WHAT IS EMDR?
In 1987, psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro discovered Eye Movement, Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a new form of psychotherapy. She learned that mild bilateral stimulation of the brain can help to dissipate negative thoughts and feelings associated with past traumatic experiences. "Bilateral stimulation" of the brain means activation of the right and left hemispheres of the brain through the use of systematic eye movements, auditory tones, or tactile stimulation of the hands, or a combination of these approaches. EMDR is a complex, integrative approach to therapy that includes knowledge from other forms of therapy and consists of an eight phase approach.

When a disturbing event happens, it can become locked in the nervous system with the original picture, sounds, thoughts and feelings associated with it. EMDR seems to "unlock" the nervous system and allows the brain to process this material. This may be what is happening in REM or dream sleep: the eye movements associated with dream sleep may actually help the brain to process unconscious material.

EMDR AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
Anxiety affects many in our society. One form of anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a psychological response to extremely negative or distressing experiences, such as war, rape, natural disasters, loss of a loved one, sexual abuse and other forms of violence. Soldiers returning from Iraq, for example, often exhibit many symptoms of PTSD like sleep disturbance, nightmares, panic attacks, and flashbacks of their war experiences.

Too often, these symptoms persist for years, interfering with the resumption of normal daily living and with being in intimate relationships. Traditionally, mental health professionals have had minimal success in treating PTSD, with only a 15% cure rate.

Research on the use of EMDR in the treatment of PTSD has yielded some exciting results, and shows that EMDR works well in the treatment of trauma. Therefore PTSD patients, when treated with EMDR, can be healed at a far greater rate than ever before.

IS EMDR RIGHT FOR YOU?
Since the early use of EMDR with PTSD patients, EMDR has been applied to a wide variety of other problems and disorders, including specific phobias, generalized anxiety, addictions, depression, grief, and worries about future events such as scheduled surgeries and medical treatments. Recently, clinicians have developed an EMDR procedure for patients with chronic pain associated with conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and physical injury. EMDR has also been used to enhance the performance of athletes and the creativity of artists. EMDR has been used with patients of all ages, including small children. Your therapist can advise you on whether EMDR would be a helpful part of your treatment plan.

EMDR AT GMH
For EMDR therapy for adults, contact Dr. Kathryn Wright, Psy.D. at 919-406-6122.

Books

• EMDR: The Breakthrough Therapy For Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, And Trauma- Francine Shapiro & Margot Silk Forrest
• Small Wonders. Healing Childhood Trauma with EMDR- Joan Lovett
• Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy-- Francine Shapiro

Websites

• Information about EMDR from The EMDR Institute, Inc.
• Order relaxation guided visualization CD's from Health Journeys.Com
• EMDR International Association:  http://www.emdria.org/