PTSD Therapy: The Benefits of EMDR
Jan 16, 2019
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is caused by a variety of life experiences, from childhood abuse to war. All of the potential causes of PTSD, however, share an important psychological similarity: they trigger the memory of past events. There are many ways to alleviate the anxiety associated with PTSD, and to let go of the past patterns, but EMDR is one of the best available types of PTSD therapy.
EMDR is a very unique form of PTSD therapy that processes psychological and physiological reactions, integrates conscious awareness, and ultimately, reprograms mind-body responses to traumatic memories. By using sensory stimulation, rapid eye-movements, and desensitization, the mind and the body learns how to navigate the emotions – and the negative thoughts behind the emotions – that make PTSD very difficult to deal with in a balanced way during everyday life.
PTSD therapy, and EMDR in particular, requires a commitment to delving into past experiences and identifying specific traumatic experiences that caused the disorder in the first place. It requires being honest with self, to take a deep look and immerse into the emotions felt during, the things and people seen, and even the colors and shapes that impressed upon memory during the trauma.
One of the most important functions of EMDR is to develop awareness of the underlying negative thoughts held about self during traumatic experiences. Unlike traditional therapy, EMDR goes many layers into these negative thought patterns, until the heart of the negativity is revealed, often in an intense moment of epiphany.
Although commitment and follow-through is essential for EMDR to work effectively, the benefits of PTSD therapy are life-changing. By processing painful memories, clients come out of therapy with new perspectives, a reservoir of reaffirming beliefs about self, and most importantly – tools to manage anxiety and the psychological triggers of trauma.
For more information about PTSD Therapy and other professional counseling services, contact us today!