Miley Cyrus, known for her powerful performances on some of the world’s biggest stages, has quietly dealt with stage fright for years. In a recent chat, she opened up about how a therapy called EMDR played a key role in overcoming her anxiety. “Love it. Saved my life,” she mentioned to The New York Times, highlighting that she hasn’t experienced stage fright since.
In an interview with Vogue, Cyrus shared that EMDR felt like watching a movie in her head, filled with emotions yet grounding. She’s not alone in exploring this therapy; Prince Harry has also spoken about using EMDR to handle painful memories related to his mother’s passing. So, what exactly is EMDR, you might ask?
EMDR, short for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, is an alternative therapy aimed at helping people deal with unresolved trauma and emotional pain. According to Dr. Kate Campbell, a licensed therapist in Florida, it’s a powerful and research-backed method to heal from distressing experiences that seem to get ‘stuck’ in the brain. “On a neurological level, EMDR helps shift the memory from being stored in the emotional part of the brain (the amygdala) to the more logical, rational part (the prefrontal cortex),” she explained.
Once this shift takes place, Campbell pointed out, individuals can often reflect on the experience without feeling overwhelmed. The emotional intensity and negative beliefs tied to the memories start to diminish. The aim isn’t to forget what happened but to help the brain process and release it, allowing people to move forward with more clarity and peace.
Turning panic into power is a process where performance anxiety is addressed by getting to the root causes. Often, these stem from past negative experiences like embarrassing childhood moments or the pressure to be perfect, which get locked into the nervous system. Over time, these feelings can escalate into anxiety during high-pressure situations, like performing on stage.
Dr. Campbell noted that EMDR is particularly effective for performance anxiety because it tackles these root causes rather than just the symptoms. “Miley’s experience highlights how EMDR helps recalibrate the brain’s emotional memory network,” she said. The therapy strives to replace negative memories with supportive and empowering ones, leading many to feel more relaxed and clear-minded after just a few sessions.
Cyrus’s candidness about undergoing EMDR therapy sheds light on its benefits beyond severe trauma or PTSD. It helps reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and demonstrates that healing doesn’t necessarily have to be a long, drawn-out process. With the right guidance from mental health professionals, people can overcome deep-seated fears and make room for resilience and peace.
Reem Amro, a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital, shared that their team covers a range of topics, including health, which underscores the importance of discussing mental health openly. Cyrus’s journey with EMDR therapy emphasizes the potential for significant personal growth and healing through appropriate therapeutic support.
