UNDERSTANDING EMDR

EMDR PRINCIPLES AND PROCESSES

EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. Ongoing research supports positive clinical outcomes showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences (Maxfield, 2019). EMDR therapy has even been superior to Prozac in trauma treatment (Van der Kolk et al., 2007). Shapiro and Forrest (2016) share that more than 7 million people have been treated successfully by 110,000 therapists in 130 countries since 2016.

Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed without help.

Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved.

In working with me, I incorporate many of the principles of EMDR. I may also suggest you connect with an EMDR therapist as it is covered by insurance and you can then go deeper into that modality as an adjunct to our work. This will be important if you have unmanageable signs or symptoms of PTSD or if you may be having dissociative experiences.

A.R.T. therapy or Accelerated Resolution Therapy is a newer adaptation of EMDR and can be very helpful and effective as well. I would still recommend EMDR for most.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that affects individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event.

The event may have been life threatening to you or someone you love. We think of soldiers coming back from war with PTSD, so we are only just beginning to understand how much PTSD goes undiagnosed in the general population let alone people struggling with addictions. The inability to cope with the PTSD symptoms can drive addictions, and addictions can create PTSD.

The diagnosis of PTSD involves the evaluation of specific symptoms like intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, and heightened reactions to triggers.

While some people develop PTSD after a traumatic event, others do not, and this can be attributed to various factors such as genetic predisposition, previous exposure to trauma, and individual coping mechanisms.

Treatment options for PTSD include therapy, medication, or a combination of both. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is commonly used to help individuals manage their symptoms and develop healthier coping strategies. BUT EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is now the recommended therapeutic approach that has shown effectiveness in treating PTSD.

Lesser known is ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) therapy, a version of EMDR that is quite recent. If you disassociate at all, I would recommend staying with an EMDR therapist.

COMPLEX PTSD

Complex PTSD differs from PTSD in it nature and symptoms. We can also carry both diagnoses.

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) is a condition that arises from experiencing repeated traumatic events, often over a prolonged period, such as childhood abuse or neglect. The trauma may not be obvious and as child often can feel normal or the way it is supposed to be.

Additionally, Complex PTSD can significantly impact our relationships and attachment styles. Survivors may struggle with trust, intimacy, and forming healthy connections due to unresolved trauma and fear of being hurt again.

• Behavioral difficulties (e.g. impulsivity, aggressiveness, sexual acting out, alcohol/drug misuse and self-destructive behavior)

• Emotional difficulties (e.g. affect lability, rage, depression and panic)

• Cognitive difficulties (e.g. dissociation and pathological changes in personal identity)

• Interpersonal difficulties (e.g. chaotic personal relationships)

• Somatization (resulting in many visits to medical practitioners)

In addition to PTSD, chronic trauma is sometimes associated with other comorbidities including substance use, mood disorders, and personality disorders. Sometimes Borderline Personality Disorder can be confused with C-PTSD. A thorough assessment using validated instruments is critical to diagnosis and creating a comprehensive and effective treatment plan. This would be done through a Psychiatric Office and may include medication management or referral to therapy and substance use disorder treatment programs.

• An individual who experienced a prolonged period (months to years) of chronic victimization and total control by another may also experience difficulties in the following areas:

  • Emotional regulation. May include persistent sadness, suicidal thoughts, explosive anger, or inhibited anger.

  • Consciousness. Includes forgetting traumatic events, reliving traumatic events, or having episodes in which one feels detached from one's mental processes or body (dissociation).

  • Self-perception. May include helplessness, shame, guilt, stigma, and a sense of being completely different from other human beings.

  • Distorted perceptions of the perpetrator. Examples include attributing total power to the perpetrator, becoming preoccupied with the relationship to the perpetrator, or preoccupied with revenge.

  • Relations with others. Examples include isolation, distrust, or a repeated search for a rescuer.

  • One's system of meanings. May include a loss of sustaining faith or a sense of hopelessness and despair.

Understanding the effects of Complex PTSD on your sense of self and your relationships is crucial for both individuals with the disorder and their loved ones, as it can help foster empathy and support in their journey towards healing and recovery.

Resilience factors, such as having a strong support network, engaging in coping strategies, and possessing a sense of purpose, can aid in the recovery process.

What Additional Problems Are Associated with Chronic Trauma?

ACEs or ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

Example of the ACE SCREENING TOOL

The Screening tool, is just that, a screening. If someone scores 4 or more positive responses, the likelihood of developing C-PTSD increases, but is not diagnostic.

Resilience factors can mitigate much of what happens to us in childhood and allow us to grow and life fully. But for over 40% of us the stress of an adverse childhood event or the stress of chronic adversity outweighs the strength of our resilience and we develop the signs and symptoms as above.

ACE & Health Outcomes:

Compared to people with 0 ACEs, those with 4 ACEs were:

• 12 times more likely to have attempted suicide

• 460% more likely to be depressed ,

• 7 times more likely to be an alcoholic,

• 10 times more likely to have injected or used street drugs

• 240% greater risk of hepatitis,

• 390% more likely to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

www.thepermanentejournal.org/files/

Our child self deserved nurture, protection, safety, love, emotional connection and support.

Our adult self deserves nurture, protection, safety, love, emotional connection and support.

RESPONSIBILITY/ I AM SOMETHING “WRONG”

I don’t deserve love.

I am a bad person.

I am terrible.

I am worthless (inadequate).

I am shameful.

I am not lovable.

I am not good enough.

I deserve only bad things.

I am permanently damaged.

I am ugly (my body is hateful).

I do not deserve . . .

I am stupid (not smart enough).

I am insignificant (unimportant).

I am a disappointment.

I deserve to die.

I deserve to be miserable.

I am different (don’t belong).

RESPONSIBILITY/ I DID SOMETHING “WRONG”:

I should have done something.

I did something wrong.

I should have known better.

SAFETY/ VULNERABILITY:

I cannot be trusted.

I cannot trust myself.

I cannot trust my judgment.

I cannot trust anyone.

I cannot protect myself.

I am in danger.

It’s not okay to feel (show) my emotions.

I cannot stand up for myself.

I cannot let it out.

CONTROL/CHOICE:

I am not in control.

I am powerless (helpless).

I am weak.

I cannot get what I want.

I am a failure (will fail).

I cannot succeed.

I have to be perfect (please everyone).

I cannot stand it.

I am inadequate.

I cannot trust anyone.

POSITIVE BELIEFS:

I deserve love; I can have love.

I am a good (loving) person.

I am fine as I am.

I am worthy; I am worthwhile.

I am honorable.

I am lovable.

I am deserving (fine/okay).

I deserve good things.

I am (can be) healthy.

I am fine (attractive/ lovable).

I can have (deserve) . . .

I am intelligent (able to learn).

I am significant (important).

I am okay just the way I am.

I deserve to live.

I deserve to be happy.

I am okay as I am.

I did the best I could.

I learned (can learn) from it.

I do the best I can (I can learn).

I can be trusted.

I can (learn to) trust myself.

I can trust my judgment.

I can choose whom to trust.

I can (learn to) take care of myself.

It’s over; I am safe now.

I can safely feel (show) my emotions.

I can make my needs known.

I can choose to let it out.

I am now in control.

I not have choices.

I am strong.

I can get what I want.

I can succeed.

I can succeed.

I can be myself (make mistakes).

I can handle it.

I am capable.

I can choose whom to trust.

The information on this page is just an introduction to these conditions and treatment approaches.

It has been my experience that most people are not aware of how they have been impacted by their past let alone how it affects everything in their daily lives. When we experience such things in childhood we can develop a negative self belief that keeps us safe in the moment, but locked into a thinking and behavior pattern that becomes limiting and even destructive. Repeating positive self-affirmations is ineffective as the amygdala part of the brain won't allow them to override that which has not yet been healed.

Even our energy patterns become locked in or congested leading to anxiety, depression and health destroying physical ailments.

LIST OF GENERIC NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE BELIEFS

Negative beliefs are categorized in 4 main areas: Responsibility- I am something wrong(shame). Responsibility- I did something wrong (guilt). Safety and Vulnerability. Control and Choice.

Bringing it all together

The goal of EMDR and energy work is to shift the negative self-beliefs to positive ones. Memories associated with the negative self-beliefs are stored in the flight/fight/freeze/fawn part of the brain (the amygdala) and once processed are released into the prefrontal cortex and no longer triggers for emotional reactions. Our lives can shift dramatically.

Once we have an awareness of the patterns, we can use energy work to release what the body has stored in its attempt to keep you safe and connected, bringing you into a much greater state of peace, self direction, self care, and connection to all levels of self and in much healthier relationships with others.

Sometimes working on the cognitive level is helpful but sometimes working in the energy fields is needed and necessary. Often both are needed and tremendously powerful in healing and growth work. It is in connecting in the energy fields that we can also access our soul-self and spiritual realms.

REACHING OUT BRINGS RELIEF

Bring a cohesiveness to your story,

Find solutions to your pain,

Release the blockages,

Swiftly regain yourself authentic self!

Contact me anytime!