So many of us might have gone through disturbing & traumatic incidents throughout their lifetime. For majority of them, it could have been a learning experience, some of them could have become more resilient as a result of managing the situation effectively. But for some , unfortunately, past traumatic events keep getting triggered on & off, being brought on by similar sounds, smells, people, places etc.. This makes it difficult for them to distinguish the past from the present. " They keep re-living the trauma again & again...unable to enjoy their current life...eg.. such traumas are usually seen in some percentage of people who are exposed to wars, earthquakes, natural calamities, terrorism, rape & physical violence survivors, being subjected to bullying or being involved in or witnessed accidents or similar life- threatening situations.
They would want those memories to get erased from their mind/brain forever but sadly it isn't possible to erase memories in such a way. What is possible though is to process these traumatic & disturbing memories in a way that they no longer bother us as before or control our life. This is possible through a type of trauma therapy called EMDR (Eye movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing ) !!
EMDR is an effective & evidence-based treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Several Organisations, including World Health Organisation (WHO), U.S. Department of Veteran affairs & National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE), UK, recommend EMDR for PTSD. Along with PTSD it is also used by clinicians & therapists to treat other mental health conditions like phobias, anxiety & panic disorder, Complex traumas, addictive disorders especially those which involve traumatic past memories & negative beliefs.
It is a structured therapy technique in which the client focusses on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (Typically eye movements ). This results in reduction in the emotional intensity attached to the memory. It is intended to change the way that memory is stored in the brain which results in reduction & resolution of symptoms associated with the trauma : ( Such PTSD symptoms include Sleep disturbances, Nightmares, Flashbacks, emotional numbing, avoidance of similar situations, related fear, anxiety & depression.) This allows the person to gradually get back the control over his/her life & get a sense of relief.
For a single disturbing event or memory, it usually takes 3-6 sessions each lasting 60-90 minutes. More complex or long-term traumas might take 8-12 sessions or longer. Results with EMDR are faster compared to similar other therapies for trauma.