PTSD is a mental health disorder occurring when a person suffers from significant mental distress from a traumatic event, whether something witnessed or personally experienced. Someone suffering from PTSD can experience triggers anytime or anywhere, making it a debilitating disorder if left untreated.
How a person experiences PTSD will vary from person to person. However, the most common symptom is vivid flashbacks that can be triggered without warning. These flashbacks put you right back into that moment as if you were experiencing it all for the first time again. Unfortunately, PTSD can lead to other conditions like depression, anxiety, or substance abuse.
When suffering from PTSD, treatment with a mental health professional can be important to promote healing. Options include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. One method commonly used is EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy.
What is EMDR?
EMDR was originally developed as a treatment tool for PTSD in the 1980s. It’s considered a cognitive behavioral technique and utilizes the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model to guide treatment.
This differs in approach from other methods by focusing on memories rather than solely on emotions. Under normal circumstances, your brain stores memories in a smooth and efficient manner. In a traumatic event, however, your brain can experience a disconnect and store memories in an unhealthy way. What you see, hear, or feel may not jive well with your memories, and your brain doesn’t get the chance to turn off from the danger mode.
During new experiences, you can be triggered and return through the cycle all over again. This just reinforces the negative memories and experiences, working against healing. Targeting these initial memories can help reduce triggers and promote a sense of reprogramming the brain’s connections.
Phases of EMDR
History – The initial phase starts with a history-taking session and forming a treatment plan based on an assessment. You collectively decide which targets your treatment will focus on.
Preparation – You will be introduced to the procedure and educated on eye movements and tactile components. The goal is to make you feel comfortable with the approach and safe in the space.
Assessment – The target memory chosen becomes activated and assessed using image, cognition, affect, and body sensation. Different scales are used to monitor and track changes during the sessions.
Desensitization – You will focus on the memory while engaging in guided eye movements and other stimuli. This internal and external focus will continue until the intensity of your stress rating decreases.
Installation – Positive thoughts are installed in the place of negative ones that previously held space with the memory. In a sense, you are letting go of the bad and allowing the good to come in.
Body Scan – While undergoing treatment, you want to monitor any physical responses you are having. You will be guided to lessen the distress before moving on.
Closure – This is how each session will end. Either the memory will be fully processed, or you will be guided to the point of containment until the next session to avoid any conflict between them.
Re-evaluation – Your psychological state will be re-assessed to see the effectiveness of treatment and make alterations to the plan as needed.
EMDR with PTSD
Generally, a single memory can be processed in as few as three sessions. With more severe or complex traumatic memories, more sessions may be required.
The use of EMDR doesn’t focus on heavy exposure to trauma or negative experience, nor does it rely on homework assignments. You won’t dive deep into the trauma as a whole or challenge dysfunctional beliefs. It is one specific approach to healing PTSD symptoms.
If you are living with PTSD and would like to explore EMDR as an option, contact us today for a free consultation.
Learn more about PTSD therapy and EMDR therapy in Colorado. Serving Boulder, Longmont, Denver.
