C-PTSD Isn’t Forever: EMDR is the Path to Permanent Healing
C-PTSD, or Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is on the list of most difficult, challenging, and life-interfering mental health conditions one can experience.
1 in 11 people in the United States will receive a PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or C-PTSD diagnosis during their life time. That is about 30 million people. More than the entire state of Texas.
PTSD is typically associated with a single, one-time event or set of similar events in a brief span of time. As the name states, C-PTSD is more complex. So, what makes C-PTSD different and all the more difficult? And what is trauma, exactly? For the answer to that, check out this blog post from June, 2022.
Trauma – Everyone’s Doing It!
We cannot talk about trauma without addressing the biggest of all myths about it: if you do not have PTSD than you do not have trauma. Wrong, wrong, wrong! Everyone does, in fact, experience trauma during their lifetimes. It just does not always turn into post-traumatic stress.
If Everyone Has trauma, Why Do I have PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress is what we call a group of symptoms that result from the brain having an extra hard time working through unprocessed trauma. “Unprocessed” is the key word. We said previously we all experience traumatic events in life. Usually, our brains are able to work through them just fine and get on with life. But that is not always the case, and it is nobody’s fault.
There are too many factors that go into whether a traumatic event causes post-traumatic stress than we can even begin to account for. It can be things as simple as not getting a good night’s sleep, or work stress, having to return to the site of the trauma.
So, it is nobody’s fault and it 100% not a sign of weakness or ineptitude. The brain is the most complex and amazing piece of biomechanics in the known universe. It does it’s very, very best but sometimes needs a software upgrade. Which we can do! But first, let’s further define CPTSD.
What Makes Complex PTSD Different?
The overarching difference between PTSD and C-PTSD is the number of instances and the time span of them. C-PTSD arises from multiple, repeated episodes of interpersonal trauma over a long period of time, such as childhood. C-PTSD commonly develops from events throughout childhood though that is certainly not a requirement and C-PTSD can happen from events in adulthood, as well.
The types of trauma that can result in C-PTSD symptoms include:
Abuse
Neglect
Abandonment
Domestic violence or other ongoing abuse
Torture
Kidnapping
Living through a war
Prolonged refugee status
Experiencing any of these during childhood greatly increases the chances of developing CPTSD. Why? Simply put, a child’s incomplete brain development and on-going identity formation. There is more to it than that, of course, but a more complete explanation would require a much longer and academic write up than we have space here.
A useful tool for gauging the level of trauma in one’s childhood is the Adverse Childhood Experiences scale (ACE). It is a ten-question measure that can offer a window into one’s odds of developing both physical and mental health problems later in life, such as C-PTSD. The higher the score the more likely these problems will develop, though this is of course not a perfect predictor.
What is EMDR and How Can it Heal C-PTSD?
Remember how we talked about the need up a software upgrade on our brain? Meet EMDR!
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an intense but brief therapeutic intervention designed to be used in conjunction with other forms of therapy. “Brief,” of course, varies person to person, however, EMDR is still well-researched, safe, and has a proven track record with post-traumatic stress, including C-PTSD.
This link will take you to the two-page handout that we give clients to explain EMDR.
In short, EMDR is a way to safely access traumatic memories and perform the mental processing the brain was not able to do the first time. In the case of adverse childhood experiences, you are now bringing all of your adult brain development, adult knowledge, insight, coping, and skill to bear on these memories you were in no way equipped to handle at the time.
And the key is safely.
EMDR is Safe, then?
There are some people for whom EMDR is not a good choice. That is something to discuss with the administering therapist. Part of their job is to determine whether this is a good intervention for you. But, yes, it is safe, if performed by a licensed therapist trained in EMDR. And extensively researched with over 30 double-blind studies (the most rigorous type of scientific study there is) that have demonstrated at least some kind of treatment benefit from using EMDR.
Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) also validate EMDR as an effective treatment modality. This short news segment also shows Prince Harry of the British royal family engaging in EMDR to help process the trauma of his mother’s death. Take a look to see an example of the butterfly hug technique.
But I Have So Many Memories. How Do I Process Them All?
That is the difficulty with C-PTSD, isn’t it? It’s not just one episode, or a few. It’s traumatic experiences that happen again and again over the span of months or even years.
So that’s a good question, and one we get frequently. One of the beauties of EMDR is that the healing generalizes. You will absolutely not have to attempt to remember every single incident of abuse, neglect, fear, etc.
EMDR uses something called a “touchstone memory” that may represent a whole series of events to you. Some clients will choose to start with the “worst memory,” instead, or the “earliest,” or even the least disturbing and work their way back.
Each time a specific “target memory” is successfully processed others like it will become easier and easier. Kari had a client who started with the “least disturbing” of a series of trauma events and by the time they got to the “worst” memory it was processed faster than all the others!
How Does EMDR Therapy In Chicago, IL Work?
To keep it simple let’s go letter by letter:
E and M – Eye Movement. Your EMDR-trained therapist will use gentle physical, auditory, and/or visual stimulation to get your eyes to move back and forth. This is called bilateral stimulation or BLS.
Yes, this sounds like hypnotism but please bear with us. This movement activates both sides of your brain and primes it for the next phase…
D – Desensitization. EMDRIA explains this phrase as dealing with “all of the person's responses (including other memories, insights and associations that may arise) as the targeted event changes and its disturbing elements are resolved.”
Kari, our EMDR therapist, describes this phase as mentally picking up all of the papers that have been dropped and scattered across the floor.
R – Reprocessing. This is where the eye movement gets really important. This is where the client briefly focuses on the trauma or disturbing memory while simultaneously engaging in BLS. This is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotional intensity associated with the disturbance being addressed.
Kari explains this as putting the papers in order, placing them in the correct filing cabinets, and then closing the drawers.
EMDR does not make you forget all of those memories but it takes the heat and the intensity out of them, and moves them from a near re-lived experience to its appropriate place in the brain as just a memory.
Why Might EMDR Be a Good Choice?
EMDR therapy is a short-term therapeutic intervention that is meant to be used in conjunction with other forms of therapy. Because it helps a client delve deep into the brain it can accomplish some kinds of healing faster than traditional talk therapy.
However, again, it is an intense form of therapy and not everyone is suited for it nor wants to do it. The beauty of EMDR is that it is up to you.
Can I Do Online EMDR at Obsidian?
Absolutely! Kari Holman is our resident trauma and EMDR therapist in Chicago, IL. Even if EMDR is not the right choice for you she would still love to be a part of your healing.
CONSIDER EMDR THERAPY IN CHICAGO, IL
CPTSD, PTSD and any sort of trauma can significantly impact your mental health. In this case, it may be helpful to seek counseling. That’s why Kari Holman, and the online therapists at our therapy practice based in Chicago, IL, offer therapy directed at decreasing traumatic stress in Illinois via online therapy. We want to help you connect with yourself and begin healing from the comfort of your own home. Take the steps below to get started.
1. Fill out a consult form here.
2. Meet with a therapist to see if online therapy is a good fit.
3. Start connecting with yourself and experience the healing you deserve!
OTHER SERVICES AT OBSIDIAN COUNSELING AND WELLNESS
When you work with a therapist at our counseling practice in the Chicago, IL area, you will be met with compassion and authenticity. The team at our therapy practice feels honored to help guide folks along their healing process. Specifically, we help people address anxiety, trauma, and work stress. One of our more unique services is yoga therapy, which can also be done using online sessions. We also specialize in supporting LGBTQIA+ folks for a variety of issues. We hope that you take the leap to begin counseling with us. You deserve it.