What-is-EMDR

How Does EMDR Work

EMDR Therapy for PTSD

What Are the Risks? – EMDR Side Effects

What is EMDR

EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a fairly new, nontraditional type of psychotherapy. It’s growing in popularity, particularly for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD often occurs after experiences such as military combat, physical assault, rape, or car accidents.

Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., an American psychologist, developed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy as a breakthrough therapy with the special capacity to overcome the often devastating effects of psychological trauma in the late 1980s. An ever-growing community of therapists soon saw directly its power to transform lives.

At the same time, controlled research studies consistently demonstrated its efficacy and effectiveness. For many therapists who took up this therapy, EMDR felt like a “gift” to themselves and their clients, and they were eager to “pay it forward” by spreading the word to colleagues.

Therapist directed lateral eye movements are the most commonly used external stimulus but a variety of other stimuli including hand-tapping and audio stimulation is often used (Shapiro, 1991). Shapiro (1995, 2001) hypothesizes that EMDR therapy facilitates the accessing of the traumatic memory network, so that information processing is enhanced, with new associations forged between the traumatic memory and more adaptive memories or information. These new associations are thought to result in complete information processing, new learning, elimination of emotional distress, and development of cognitive insights.

How Does EMDR Work?

In a study, 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD in 12 sessions. There has been so much research on EMDR therapy that it is now recognized as an effective form of treatment for trauma and other disturbing experiences by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization and the Department of Defense.

Photo Credit – http://brainworldmagazine.com/how-emdr-therapy-opens-a-window-to-the-brain/

Given the worldwide recognition as an effective treatment of trauma, you can easily see how EMDR therapy would be effective in treating the “every day” memories that are the reason people have low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, and all the myriad problems that bring them in for therapy. Over 100,000 clinicians throughout the world use the therapy.  Millions of people have been treated successfully over the past 25 years.  

EMDR therapy combines different elements to maximize treatment effects. A full description of the theory, sequence of treatment, and research on protocols and active mechanisms can be found in F. Shapiro (2001) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures, 2nd Edition

There are 8 phases involved.  You can read more about EMDR Principles and the phases here.

EMDR Therapy for PTSD

EMDR is a psychotherapy for PTSD. EMDR can help you process upsetting memories, thoughts, and feelings related to the trauma. By processing these experiences, you can get relief from PTSD symptoms.

After trauma, people with PTSD often have trouble making sense of what happened to them. EMDR helps you process the trauma, which can allow you to start to heal. In EMDR, you will pay attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound while you think about the upsetting memory long enough for it to become less distressing. Although EMDR is an effective treatment for PTSD, there is disagreement about it works.

Some research shows that the back and forth movement is an important part of treatment, but other research shows the opposite.

During the first stage, you will learn about physical and emotional reactions to trauma. You and your provider will discuss how ready you are to focus on your trauma memories in therapy. To prepare, you will learn some new coping skills. Next, you will identify the “target”, or the upsetting memory you want to focus on–including any negative thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations related to the memory.

You will hold the memory in your mind while also paying attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound (like your provider’s moving finger, a flashing light, or a tone that beeps in one ear at a time) until your distress goes down. This will last for about 30 seconds at a time, and then you will talk about what the exercise was like for you. Eventually, you will focus on a positive belief and feeling while you hold the memory in your mind. Towards the end of treatment, your provider will re-assess your symptoms to see if you need to process other targets.

What Are the Risks? – EMDR Side Effects

You may feel uncomfortable when focusing on trauma-related memories or beliefs. These feelings are usually brief and people tend to feel better as they keep doing EMDR.

• Most people who complete EMDR find that the benefits outweigh any initial discomfort.
• EMDR is an individual therapy. You will meet one-to-one with your provider for each session.
• In most cases, you will not be asked to talk about the details of your trauma out loud. But you will be asked to think about your trauma in session.

EMDR does not require you to complete homework or practice assignments between sessions.

About 1-3 months of weekly 50-90 minute sessions. But, many people start to notice improvement after a few sessions. And the benefits of EMDR can last long after your final session with your provider.

Originally posted 2021-04-08 13:29:35.

By Wilfried Busse  |   Submitted On February 26, 2013

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Wilfried_Busse/1506484
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7524236

Originally posted 2021-04-08 01:16:29.

By Teresa Allen

Why EMDR?

EMDR is a type of psychotherapy which helps people recover from difficult memories, especially traumatic ones. Many people in recovery from addictions have difficult memories in their past–memories that led up to their addiction or memories that resulted from using and drinking. About 60 percent of people in recovery have experienced serious trauma in their lives. Some of these old memories lead to repeated relapses.

Starting from the symptoms or complaints from your life today, an EMDR therapist will help you identify the memories that are contributing to your current difficulties. By following a procedure developed by Francine Shapiro, the therapist helps you resolve the current issue by reprocessing the old memory. That’s where the long name comes from-eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. When the technique was first used it involved eye movements; nowadays clients can choose the type of bilateral stimulation they like best.

It is always best to develop a solid recovery program with lots of support before beginning any depth psychotherapy while in early recovery. But some issues can be tackled sooner than was once believed. Sometimes people in recovery get stuck or relapse because these old wounds have not been addressed. The therapist will help you determine at what point in your recovery it is best to begin EMDR work.

EMDR Therapy Facilitates Natural Healing

Just as the human body has a built-in process for healing threats to its physical health, we also have a natural healing process for mental health after we have experienced a shock or emotional trauma. Our mind continually makes connections for us that are geared toward health and survival. In the 1980s, it was discovered that bilateral stimulation–alternately stimulating the right and left side of the brain accelerates the natural process of return to mental health.

Theory of EMDR Therapy

Memories of traumatic experiences get stored in frozen memory networks. They can’t link to other more adaptive memory networks. The natural healing process gets sidetracked. With EMDR therapy, it is possible for traumatic memories to be “unstuck” and to link up with more adaptive, healthy memories. The precise way EMDR therapy works is not yet understood, but it has been studied widely and found to be a very effective therapy for processing traumatic memories.

Lighting up the Traumatic Memory Network

After history taking and preparation, the therapist asks you to identify the images, emotions, self-beliefs, and bodily sensations linked to the difficult memory. This activates, or lights up, the frozen traumatic memory network and prepares it to link with healthier, more adaptive memories, associations, and thoughts. Remembering the associations connected to the shock or trauma can be painful, but you are supported in the session and given tools to manage the feelings as they occur. These involve safe place exercises and positive internal resources you can use to self-soothe. This gives you a way to deactivate the old traumatic memory network when you need or want to and to slow down the pace of the processing when you want to.

Managing the “Lit Up” State

The therapist helps you experience a balance between activation and safety that is just right for processing the difficult memory. In this “zone” the thoughts, emotions, images, feelings and body sensations of the memory are activated, but you are not so engulfed in the memory to be unaware that “That was then and this is now” and that you are safely in the present moment in your therapist’s office. While you are in that middle-place of one foot in the past and one foot in the therapist’s office, the therapist begins left-right stimulation. There are various types of left-right stimulation and the therapist and you together decide which is best for you. Whatever type you choose, the EMDR processing makes it possible to connect to more health-producing thoughts, images, and associations. You just notice your thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and emotions as they occur while experiencing the left-right stimulation. Always remember to not censor anything. This free association process brings up a variety of sensations, feelings, and thoughts as your mind works through the memory. After each set of left-right stimulus, the therapist checks in to see what you are experiencing.

Letting Whatever Happens Happen

EMDR therapy may bring up seemingly unrelated associations. You just let whatever is happening happen. Every so often you report briefly on what you are experiencing when the therapist checks in. It is important not to censor anything! You may experience painful or difficult sensations, but it is best to stay with the sensations with the support of your therapist. Moving through the wave can be deeply healing. It makes it possible for the mind to link up more adaptive memory networks to the old, frozen traumatic memories. The therapist monitors the process as it unfolds, looking for signs that it is on target. Sometimes things change and sometimes they don’t. The therapist is there to assist when things get sidetracked. If things are not progressing, the therapist changes techniques or adds information to facilitate the natural healing process at work.

The Body Remembers!

You will pay special attention to physical sensations during EMDR therapy. Focusing on body sensations provides an entryway to the old stuck memories. You are asked to be aware of and report on physical sensations during the session. Releasing these physical sensations is often the key to healing trauma. Whatever issue or challenge you are working with in therapy, it probably has a past, present, and future element. EMDR therapy is used to work with all three aspects of an issue. The therapist helps you target the issue from these three perspectives.

The Work Continues

The natural healing process will likely continue between therapy sessions. You may also have insights, dreams, or thoughts and feelings related to the work you did. It is very important to use your support system between sessions. Go to meetings, talk with a friend or sponsor, and find ways to get extra support. You may also want to talk to your therapist between sessions. After a session you may feel tired and need some down time. If possible, plan your EMDR session when you have time to relax after the session. You are asked to keep notes between sessions and to use self-soothing techniques to manage feelings between sessions.

EMDRIA.ORG

EMDR is a relatively new (over twenty years old) type of psychotherapy that has been found to be faster and more effective than talk therapy alone for some people. It is a useful tool for resolving blocks and old negative beliefs that get in the way of recovery from drugs and alcohol. To learn more, go to the EMDR International Association website at www.emdria.org or contact the author, Teresa Allen MFT, at txallen@aol.com.

Teresa Allen is in private practice as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Oakland, California. She also works with persons recovering from addictions at New Bridge Foundation in Berkeley, California. Teresa has worked with people in recovery since 1998. She is a Full Member of EMDRIA and has been using EMDR since 2005 in her private therapy practice.

Learn more about her practice at http://www.teresaallenmft.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Originally posted 2021-04-07 13:01:16.

     Stress – There are many types of stress, including family stress, financial stress, and job stress. You will not be able to avoid all sources of stress. How do you develop successful strategies when stress is threatening to overwhelm you? The following article is designed to answer that and many other questions about controlling the stress in your life. Try your hardest to maintain a healthy stress level. Elevated stress can result in health problems such as depression, ulcers, insomnia, stroke, muscle aches as well as heart attacks. Be sure to get an ample amount of high-quality sleep to reduce your levels of stress and avoid the risk of getting sick.

     Sniff your way stress-free. Certain plants, such as lavender, peppermint, thyme, basil, anise, bay, rose, and eucalyptus has a soothing aroma. In a small container, you can add some popular scented oils and a bit of rock salt to create your own aromatherapy. When you breathe in your own favorite relaxing scent you might find that you are better able to calm down. Sometimes, just having a good conversation with someone you trust can be the best way to beat stress. When you can purge the feelings of anxiety you have, you can find great relief. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a phone conversation with a family member or close friend that you can trust.

     Hobbies and video games can be relaxing, but if you are frustrated you should stop playing. Understand that you are supposed to be clearing your mind and feeling calm, rather than replacing your stress with frustration. Try purchasing some spearmint oil to help reduce stress. When you are feeling a bit overburdened, just place a small bit on your temples as well as your neck. You will be amazed how much relief you can find from simple remedies like this. If you are a teenager or twentysomething, playing video games like Final Fantasy can relieve stress. When you are in the midst of the game, you can strategize and forget about the stress you are feeling. Either play with a friend or play alone to better your mood.

     During times of stress, pay attention to what parts of your body are tense. The areas most often affected are the lower back, shoulders, fingers, and teeth. When you see where you place your tension, make it a habit to stretch these areas as soon as you begin feeling stressed. This habit makes it much easier to lower your guard and fully relax. Crafts or arts can be useful to help relieve stress. The brain is free to explore creatively without worrying about performance standards and profitability when it indulges in activities like sculpting, painting, carving, or drawing. If you are busy, you might be having racing thoughts. It’s very important that you slow yourself down, take a breath, and put things into proper perspective. Avoid rushing things throughout the day to keep your stress level down.

     Try doing someone else a favor if you are stressed. You can get a present for your significant other, or you can give your child their favorite meal. Putting your focus on another person is an excellent method of distracting yourself from stress, and seeing the ones you love smile back at you is an incredible way to make yourself feel better when you have a bad day. When you visit a beauty store again, buy lotions or shampoos that smell really good to you. The aroma of lavender is believed to have a calming effect, and other scents can make you feel good about yourself when you smell them and can make you feel much better about your day. Candles and body spray with lavender can also be used for relaxation.

Citrus Fruit to Rid Stress

     If you experience stress while traveling, grab a citrus fruit or juice made from citrus fruit. Citrus fruits contain vitamin C, which can ward off coughs and colds, and help you to avoid the stress caused by sickness. Smiling more can beat stress and is often forgotten about. When you smile, your emotional center or limbic system is stimulated. You naturally become calmer when you smile. This automatically lowers your stress. Sleeping is essential to a healthy body. Being tired can negatively affect your ability to handle the day-to-day up and downs of life. You need to get the right amount of sleep if you hope to be alert during the day and to make sure your body functions well.

     Remove yourself from the situation. Think about things that calm you and confirm your abilities incorrectly handling any situation. Doing this will allow you to succeed in removing yourself from this situation. Staying organized can help you gain control over the stress in your daily life. Perhaps your stress comes from procrastinating or simply forgetting about what you need to do. By keeping things neat and well-organized, you will have more control over your life. This can significantly reduce stress. If you are feeling stressed, try giving yourself a little treat like a favorite dessert. Only do this if your self-control is such that you will not overeat. Take the time to savor each bite as you hold it in your mouth. If you do this occasionally, it can help you with stress.

     A good method for coping with stress is to repeatedly squeeze a rubber ball. The act of making a fist and then letting it go can help you to release stress from your body. This helps your muscles relax from a tense state. Keep one stress ball in your car and one in your desk at work and use them on frustration. It is important to develop healthy coping mechanisms to help you better deal with stress. Self-talk involves choosing or composing a new sentence, thought or even sound, like a mantra that you will think or say instead of your habitual stressful thought. Employ this coping mechanism when you are feeling under stress. If you can switch gears and start thinking positively, then you can see through and ultimately work through your stress.

     As was stated at the beginning of the article, many aspects of life can cause stress, and many of these things are things that you cannot avoid. However, there are ways to reduce the effects. Follow the advice given here to improve the quality of your life by reducing the effects of stress. Sometimes, the incident that occurred in your past tends to hold you back in your everyday life. Talk to your therapist about using EMDR Therapy as an alternative to your regular therapy to boost your personal development.

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Originally posted 2021-04-07 00:51:59.

By Rachel Evans

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This is a technique that is supposed to be useful in helping people overcome things like anxiety, many phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol or drug abuse, schizophrenia, learning and eating disorders and disabilities, and other personality or mental problems a person may have.

Autism and EMDR Treatments

At a very basic level, this therapy is done by waving a stick, often lit, in front of the eyes of a patient. The eyes must follow the stick. It is moved in patterns up and down and back and forth. Some wonder if autism and EMDR might have a favorable outcome as well.

This therapy was invented by a therapist by the name of Francine Shapiro. It should be noted that though she received her doctorate, the school she attended was never accredited and no longer exists. However, that does not mean that this does not work.

It seems that no one is sure how this therapy works, but some believe it might work much like the theories behind acupuncture. It is believed that EMDR might release brain energy blockages that have been causing any of the aforementioned problems a person might be experiencing. Much like the chi of the body must be running in balance and unblocked in acupuncture, the same theory is said to be true for the brain and it functions as well.

When this type of therapy is employed to help those that have gone through a traumatic experience, it is said to be useful in eliminating the stress and depression associated with the memories. For example, someone who has gone off to war and has anxiety related to what happened to him or her while there might benefit from EMDR. The therapist will have the patient recall the event in as much detail as possible while having the patient do the eye movements associated with the therapy. This can help people who have been in fires, been through rape, or any other type of trauma that might cause lifelong and severe anxiety and stress.

Continue reading to discover the link between EMDR and autism and to sign up for the free newsletter below

How then, would this work for those who have autism? It’s not a treatment that can cure autism by any means, but it may help with specific things that are a problem for an autistic child. A big part of autism is anxiety, especially with socialization. However, other things can bring on anxiety that might be more troubling for a child with autism than for a child who does not have it. They may be scared of things that another child can rationalize. EMDR may help reduce anxiety with these children in relation to an event or a thing.

This treatment has its fair share of discreditors, but there are others who state that it works well and recommend this treatment for anxiety and traumatic experiences. The results of autism and EMDR treatment will differ from child to child, but because it is non-invasive and rather simple, it might be something worth trying when a child seems to have the paralyzing fear that is affecting their life and schedule. Try to find a practitioner who has experience in dealing with autism.

By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter for more information on autism. In the newsletter, you’ll find out more about the signs and symptoms of autism.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/608785

Originally posted 2021-04-06 12:38:16.

EMDR therapy involves focusing on three periods of time: yesteryear, present, and future.  The focus is offered to past disturbing memories and related events. Also, it’s given to current situations that induce distress, and to developing the relevant skills and attitudes necessary for positive future actions. With EMDR therapy, these items are addressed having an eight-phase treatment approach.

     EMDR Therapy Phase 1:

The first phase can be a history-taking session(s). The therapist assesses the client’s readiness and develops a therapy plan. Client and therapist identify possible targets for EMDR processing. These include distressing memories and current situations that cause emotional distress. Other targets might include related incidents previously. Emphasis is positioned about the progression of specific skills and behaviors that will be needed by the client later on situations.

EMDR Therapy

Initial EMDR processing could be given to childhood events rather than to adult-onset stressors or the identified critical incident in the event the client had a problematic childhood. Clients generally gain insight into their situations, the emotional distress resolves and they learn to change their behaviors. The length of treatment depends on a number of traumas and the age of PTSD onset. Generally, individuals with single event adult onset trauma could be successfully treated in less than 5 hours. Multiple trauma victims might require a lengthier treatment time.

EMDR Therapy Phase 2:

During the next phase of treatment, the therapist helps to ensure that the customer has lots of different ways of handling emotional distress. The therapist may teach the client a variety of imagery and stress reduction techniques the customer may use during and between sessions. An objective of EMDR treatment therapy is to make a rapid and effective change while the client maintains equilibrium during and between sessions.

EMDR Therapy Phases 3-6:

In phases 3 to 6, a target is identified and processed using EMDR therapy procedures. These involve the customer identifying three things:
1. The vivid visual image associated with the memory
2. A negative belief about self
3. Related emotions and the entire body sensations.

Furthermore, your client identifies a good belief. The therapist helps the customer rate the positive belief along with the power of the negative emotions. Next, the client is made to target the image, negative thought, and the entire body sensations while simultaneously engaging in EMDR processing using sets of bilateral stimulation. These sets might include eye movements, taps, or tones. The type and period of these sets differ for each and every client. At this time, the EMDR client is expected to just notice whatever spontaneously happens.

After each pair of stimulation, the clinician instructs your client to permit his/her mind to go blank and to notice whatever thought, feeling, image, memory, or sensation one thinks of. Depending upon the client’s report, the clinician will select the next focus of attention. These repeated sets with directed focused attention occur numerous times throughout the session. If the client becomes distressed or has difficulty in progressing, the therapist follows established procedures to assist the client in getting back on track.

If the client reports no distress related to the targeted memory, (s)he could be required to think of the preferred positive thought was identified at the beginning of the session. At this time, your client may adjust the positive belief if needed, after which focus on it throughout the next set of distressing events.

EMDR Therapy Phase 7:

In phase seven, closure, the therapist asks the customer to keep a log during the week. The log should document any related material which could arise. It serves to remind the client of the self-calming activities that were mastered in phase two.

EMDR Therapy Phase 8:

The next session begins with phase eight. Phase eight consists of examining the progress made to date. The EMDR treatment processes all related historical events, current incidents that elicit distress, and future events that will need different responses

Originally posted 2021-04-06 00:28:32.

Depression is a serious health condition affecting millions of people. In fact, clinical depression can lead to anxiety, insomnia, eating disorders and suicidal tendencies. Fortunately, there is some valuable information you can use to soothe your depression. If you would like to learn more about the options available to you, please keep reading.

If you have a feeling of depression, it is vital that you speak to someone who can help. Talking to people about how you feel, whether you speak to a friend, relative or medical professional, can be helpful.

Face the issues you have in your life, rather than hiding from them. Proceed with small incremental steps so you don’t become overwhelmed, and tackle issues on an individual basis. You can get a handle on your depression and lessen its effects by taking this one step at a time approach.

You need to know that you’re not crazy. Depression is an actual illness and should be approached with as much respect as other diseases. Your body knows something is wrong, and depression can be a chemical imbalance or unresolved emotions. Listen to your body and get it the help it needs.

Treatment Options

You need to seek help from a professional if you are suffering from clinical depression or even routine sadness. A professional can give you an accurate diagnosis, and inform you of any treatment options that are available. They can also tell you exactly what form of depression you have, which can make finding effective treatment options a lot easier.

If you have been diagnosed with clinical depression, you cannot expect it to be cured overnight. This is something that you may have to deal with for years to come. Since this is happening to you, the below article will offer you some comfort and teach you how to deal with these problems.

Symptoms of depression

Take time to write in a journal if you are suffering from a depression. Allowing yourself to express your feelings, instead of repressing them is very healthy. Also, when you have symptoms that are bothering you, and you write these down, you may notice a pattern that may be causing you problems.

Even something as simple and fresh flowers can brighten your home and mood. Flowers, by their very nature, have evolved to be pleasing to many species, including humans. Take advantage of this, and try to have fresh flowers.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol and other drugs when depressed. When someone is dealing with depression, it can seem like alcohol or drugs may help, but it actually does more harm than good. Most times, this desire to drown feelings with drugs or drink will lead to dependency.

When it comes to depression, it is important to know that no matter what is wrong, you are not alone. This is essential to understand because everything seems much more difficult if you feel alone. Many people have the same issue, and there are always people that can help you.

Don’t avoid eating if you’re feeling depressed. Lots of times, sufferers of depression don’t consume any food because they’re too depressed to. Your body needs nutrients to survive; therefore, even if you do not feel like eating, you should try to eat a healthy snack.

Try to stay positive, no matter what is going on. Remaining positive puts you in the best position to discover a solution to whatever problems come along.

Try going green if you have depression. Many of the foods people eat in modern society are toxic to body and mind. The chemicals in these toxic ingredients can slow you down physically and even alter your brain chemistry. To avoid these toxins, buy organic. Most supermarkets offer organic products now.

Consider keeping a journal. It can help you monitor which events tend to set off your depressive moods. The more you can recognize when depression is going to strike, the more you can do to counteract it.

Negative Thoughts

Try your best to always stay positive. Of course, your negative thoughts tend to race when you’re depressed, so this will be a challenge. Try to keep track of negative thoughts and actions into words. Just getting out what you are thinking could make negative thoughts go away.

Try new experiences to keep life interesting. The feeling of being in the rut can strengthen your depression and cause a vicious cycle. The negativity begins to feed on itself and you begin to think that is all there is. Going outdoors and experiencing something new helps you to differentiate between your perceptions of reality and reality itself.

Battling depression can be made easier when you have sufficient, quality sleep under your belt. Restlessness and insomnia typically accompany depression, so aim to get 8 hours of sleep each night. Being active throughout the day will make you more likely to sleep well at night.

Focus on doing healthy things for yourself each day. Maintain your therapy sessions and participate in the activities that are suggested by your therapist. List the things that you want to talk to your therapist about. Your list should help keep you focused, and ensure that you’re talking about what you need to talk about rather than allowing your therapist to dictate the direction your session takes.

You should consider finding a support group that can help you manage your depression. If you talk to other people that are depressed, you will get some tips that you didn’t know and perhaps help them as well!

Don’t allow the more serious conditions to take hold if you suffer from depression. Before you fall victim to things like eating disorders and suicidal thoughts, use the tips you’ve read here to rise above the depression and to once again experience the joy of living. Take depression seriously, and work to defeat it.

Originally posted 2021-04-05 12:21:32.

What is PTSD?

PTSD Awareness Month – PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. It’s normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after this type of event. At first, it may be hard to do normal daily activities, like go to work, go to school, or spend time with people that care about you. But most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months. After trauma or life-threatening event, it is common to have reactions such as upsetting memories of the event, increased jumpiness, or trouble sleeping. If these reactions do not go away or if they get worse, you may have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). If it’s been longer than a few months and you’re still having symptoms, you may have PTSD. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later on, or they may come and go over time.

PTSD Awareness Month

Table Of Contents

What is PTSD
Factors that Affect Those With PTSD
Symptoms of PTSD
Other Problems Associates With PTSD
Treatments Options for PTSD
Resources

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Factors that Affect Those With PTSD

PTSD can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of weakness but simply a sign of a hectic occurrence. Some factors can increase the chance that someone will have PTSD, many of which are not under that person’s control. For example, having a very intense or long-lasting traumatic event or getting injured during the incident can make it more likely that a person will develop PTSD. PTSD is more common for certain types of trauma, like combat and sexual assault than other types of injury.

Personal factors, like previous traumatic exposure, age, and gender, can affect whether or not a person will develop PTSD. What happens after the traumatic event is as important as what happened when the injury occurred. Stress can make PTSD more likely, while social support can make it less likely.

Symptoms of PTSD

1. Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms). You may have bad memories or nightmares. You even may feel like you’re going through the event again. This is called a flashback.
2. Avoiding situations that remind you of the event. You may try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event. You may even avoid talking or thinking about the event.
3. Having more negative beliefs and feelings. The way you think about yourself and others may change because of the trauma. You may feel guilt or shame. Or, you may not be interested in activities you used to enjoy. You may feel that the world is dangerous and you can’t trust anyone. You might be numb, or find it hard to feel happy.
4. Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal). You may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. Or, you may have trouble concentrating or sleeping. You might suddenly get angry or irritable, startle easily, or act in unhealthy ways (like smoking, using drugs and alcohol, or driving recklessly.

Other Problems Associates With PTSD

People with PTSD may also have other problems like

1. Feelings of hopelessness, shame, or despair
2. Depression or anxiety
3. Drinking or drug problems
4. Physical symptoms or chronic pain
5. Employment problems
6. Relationship problems, including divorce

In many cases, treatments for PTSD will also help these other problems, because they are often related. The coping skills you learn in therapy can work for PTSD and these associated problems.

Treatments Options for PTSD

There are two main types of treatment namely Psychotherapy (sometimes called counseling or talk therapy) and medication. Sometimes people combine psychotherapy and medication to get better.

A. Psychotherapy can be divided into Trauma-focused psychotherapy and EMDR.
Trauma-focused psychotherapy can be divided into Cognitive processing therapy and Prolonged exposure.
Trauma-focused psychotherapy is a form of therapy that focuses on the memory of the traumatic event or its meaning. This seems to be the most effective treatment for PTSD, according to PTSD.va.gov
Trauma-focused psychotherapy can further be divided into two parts – Cognitive processing, and prolonged exposure.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) where you learn skills to understand how trauma changed your thoughts and feelings. Changing how you think about the trauma can change how you feel.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) where you talk about your trauma repeatedly until memories are no longer upsetting. This will help you get more control over your thoughts and feelings about the trauma. You also go to places or do things that are safe, but that you have been staying away from because they remind you of the trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which involves focusing on sounds or hand movements while you talk about the trauma. This helps your brain work through the traumatic memories.

B. Medications for PTSD
Medications can be effective too. Some specific SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), which are used for depression, also work for PTSD. These include sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, and venlafaxine.

IMPORTANT: According to the government website, Benzodiazepines and atypical antipsychotics should generally be avoided for PTSD treatment because they do not treat the core PTSD symptoms and can be addictive.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after someone goes through a traumatic event like combat, assault, or disaster. Most people have some stress reactions after trauma. If the responses don’t go away over time or disrupt your life, you may have PTSD.

Resources

The National Center for PTSD is dedicated to research and education on trauma and PTSD. We work to assure that the latest research findings help those exposed to trauma.

• Https://PTSD.va.gov/index.asp
• Understanding PTSD

Originally posted 2021-04-05 00:15:30.

Harnessing the Power of the Brain

by Glenn Patton
Best practice for assessment and treatment of gait and balance after stroke.

2011 – What would you do if you couldn’t walk? To learn about the best practices for gait and balance recovery, it is helpful to imagine one morning you step out of the house, and while walking to your vehicle, you suffer a potentially devastating injury to your brain: a stroke. After lifesaving medical treatments, you learn your rehabilitation program will begin. Though you can use your arm again, and speak and think clearly, you have great difficulty standing and walking. You might find it promising to know that approximately 80% of people who survive a stroke regain the ability to walk, with or without an assistive device.

1 Deeper research, however, indicates you may find yourself one of the fewer than 50% of survivors who progress to independent community ambulation.

2 Now, you want to know what you can do to harness the power of your brain in helping to recover these functions. After a review of the best practices that follow, imagine how you might create your plan of care for rehabilitation.

ASSESSMENT OF GAIT AND BALANCE

Stroke survivors who arrive at Sheltering Arms, the acute rehabilitation hospital where I work as a physical therapist, often need to relearn how to walk. Sheltering Arms has created a program of inpatient and outpatient services that implement the latest evidence for assessment and intervention called the i-Walk Recovery Center. The first step in evaluating a patient’s prospects for functional recovery is to determine what impairments most limit the ability to walk and maintain balance. Are there deficits related to strength and range of motion? Is there involuntary movement, or spasticity, that keeps the affected limb from moving appropriately? Does the individual respond appropriately to balance challenges? Some of these areas make a bigger impact on walking than others, and the answers to these questions often guide the treatment plan.

Finding all the key elements for independent community ambulation can help achieve optimum assessment of gait and balance. A basic function of walking is the ability to perform a reciprocal stepping action. This may be limited to individuals who have suffered a stroke for one of the following reasons: impaired ability to support the body against gravity; inability to move the lower limb; inability to sustain muscle contraction; or impaired spatial awareness. If stroke survivors can step with both legs, then they also must be able to maintain balance during movement of the body forward, as well as adapt to the environment. These functional abilities can be tested with standardized outcome measures for gait and balance, such as the BERG Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index, Ten Meter Walk Test, and Timed Up and Go.
EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT

After a thorough assessment to determine factors related to walking and balance, and after developing an understanding of the stroke survivor’s own goals, a treatment plan is initiated. The i-Walk Recovery Center utilizes a practice guideline to implement the use of innovative technologies related to the recovery of walking and balance. The use of these technologies is based on principles of motor learning and neuroplasticity. It was not always known that the brain is capable of modifications after injury. I advise patients that most importantly, stroke survivors need to specifically practice the task of walking in an intense, novel, and repetitive way.

I also advise that by practicing walking they may experience errors from which the neural pathways will be stimulated to learn. In addition, they will be exposed to progressive balance challenges to reintegrate balance reactions into functional abilities. As I explain to patients about the physical demands associated with regaining the ability to walk, I introduce them to technology used to aid in this process. Advanced technology allows patients to put these principles into use while a therapist skillfully determines which technology will work for a patient at any given point in recovery- ie, right patient, right tool, right time.

Certain tools are available to help patients perform exercises essential to gait and balance recovery.  Behrman and Harkema describe four principles of locomotor training that explain how walking can be task-specific:

A) Weight-bearing must be maximized in the lower extremities,

B) Kinematics, or movement of the body and limbs, must be normalized,

C) Sensory feedback and input must be maximized, and

D) Compensation through a use of altered patterns or devices should be minimized.

E) Technology can be useful to make walking retraining task-specific, even when a stroke survivor is unable to stand or move the involved limbs. For instance, we may put a patient in a robotic device that stabilizes the body and assists or performs the movement of the lower extremities. Sheltering Arms uses robotic-assisted gait training to help a severely impaired individual walk several hundred feet instead of only a few steps. The device provides control of variables such as the amount of body weight support, treadmill speed, and amount of guidance of the lower extremities. All can be modified to progress the intervention within the robot.

An excellent way to improve kinematics and sensory feedback for walking training is to apply functional electric stimulation (FES) to the lower leg to prevent toe dragging. Sheltering Arms frequently uses an FES device designed to work by applying electrodes to the muscle and nerve that flex the foot up at just the right time during walking. Often a patient simply needs to figure out “how” to move his or her body, and the FES device is designed to provide that feedback. After using the device, stroke patients sometimes remark: “Oh, that is what I am supposed to do.” This technology can provide therapists the freedom to get patients practicing task-specific walking earlier. We observe patients are often more engaged and have less fear of falling.

New research shows that more intense tasks produce neurophysiologic changes in the brain.  Repetition is also known to be important in optimizing benefits of neuroplasticity for stroke recovery.

3 By applying advanced technology that provides body weight support (BWS), a therapist can completely transform the type of walking practice performed. BWS systems have been used with a treadmill for many years, but new systems allow walking over the ground with a ceiling-mounted track for more adaptability in walking practice. The BWS system used by Sheltering Arms staff provides therapists much more freedom to let patients move on their own. That freedom allows therapists to increase the difficulty of the task the patient is performing while maintaining safety for the patient and therapist.

When individuals commit errors while attempting to learn new tasks, it is natural for those errors to actually help improve the performance of the new task. Currently, researchers are studying whether the brain will better learn how to produce corrections and permanent adaptations by having a therapist induce or magnify an error. One technology included in this study is the split-belt treadmill. The split-belt device used at the i-Walk Recovery Center is engineered with two belts running side-by-side that can be run at the same speed or independently at different speeds. Initial research is promising in demonstrating changes in gait over the ground after a stroke survivor practices walking faster while only the lower extremity is taking a shorter step. The result is often a more symmetrical pattern.

Discover What is Possible Diagnosing Mental Health

The future seems to promise more advanced medical treatment of stroke, and a greater ability to detect and enhance changes in a damaged brain. Through the use of evidence-based assessment and interventions performed by a physical therapist, augmented with advanced technologies, you can discover what is possible when you harness the power of the brain.

Want to find out more about Rehab Management Rehab Management

Harnessing the Power of the Brain

Originally posted 2021-04-04 12:11:32.

Practice guidelines have identified the treatments that have the most evidence for treating PTSD. The best treatments include different talk therapies (or psychotherapy) and medications. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is one of these treatments.

What Type of Treatment Is This?

EMDR is a psychotherapy for PTSD. EMDR can help you process upsetting memories, thoughts, and feelings related to the trauma. By processing these experiences, you can get relief from PTSD symptoms.

How Does EMDR Work for PTSD?

After trauma, people with PTSD often have trouble making sense of what happened to them. EMDR helps you process the trauma, which can allow you to start to heal. In EMDR, you will pay attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound while you think about the upsetting memory long enough for it to become less distressing. Although EMDR is an effective treatment for PTSD, there is disagreement about it works. Some research shows that the back and forth movement is an important part of treatment, but other research shows the opposite.

What Will I Do?

During the first stage, you will learn about physical and emotional reactions to trauma. You and your provider will discuss how ready you are to focus on your trauma memories in therapy. To prepare, you will learn some new coping skills. Next, you will identify the “target”, or the upsetting memory you want to focus on–including any negative thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations related to the memory.

You will hold the memory in your mind while also paying attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound (like your provider’s moving finger, a flashing light, or a tone that beeps in one ear at a time) until your distress goes down. This will last for about 30 seconds at a time, and then you will talk about what the exercise was like for you. Eventually, you will focus on a positive belief and sensation while you hold the memory in your mind. Towards the end of treatment, your provider will re-assess your symptoms to see if you need to process other targets.

What Are the Risks?

You may feel uncomfortable when focusing on trauma-related memories or beliefs. These feelings are usually brief and people tend to feel better as they keep doing EMDR. Most people who complete EMDR find that the benefits outweigh any initial discomfort.

Group or Individual?

EMDR is an individual therapy. You will meet one-to-one with your provider for each session.

Will I Talk in Detail about My Trauma?

No, in most cases you will not be asked to talk about the details of your trauma out loud. But you will be asked to think about your trauma in session.

Will I Have Homework?

No, EMDR does not require you to complete homework or practice assignments between sessions.

How Long Does Treatment Last?

About 1-3 months of weekly 50-90 minute sessions. But, many people start to notice improvement after a few sessions. And the benefits of EMDR can last long after your final session with your provider.

This is an article from the public library for public knowledge.  More information can be found at EMDR for PTSD

Originally posted 2021-04-04 00:08:45.