EMDR
EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing - is
a psychological method for treating experientially based disorders
and emotional difficulties that are caused by disturbing life
experiences, ranging from traumatic events, such as combat stress,
assaults, and natural disaster, to upsetting childhood events. I
have also found it just as effective in treating depression,
anxiety, phobias and negative beliefs. EMDR facilitates
the accessing and processing of traumatic memories to bring
these to an adaptive resolution. After successful treatment
with EMDR, emotional distress is relieved, negative beliefs
are reformulated, and physical arousal is reduced.
For instance, if someone has been involved in a car
accident, they may be too anxious to drive again.
The trauma from the car accident is "stuck" in the
part of the brain (Amygdalae) that believes driving is
a threat to one's life, so it produces warning signals to the
rest of the body (e.g. racing heart rate, increased blood pressure,
sweaty palms, difficulty breathing, muscle tension, etc.) to
not get behind the wheel of the car. The person's negative
belief of self may be, "I cannot drive without getting
into an accident." Therefore, while driving,
they either experience these negative symptoms or they
may avoid driving altogether.
While utilizing an 8-phase treatment program
EMDR helps the person process the trauma from the car accident
by "digesting" and storing the experience appropriately
in their brain. That means that what is useful from this experience
will be learned, and stored with appropriate emotions in the
brain, and will be able to guide them in positive ways in the
future (i.e. be able to drive without the intense fear of getting
into an accident). The inappropriate or negative emotions, beliefs,
and body sensations will be discarded
"The goal of EMDR therapy is to leave you with the emotions,
understanding, and perspectives that will lead to healthy and
useful behaviors and interactions."
For more information, go to: www.emdr.com
Movie: emdrmovie.com/video.html
EMDR in the New York Times
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