Mental health research is a steadily advancing field. As the desire to understand more about the intricacies of the mind continues, new treatments are emerging. These new treatments can benefit many people who struggle with mental health concerns and addictions, particularly when trauma is an underlying factor. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a newer therapy that can decrease or eliminate the effects of underlying traumas.
This therapy is done under the care of a trained professional who knows how to help people reprocess the emotions associated with traumatic memories. When someone reprocesses their memories in a specific way, this allows them to become less burdened by past traumatic events. Understanding EMDR and how it can help alleviate trauma and its consequences, including substance use disorder (SUD), can be helpful for those in treatment and recovery. Finding a trained therapist or treatment program like Clearview allows for advanced care that can help eliminate the underlying issues that may be causing external problems.
What Is EMDR?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) defines EMDR as “a psychotherapy—or talk therapy—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.”
Much of the research on EMDR has been focused on the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans as they return to civilian life. PTSD is the recurrence of traumatic memories after experiencing an event that was traumatizing, shocking, or especially dangerous.
Veterans may experience a variety of symptoms that interfere with their daily functioning, including panic attacks, phobias, irritability, depression, flashbacks, insomnia, and more. EMDR helps to relieve these symptoms and behaviors that have arisen after being exposed to traumatic and stressful situations. This therapy allows the person to live a life unburdened by those struggles. Decreasing the emotional response to traumatic memories can help people in many areas of their lives.
How It Works
EMDR is done by creating a trusting environment between the patient and therapist. This therapy is often done by recalling traumatic or painful memories while focusing on a back-and-forth eye movement or sound. As someone recalls the memories, their focus shifts between the various stimuli. The person recalls the upsetting memories until there is a shift in the way the memory is processed. Sometimes more information from the past is recalled, which illuminates the issue. The bilateral stimulation allows the brain to repattern itself, causing the intensity of the response to diminish. Usually, the process of EMDR takes at least a few sessions and often continues for several months.
EMDR can be a process that requires continued work. The goal of EMDR is to get to a place where a person can endure experiencing memories or thoughts about the traumatic memories without feeling triggered. This should help them navigate daily life in a healthier way. Working through these emotions can be difficult, which is why it is important to do this therapy in the care of a trusted and trained professional. Over time, the memories will become less painful as someone works through them alongside a therapist.
Who EMDR Is For
This treatment can help alleviate the underlying struggles associated with painful memories, and therefore alleviate symptoms of depression or anxiety that may accompany PTSD. Those with PTSD may experience issues with addiction and comorbid disorders, as trauma can cause a person to turn to addictive substances or exhibit other unproductive behaviors.
EMDR and Substance Use Disorder
Substance use disorder (SUD) often occurs alongside mental health concerns. This is because many people turn to substances and addiction due to underlying struggles with their mental health. Substances could provide relief from painful memories or feelings, leading to addiction and SUD.
Research published in BMC Psychiatry suggests that up to 45% of those with SUD experience comorbid PTSD. The experiences of PTSD may lead someone with co-occurring SUD to experience cravings in response to traumatic memories or difficult feelings. Treatment of PTSD may relieve the underlying causes of the addiction. It is important to understand what is causing the addiction to worsen and work to alleviate the issues that may be beneath the surface.
Effectiveness in Treatment
As stated before, EMDR is one of the most effective forms of treatment for PTSD in the current medical field. Working together to alleviate the responses to upsetting and difficult memories can help girls with life-controlling issues find better footing in life.
Finding a program or a facility like Clearview Horizon that offers the newest forms of therapy and care is important in the search to help alleviate a girl’s concerning symptoms. Working to treat the underlying issues at play in mental health struggles can greatly reduce the consequences of these disorders.
Many times people turn to substances or unhealthy coping mechanisms to avoid uncomfortable feelings and thoughts. Seeking therapy can help these feelings and thoughts to dissipate, paving the way for long-term well-being. Recovery is a holistic and all-encompassing process, and effectively addressing underlying issues will allow for greater success.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective treatment for the struggles of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many people who develop substance use disorder (SUD) may also be struggling with the effects of PTSD. PTSD can enhance cravings and the desire to misuse substances as a way to obtain relief from the feelings. EMDR works to diminish the brain and body’s reactions to difficult memories. This therapy should always be done with a trusted and trained therapist who can work alongside your daughter as reactions to these memories arise. If your loved one is struggling with the effects of PTSD or other traumas, Clearview can help connect you with more information. Call us at 866-584-4788.
