Trauma: "Does this have anything to do with me?"
EMDR Therapy:
Trauma is conceptualized as "any event that has a lasting negative effect on the self or psyche." "Big T" traumas are for example, Veterans continuing to experience the 40-year-old traumas of war, someone mugged at gunpoint, or rape and childhood molestation. "Small t" traumas can be any of the long lasting, negative effects of childhood. Examples might include rejections and humiliations. What appears as an insignificant event to an adult, may be shameful or frightening to a child. The effect on the child's psyche activates the healthy response of fight, flight, freeze, or faint. This is our innate, survival mechanism. Without it, the child would be totally helpless, defenseless, and unable to cope.
Individuals can become "stuck in the past". This occurs when we are consciously aware of the passing of time and of the fact that they are now safe. But the body responds as if the traumatic event is still occurring. The intense fear, helplessness and horror, resurfaces as it did in the past. The trigger might seemingly be as benign a source as a smell or sound. The body responds like a broken record replaying PTSD symptoms over and over again. short description to show visitors more of whatever it is you want.
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VIGNETTES (fictitious patient examples)
Janelle
Cameron, now 45 years old, was 9 when her step father began molesting her. Mom finally divorced 6 years later and the abuse ended.
Despite the thirty years of stability and safety, she continues to have nightmares and flashbacks, is easily startled, and continues to believe she is permanently damaged.
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is characterized as:
The person (age 6 or older) was exposed or witnessed traumatic event(s), or learned that a close relative/friend was exposed to an actual or threaten death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Additionally, indirect exposure to adverse details of the trauma, usually the course of professional duties: e.g. (first responders, medics).
A. Avoidance of related stimuli such as thoughts, feelings, or external reminders of the traumatic event.
B. Recurrent, involuntary, unwanted memories, dreams, or nightmares related to the traumatic events or emotional and/or intense physical reactions after exposure of the traumatic events, such as flashbacks.
C. Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the events for example, memories, thoughts or feelings, places or activities.
D. Negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with the traumatic events as evidenced by some of the following: inability to remember an important aspect of the event, persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs about oneself or others e.g. I'm bad, and to blame, no one can be trusted, or the world is completely dangerous. Marked decrease in significant activities, feelings of detachment from others and inability to experience positive emotions.
E. Alterations in arousal and reactivity such as angry outbursts, reckless or self-destructive behavior, hyper-vigilance, and exaggerated startle response. Problems with concentration and sleep disturbance.
F. The division is longer than one month, causes significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The disturbance is not attributable to physiological effects of substance for example medication, alcohol, or another medical condition.
G. Depersonalization: individual may experience a persistent or recurrent feeling is if one were an outside observer of one's mental processes or body. Do realization: they were current experience of unreality of surroundings, or the world around feels unreal, dreamlike distant, or distorted.