030 – Can EMDR Help Speed My Recovery?

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ColorHeadBrain by Salvatore Vuono FDPIn today’s episode:

  • Don’t Give Up!
  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

Don’t Give Up!

No matter what you have done.  No matter what others have done to you.  Don’t give up!  Good can come from bad.  But we need to keep going until we see it happen.  If we give up we may never see that good can come for the terrible stuff we have suffered.

Don’t give up on others.  This does not mean that we ignore what others do.  We should keep the door open for change—in ourselves and others.

We must have healthy boundaries.  Other people may never decide to go with us down a road that leads to a healthy and victorious life.  That is there choice.

As we move forward in our recovery they may choose to join us.  No matter what they choose we need to keep moving forward.  Keep learning.  Keep adding tools to our arsenal to combat PTSD.

EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

A therapeutic technique that aids in the integration of painful memories and emotions.  It was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s.

Bilateral sensory input: eyes, sound and/or tap

It involves eye movement from left to right.  It can also include left and right hand touch or sounds in the left and right ears.

When we experience traumatic memories they also manifest in our bodies.  The therapist helps the client become aware of the thought, emotions and the effect these thought and emotions are having on their bodies.  They are then guided into integrating these sensations with a wider understanding of the experience, coping techniques, and life—including positive emotions.

Is it effective?

Many studies, most with small numbers of people, have reported positive outcomes.  The Veterans Administration (VA) and the military support the use of EMDR.

How does it work?

No one really knows.  There are only theories.  By having the client recall the disturbing memory it is similar to prolonged exposer therapy.  However, EMDR does not necessarily last a long time.  The eyes darting from one side to the other seems to dampen emotional response.  Perhaps this helps the client deal with the memories utilizing more thinking areas of the brain.

Question: Have you experienced EMDR?  Was the experience helpful?  If so, how?  Thank you for sharing!

Resources on EMDR