EMDR - Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing - the big, up and coming therapy for people who have experienced trauma.  Developed by Francine Shapiro.

 

 

Understanding Psychological Trauma - 2 parts - In library - V.1873

 

Psychological material on dealing with trauma was only developed in 1980.

 

The film interviewed a:

 

Vietnam war victim - kept in memories for 10 years, but he would hear a helicopter, someone typing - brought on flashbacks.  He had changed into a highly charged person, had 2 personalities - soldier/civilian and each despised the other for what they represented.  PTSD had been treated other ways up until the Vietnam War.  When he returned from Nam he was treated as a criminal, had garbage thrown at him, verbal abuse - "child killer, murderer".  He went to a therapist because he thought he was going crazy.  The therapist validated PTSD, and the healing began.  He uses sculpting to work out his rage.  He says his "hands are vomiting" his feelings into clay figures.  Healing came with identifying with pictures of wild-eyed soldiers. 

 

Parents of a murdered daughter - experience flashbacks, very painful, tragic memories of their daughter.  Sometimes the memory begins as a pleasant memory about an occasion and then turns bad.  Counselling with wife - she wanted to go and he didn't - ended up the right thing to do because he talked about it - eventually he was able to say the word "murder".

 

Plane crash survivor - young woman - got off the plane before it took off and it crashed over Lockerby, Scotland with friends on board.  The funerals are over but the thoughts and memories continue.  Doesn't want people to protect her from life now.  She wants to face it.

 

Man and woman victims of a home invasion - violated, but it was a like a dream - they both felt they were looking at the invasion from a distance - this is a normal reaction to trauma.

 

Three therapists who were shot - 2 died - interview with the survivor - initially thought it was a prank, then heard the gunshots.  But there was no reality.

 

Cambodian Refugee - witnessed many rapes and murders.  Everything she had before brings pain - memories of her father/son/husband/daughter.

 

Comments made by commentator (psychiatrist)

 

We are overwhelmed when faced with trauma - there is a qualitative difference from regular life.  We disassociate at time of event - not a helpful mechanism, but normal - but there is an imprinting of memories and they come back as if they are movies - mind has not filed these experiences away.  Body releases chemicals to deal with crisis.  Everthing that reminds the person of the trauma gives the same feelings as when it first happened, including the chemicals.

 

Use numbing to cut off terror of encounter - rage, fear, helplessness - want to cut out reexperiencing because it makes one feel helpless and afraid.

 

Shut self off - disruption of self - survivors are not sure they will be the same 5 minutes from now.

 

There is a serious disruption of who they are and what they stand for.  Treatment begains with the reestablishment of self.  Trust and Safety are big issues - people have always called "mommy" and someone came to help - trauma victims call out and no one comes.  Validation - very important.

We have not done well by victims.  We have created victimization as a disease such as affective disorders, character disorders, depression, shifted them into categories and labelled, instead of recognizing that the reaction to trauma is a normal reaction.  Acknowledge it and you see some interesting results.

 

Part 2 - Healing and Recovery

 

Healing beings with:  Telling the story - play therapy, puppetry, journalling, art therapy, verbal, group work.

Validation - yelling, crying - let someone hold you - screaming

Find your voice.

 

But, the climate must have trust, a good relationship, respect for human dignity.  "Talking Cure" - every survivor has a story.

"Please hear my story....I will be tortured if I do not tell it "... Ancient Mariner

The more you tell it - the more it empties out and goes away.

Acknowledge that the person suffered, that the suffering is legitimate and needs recognition.

Not to be believed is a terrible experience - adding insult to injury. 

People either deal with it - or they don't.

Sometimes it is impossible to talk about it - to speak is impossible - not to speak is impossible.

Trauma victims continue to remember but the quality of the memory has changed

People live in a tortured past, but eventually it becomes a poignant memory

The progress is slow - healing comes slowly

 

Ground Rules for showing a film, or discussing trauma with trauma victims:

Ensure a safe environment, debriefing period, make sure group is ready, contacts - if needed later, permission to leave if you are uncomfortable, strategy for people who choose to leave room, stop video if necessary and get feedback, talk about it - before and after, acknowledge responses are normal.  Confidentiality.  When you are working with trauma you need ground rules to make the situation safe.

 

Trauma:  Physcially, mentally, spiritually, long term effects, crisis, affects all aspects of life, unexpected, exposure to violence, loss of a person, shocking, painful, loss, fear, assimilation - aboriginals, life altering, shock, pain, direct or indirect harm, experiential horror, altered perception of a situation, extreme stress, anxiety, torment, suffering, emotional/physical shock, which may affect you physicially, mentally, spiritually.

 

Healing:  long term process, reconnection, holistic, change, coping, awakening, coming to terms, adapting, re-discovery, moving forward, coping, self-empowerment, long term process, relief, requires time, acceptance of grieving, hope, sharing, opposite of dis-ease, homeostasis through growth and change, a process, to harmonize, closure, move forward without bitterness/anger, accepting the things you cannot change.