Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD symptoms can include:

Intrusive, disturbing memories
Scary flashbacks
Nightmares
Feeling numb or empty
Not expressing emotions
Avoiding relationships
Avoiding situations
Avoiding actions
Exaggerated startle reaction
Constantly “on alert”
Irritability
Panic symptoms
Sleep disturbance

PTSD refers to symptoms that arise from some specific traumatic event that took place in the past and that has not yet been resolved. Headmind, the thinking bit of our brain, replays a “disaster movie” of the situation over and over again. Headmind does this to try and make sense of the situation but in fact what it actually does is activate the alarm response in the hypothalamus (part of the limbic system or emotional brain). This then creates an overwhelming feeling of terror; the memory cannot be processed and keeps the person stuck in the past and unable to move on.

EMDR, a quick and effective treatment for PTSD

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is sometimes called EMI – Eye Movement Integration.

The EMDR technique uses a natural function of the body, rapid eye movement, or REM, as its basis. The human mind uses REM during sleep time to help it process daily emotional experiences.

When disturbing experiences happen, they are stored in the brain with all the sights, sound, thoughts and feelings that accompany them. Eye movements are used to stimulate the brain’s memory processing system. EMDR dislocates the emotions attached to the memories so that they can be processed. The person can then get on with leading the rest of their life.

EMDR has helped many people who have suffered trauma as a result of abuse, accidents, rape, disasters, combat or violent crime. It can also be used to enable people to overcome phobias and worrisome thoughts.

EMDR does not involve delving into decades old psychological material. It is capable of rapid results; it is always in the control of the client.