04/29/2026
I cried on a run the other day.
It felt like it literally came out of nowhere. I was about 2 miles into a long run and I knew I had some stress and overwhelm building up about all I have to get done before the move.. but my default setting is to power through and ignore how I ACTUALLY feel.
Eldest daughters, the ones who chronically do it all, you feel me? 🫶🏼
All of a sudden things just became clearer to me and the tears started flowing. Running opened up a space for me to process what I was feeling without holding it all in using natural bilateral stimulation, which we use in EMDR.
Here’s why this works:
The motion of right foot - left foot movement and that consistent back-and-forth pattern engages both hemispheres of the brain in a steady, predictable way.
That rhythmic motion, plus focusing on your breathing, and being in your body can have some pretty amazing impacts on how you process the tough stuff.
AND while walking/running can be supportive, it’s not in any way a replacement for structured EMDR with a trained therapist.
Think of it as:
* a regulation tool
* a light processing aid
* a way to continue integration between sessions
I didn’t cry the whole run, but I really let myself feel it. Things kinda cleared up in my head about my struggle and I let grief and sadness take up space. I gained some clarity on how I wanted to show up.. not in a perfect way but a REAL way. And I finished that run feeling lighter and more at peace.
Anyway, running may not be for everyone. Walking can be juuuust as good. If you’re looking for actual EMDR with a trained therapist, our therapists gotchu ✨
Link in bio to schedule an intro call 🔗
Please remember that social media is not a replacement for professional mental health services. It is here for educational and entertainment purposes.
