We have our veterans to thank primarily for their service to our country, but also for calling attention to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a debilitating syndrome that extends well beyond the battlefield to include anyone who has been exposed to traumatic experiences. These can be sudden, negative events of extreme danger, pain or personal loss or prolonged exposure to “little traumas” such as persistent stress and negativity.
The fact that there is no simple definition of what constitutes trauma can cause many people to ignore their pain. Sometimes we tell ourselves to “just suck it up” and “deal with it.” Yet mental and emotional trauma are injuries that require proper attention and healing in much the same way as a broken bone or an open wound. Left untreated, the symptoms will worsen until they can no longer be ignored.
In fact, it’s much easier to identify the symptoms of PTSD (see below) than it is to agree on what constitutes a traumatic event. The latter can be almost any negative experience, from being shot at by the enemy to being bullied on the playground or being constantly praised for your personal appearance. Whatever the traumatic event might be, it’s how the brain processes the experience that can cause debilitating symptoms such as depression, flashbacks and hypervigilance.
A traumatic experience can be processed and stored in the brain in different places. If the event is stored in the pre-frontal cortex, the area responsible for rational adult thinking, the experience is unlikely to cause persistent trauma or injury. Problems occur when the traumatic experience is process and stored in the amygdala, the survival part of the brain responsible for fight-flight-freeze responses. When that happens, a seemingly mundane event like a firecracker on the 4th of July can trigger an overreactive response that is rooted in a past traumatic event, such as a landmine detonating. Or, you might experience a significant anxiety response in your body when anticipating a situation at work or argument with someone.
. Here’s how EMDR can help you heal: the bilateral brain stimulation that occurs with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing essentially moves the traumatic memory out of the irrational part of the brain into the rational part, where an adaptive and more appropriate response to a trigger can occur.
While this is an oversimplified explanation of how EMDR works, the important thing to note is that it is an evidence-based practice with a significant track record of success. This is the reason why EMDR is now widely recognized as the gold standard treatment for PTSD. It should also be noted that EMDR is not for everyone, and the appropriateness of the treatment should be carefully reviewed with your therapist.
Here are some of the common symptoms of PTSD and traumatic injury. You can also find a helpful self-assessment questionnaire courtesy of the EMDR Therapist Network:
· Loss of productivity at home or work due to anxiety
· Feelings of depression or loneliness that are difficult to overcome
· Feeling angry for “no good reason”
· Hair-trigger emotions that are difficult to control
· Phobias that limit your ability to enjoy life
· Persistent self-defeating thoughts, feelings and behaviors
