Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a powerful new psychotherapy technique which has been
very successful in helping people who suffer from trauma, anxiety, panic,
disturbing memories, post traumatic stress and many other emotional problems.
Until recently, these conditions were difficult and time-consuming to treat.
EMDR is considered a breakthrough therapy because of its simplicity and the
fact that it can bring quick and lasting relief for most types of emotional
distress.
EMDR is the most effective and
rapid method for healing PTSD as shown by extensive scientific research
studies. The EMDR therapy uses bilateral
stimulation, right/left eye movement, or tactile stimulation, which repeal
activates the opposite sides of the brain, releasing emotional experiences that
are "trapped" in the nervous system. This assists the
neurophysiologic system, the basis of the mind/body connection, to free itself
of blockages and reconnect itself.
As troubling images and feelings
are processed by the brain via the eye-movement patterns of EMDR, resolution of
the issues and a more peaceful state are achieved. When a person is involved in
a distressing event, they may feel overwhelmed and their brain may be unable to
process the information like a normal memory. The distressing memory seems to
become frozen on a neurological level. When a person recalls the distressing
memory, the person can re-experience what they saw, heard, smelt, tasted or felt,
and this can be quite intense. Sometimes the memories are so distressing; the
person tries to avoid thinking about the distressing event to avoid
experiencing the distressing feelings.
Some find that the distressing
memories come to mind when something reminds them of the distressing event, or
sometimes the memories just seem to just pop into mind. The alternating
left-right stimulation of the brain with eye movements, sounds or taps during
EMDR, seems to stimulate the frozen or blocked information processing system.
In the process the distressing
memories seem to lose their intensity, so that the memories are less
distressing and seem more like 'ordinary' memories. The effect is believed to
be similar to that which occurs naturally during REM sleep when your eyes
rapidly move from side to side. EMDR helps reduce the distress of all the
different kinds of memories, whether it was what you saw, heard, smelt, tasted,
felt or thought.
EMDR therapy is
not simply the use of eye movements. Rather it is a comprehensive therapeutic
approach with principles, protocols and procedures with the goal of reducing
distress in the shortest period of time.
When you first meet with your
EMDR therapist, your therapist will spend time getting to know your history.
This generally includes the kind of distress you are experiencing, the kind of
diffulties have you experienced, if you have physical problems, if you are
taking medication and explore the support you have. If your therapist feels
EMDR is suited for your difficulty, then s/he will describe the EMDR model to
you and explain the theory.
You can ask your therapist
questions and express any concerns you may have. Your therapist will spend some
time doing some relaxation exercises with you, which could include 'safe or
pleasant place' exercises, guided visualization, deep muscle relaxation,
breathing retraining etc. For more
information visit the site http://selfbetter.com/
.
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