Trauma & Post-traumatic stress disorder (EMDR)
People who have undergone trauma can experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, which may include vivid flashbacks of the traumatic event, panic attacks, insomnia, nightmares and high stress and anxiety.
The cruelty of trauma, is that such symptoms can persist long after the event, leaving you trapped, as if it wasn’t enough to have been a victim in the moment. Thankfully EMDR is effective in about 80% of people and significantly reduces or eliminates debilitating symptoms.
Alongside Trauma-focused CBT, EMDR is the only psychotherapy currently advocated for children, adolescents and adults suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, is based on inducing rapid eye movement in a patient during their recollection of the traumatic memory. This process aims to reduce or eliminate the distress associated to the traumatic memory. EMDR can also use sounds and tapping.
It dates back to the 1980s, when Dr Francine Shapiro, who developed the technique, discovered that disturbing thoughts seemed to disappear as she moved her eyes rapidly from side to side. It has since been the object of much research.
While EMDR is specifically recommended by the World Health Organisation to treat PTSD, is also effective for a range of other issues including anxiety, acute stress, trauma, some phobias, performance anxiety, etc.
The cruelty of trauma, is that such symptoms can persist long after the event, leaving you trapped, as if it wasn’t enough to have been a victim in the moment. Thankfully EMDR is effective in about 80% of people and significantly reduces or eliminates debilitating symptoms.
Alongside Trauma-focused CBT, EMDR is the only psychotherapy currently advocated for children, adolescents and adults suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, is based on inducing rapid eye movement in a patient during their recollection of the traumatic memory. This process aims to reduce or eliminate the distress associated to the traumatic memory. EMDR can also use sounds and tapping.
It dates back to the 1980s, when Dr Francine Shapiro, who developed the technique, discovered that disturbing thoughts seemed to disappear as she moved her eyes rapidly from side to side. It has since been the object of much research.
While EMDR is specifically recommended by the World Health Organisation to treat PTSD, is also effective for a range of other issues including anxiety, acute stress, trauma, some phobias, performance anxiety, etc.