Essay Sample on EMDR: A Psychotherapy to Overcome Traumatic Memories

Introduction

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was and is still intended to offer a psychotherapy treatment that was ideally made to curb the distress and problems that were linked up with traumatic memories (Shapiro, 2017). There have been claims that Adaptive information Processing model theorizes that EMDR therapies facilitate the access and processing of disturbing or traumatizing memories as well as other diverse and traumatic life problems to bring all to an adaptive state (Karadag et al., 2020 p.78). EMDR is said to be a success when there are no longer traces of distress, negative perceptions are restructured and there is a reduction on physiological arousal. In the process of EMDR therapy, the client is exposed to disturbing products and materials in sequential doses while consequently putting emphasis on external stimulus (Wilson et al., 2018 p.923). Therapists have recommended lateral movement of the eyes and thus mostly commonly used external stimulus but there are a variety of stimulus such as hand tapping and stimulation from music.

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EMDR Therapy

There is hypothesis by Shapiro stating that EMDR therapy helps in accessing the causative of the traumatic memories and the networks herein (Shapiro and Forrest, 2016). This seriously influences information processing with associations encompassed around the traumatic information and more information to adaptive memories. The above said involvements are ideally considered to have resulted in complete processing of information, new learning, elimination of emotional sorrow and the growth of intellectual understandings (Hase et al., 2017 p.1578). The infrastructure of EMDR therapy happens to be categorized in three-pronged protocol (Shapiro and Forrest, 2016). First; there are the past events that had an impact and led to the issue at hand are addressed. The process happens to work in two ways and they are forging new associations with adaptive information. Secondly the most recent issues that bring forth distress are targeted and internal and external factors are desensitized. Thirdly; the psychologist puts emphasis on creating templates for the future events that are incorporated to help the client in getting skills needed for adaptive functioning (Hase et al., 2017 p.1578).

Trauma does not affect the victims consciously or willingly. At the very moment when life is threatening, humans are inclined in survival instincts other than on letting oneself to swing by the tide. From the five senses, there is a pickup of imminent danger that triggers the brain to respond appropriately from the adrenaline stress response system. The immediate response is either we fight or flee from the problem. The heart rate increases and the respiration speeds the necessary requirements to the muscles. The frontal cortex is inhibited not to think critically and thus the response time is elevated. In our animal brains we happen to be in the ideal survival mode. The unfortunate is that later, we have to bear the consequences of the response to the danger.

Conclusion

After the reaction we are now left wondering what happened and we fail even to have records of whatever took place (Rousseau et al., 2019 p.107). There is no conscious record of how the experience was and how we upheld it. If immediately we are offered safety and support, the body feels shaken but eventually the event will feel behind us. The unfortunate is that when the event comes along when the accomplice is most vulnerable and there is insufficient support, we are most often than not left with intense responses and symptoms that will tell the event without even our consciousness (Rousseau et al., 2019 p.109). Worse of it all is that the survival response systems may be affected chronically hence bringing about a long-term feeling of danger and thus always alert and not at peace. The results would bring about tendencies to flee or fight under a similar stress. To aggravate the challenges even to greater levels, talking about the events even in therapeutic sessions makes the trauma and symptoms active.

References

Hase, M., Balmaceda, U.M., Ostacoli, L., Liebermann, P. and Hofmann, A., 2017. The AIP model of EMDR therapy and pathogenic memories. Frontiers in psychology, 8, p.1578.

Karadag, M., Gokcen, C. and Sarp, A.S., 2020. EMDR therapy in children and adolescents who have post-traumatic stress disorder: a six-week follow-up study. International journal of psychiatry in clinical practice, 24(1), pp.77-82.

Rousseau, P.F., El Khoury-Malhame, M., Reynaud, E., Zendjidjian, X., Samuelian, J.C. and Khalfa, S., 2019. Neurobiological correlates of EMDR therapy effect in PTSD. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 3(2), pp.103-111.

Shapiro, F. and Forrest, M.S., 2016. EMDR: The breakthrough therapy for overcoming anxiety, stress, and trauma. Basic Books.

Shapiro, F., 2017. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures. Guilford Publications.

Wilson, G., Farrell, D., Barron, I., Hutchins, J., Whybrow, D. and Kiernan, M.D., 2018. The use of Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in treating post-traumatic stress disorder—a systematic narrative review. Frontiers in psychology, 9, p.923.