What is Trauma?
Sometimes life experiences in the past can affect us so deeply that months and even years later; we still feel an impact in our daily lives. Psychological and emotional trauma can result from experiences of abuse, accidents, crime, natural disasters, deaths of loved ones, divorce, disappointments at school or work, or any other painful or frightening occurrence. When our history becomes more than just our history, it is trauma.
Treatment for Trauma: EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a method of psychotherapy that promotes emotional healing from traumatic life experiences at an accelerated rate. The goal of every EMDR session is a noticeable decrease in the level of emotional disturbance associated with the trauma by the end of the session.
With EMDR, the client does not re-live the traumatic event. The success of EMDR does not depend on the client's ability to talk about the event. You can talk as much or as little as you want about the event. The memory is viewed from the point of view of the observing or witnessing self. By staying mindful while doing EMDR, you will notice the memories, emotions, and physical sensations without reliving them. When fully resolved (usually 3-8 sessions), thinking about the traumatic event will no longer result in emotional upset. Symptoms of traumatic stress will no longer trouble you. Negative beliefs about yourself associated with the trauma will be changed to more positive beliefs and you will be able to live your life more fully.
EMDR can be helpful with PTSD, panic, anxiety, grief and loss, sexual and physical abuse, divorce, auto accidents, school issues and more. It can also be used for performance enhancement and goal setting. It is very effective with children (age 2+) as well as adults and can be the basis of couples and family therapy.
What I like most about EMDR is that it reinforces the view of contemplative psychotherapy that we all carry within us a 'brilliant sanity' consisting of openness, clarity, and compassion. EMDR helps the client to reach new insights and healthy images without suggestions from the therapist because healing is within you.
Some Signs of Traumatic Stress in Adults and Children:
Depression Survivor Guilt
Anger/Rage Minimizing the Experience
Emotional Swings Suicidal Thinking
Changes in Speech Excessive Worry/Ruminating
Eating/Sleep Problems Low Self-Esteem
Difficulty Trusting Shame
Hypervigilance Tendency to Isolate
Nightmares Substance Abuse
Emotional Numbing Physical Complaints
Flashbacks Denial
Disorientation Expectation of Doom
Loss of Memory Fear of the Future
Panic/Anxiety Difficulty Concentrating