There are many treatments available that have been found to be useful in reducing the symptoms of PTSD. One such treatment is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR.
What is EMDR?
In EMDR, you will bring to mind emotionally unpleasant images, beliefs about the self, and bodily sensations related to a traumatic event. You will also identify alternative and more positive views or evaluations of the traumatic memories and the self. With these thoughts and images in mind, you will be asked to also pay attention to an outside stimulus, such as eye movements or finger tappings guided by the therapist. The goal of this to facilitate the processing of traumatic memories.
For example, in a session of EMDR, you may be asked to bring attention to an unpleasant image in your mind, as well as negative beliefs and body sensations associated with the traumatic event. At the same time, you might be asked to move your eyes side-to-side for several seconds. Afterward, you will discuss what was brought up during the exercise. Whatever was brought up can then be used for another exposure exercise. This cycle continues until your distress has been reduced.
Does EMDR Work?
EMDR does seem to work. However, as discussed below, it is not clear how EMDR works. In general, EMDR has been found to bring about a decrease in the severity of PTSD symptoms and other negative emotions, such as guilt. In addition, there is some research that shows that the effects of EMDR do last over time. Several studies have shown that EMDR may be just as effective as other treatments for PTSD, such as exposure therapy.
How Does EMDR Work?
Although EMDR does seem to work, it isn't clear how it works. It also isn't clear how it works differently from other established treatments for PTSD.
There is also some controversy in regard to use of eye movements during therapy. Although a number of theories have been proposed to explain how eye movements facilitate the processing of traumatic memories, there is no clear and consistent support for these theories. In addition, there is evidence that eye movements are not necessary for treatment success, and it is even possible that eye movements could be detrimental for treatment outcome, serving as a distraction that prevent people from fully confronting their traumatic memories.
EMDR does overlap considerably with exposure therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Specifically, clients are asked to confront feared (and likely avoided) traumatic memories, as well as come up with alternative evaluations or views of traumatic memories. These techniques have been found to be very effective in the reduction of PTSD symptoms. Therefore, it is possible the success of EMDR lies in its use of techniques that are similar to those employed in exposure and cognitive therapy for PTSD.
Learning More About EMDR
EMDR is a controversial therapy and mental health professionals are split in regard to their support of EMDR. Some mental health professionals very much support it whereas others believe more research needs to be done to understand how it works. Many people are drawn to EMDR because of its short duration. This may be very enticing for someone who wants to get past their trauma history. However, it is important to remember that there are a number of other factors that must be evaluated in finding the right treatment for you.
You can learn more about EMDR at the EMDR Institute. This site also has a link for finding therapists trained in EMDR in your area. Keep in mind that a therapist must have received training and certification in EMDR before they can deliver it. Therefore, it may be more difficult to find a therapist who offers EMDR. There are also a number of other search engines on the web that can help you find therapists who treat PTSD in your area. You can access these search engines through this article from About.com.
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