Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR):

Ever feel a mood or feeling that just seems to take over out of no where?  The trigger or whatever brought it on may be hard to identify.  Yet it may somehow seem strangely familiar.  You may have flashbacks to previous sights or sounds or some terrifying dreams.  Or maybe that's exactly what you have - nightmares.  The thoughts or feelings, moods, or images may be so subtle they're hard to put your finger on.  Or they may be so clear you can point to some specific traumatic event.  Even when they seem subtle, they may be so intrusive they greatly diminish the quality of your home, social, or work life.

Fortunately, symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can usually be treated successfully.  EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is now highly researched and often found to be the treatment of choice.  Psychotropic medication can often be helpful support with this experiential therapy.

Persons who have experienced abuse (either as children or adults), serious illnesses (either as the patient or as a caregiver (s), a shocking job loss, or trauma during war- all of these are likely to have these kind of symptoms.  Other symptoms may include feeling strange, feeling seriously misunderstood or isolated.  Large numbers of depressed or anxious persons who seek therapy also suffer these kinds of symptoms as well.

Persons may avoid certain subjects, activities, places, or people because an encounter with them causes intense discomfort.  They may be unable to recall certain times or events or often feel detached or just not present.  They may have difficulty falling or staying asleep, often feel irritable or have outbursts of anger.  They ay have difficulty concentrating,, always feel hyper alert, or have an exaggerated startle response.

EMDR therapy often begins treatment by identifying and anchoring a safe, secure place for clients.  One goal may be to help clients project these consolidated resources into expected times of challenge and to remain strong and symptom free.  Another goal can be to neutralize frightening memories, images, feelings and moods so that they are no longer troublesome.