. You may find that you become more in tune with your emotional state, able to express feelings more openly and honestly.

The tears you shed during therapy are not just a sign of sadness or pain; they are also a symbol of emotional release and growth. EMDR teaches you that emotions are not something to fear or suppress. Instead, they are an integral part of healing and living a fulfilling life.

Why You Might Cry After EMDR Sessions

It’s not uncommon to feel emotional for hours or even days after an EMDR session. You may find yourself crying unexpectedly, even when you’re not consciously thinking about the trauma. This is a natural part of the brain’s reprocessing. As your mind continues to work through the trauma, emotions may rise to the surface.

Many people report feeling lighter after this emotional release, as if a burden has been lifted from their shoulders. While crying can feel overwhelming at the moment, it’s actually a healthy and necessary part of your healing process.

Embracing the Emotional Journey in EMDR Therapy

EMDR therapy is not a quick fix, and the emotional journey can be challenging. But every tear shed during a session is a step toward healing. By allowing yourself to experience these emotions, you are giving your mind and body the space they need to heal from past wounds.

So, the next time you find yourself wondering, “Why are my eyes leaking?” during an EMDR session, remember that those tears are a sign of progress. They are proof that you are moving through the trauma and coming out stronger on the other side.

Ready to heal and release deep-rooted trauma? Begin your transformative EMDR journey with Amanda at Mindful Synergi.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, PTSD, or unresolved emotional pain, Amanda’s compassionate EMDR sessions offer a path to clarity and freedom. Through this powerful, evidence-based therapy, you can process and heal past experiences in a safe and supportive space.

Your healing starts with a single step—book your session today!