Trauma Therapy for ADHD Adults, Kids

Simply as overeating can overwhelm our digestive methods and trigger us to develop signs of indigestion, traumatic experiences can get “caught” in our nervous system, resulting in ongoing misery and unfavorable feelings and beliefs. Eye motion desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) remedy helps people heal from the experiences that hang-out them slightly than merely be taught to deal with them.

EMDR might be particularly useful for adults with ADHD or comorbid situations, comparable to nervousness, despair, or post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD), as a result of it targets underlying traumatic experiences (i.e., childhood abuse, disgrace, neglect, bullying, and so on.) that will contribute to signs. The evidence-based remedy works by partaking a number of neurophysiological processes, which is a elaborate means of claiming that EMDR depends on the nervous system’s pure therapeutic talents to reprocess a distressing reminiscence or expertise, in the end decreasing or eliminating debilitating signs.¹

The important thing part of EMDR is bilateral stimulation (BLS) — the remedy doesn’t work with out it. BLS stimulates each side of the mind by eye actions, tapping, or listening to alternating tones. It stimulates related processes skilled throughout the speedy eye motion (REM) sleep section, an important a part of reminiscence consolidation. BLS “taxes” or “breaks” a focused reminiscence, making it onerous for a consumer to deal with it inflicting the reminiscence to lose its unfavorable emotional cost. A consumer can nonetheless recall a unfavorable reminiscence simply with out the unfavorable emotions.

How Does EMDR Work?

A false impression about EMDR is that it’s a magic bullet and can work seamlessly for everybody. That’s not true. The remedy takes time and preparation to work successfully. The consumer and therapist deal with constructing coping expertise and a secure therapeutic relationship earlier than figuring out reminiscences to focus on and deal with utilizing EMDR methods.

In complete, EMDR remedy consists of eight phases, together with: ²,³

EMDR Section 1: Consumer Historical past

The therapist takes an in depth consumer historical past to establish their readiness and suitability for therapy.

EMDR Section 2: Preparation

The therapist units cheap expectations and trains the consumer on varied self-control methods to keep up stability between and throughout the classes.

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EMDR Section 3: Evaluation

The consumer and therapist collectively establish the goal reminiscence on which they are going to work.

EMDR Section 4: Desensitization

The consumer makes use of BLS to alter the focused reminiscence’s trauma-related sensory experiences and associations.

EMDR Section 5: Set up

The consumer identifies the brand new optimistic statements and associations they maintain concerning the expertise, now that it’s resolved.

EMDR Section 6: Physique Scan

The consumer scans their physique for any somatic response associated to the focused reminiscence. If current, the therapist targets this physique sensation for additional processing.

EMDR Section 7: Closure

The therapist explains what to anticipate between classes and asks the consumer to report any disturbances skilled between classes. The therapist additionally takes time to assist relieve any misery from the session so the consumer feels regulated upon leaving the session.

EMDR Section 8: Reassessment

The therapist evaluates the EMDR therapy’s effectiveness.

A typical EMDR session lasts one hour; nevertheless, some therapists supply intensive classes for 90 minutes or a number of hours. It could take a number of classes to course of a focused reminiscence. Purchasers who’ve skilled advanced trauma may have a number of months of EMDR remedy; shoppers who have already got coping expertise and aren’t afraid to really feel feelings and physique sensations could quickly transfer by EMDR therapy in a couple of weeks. It depends upon the consumer’s objectives, the power of their nervous system, and what number of reminiscences must be processed.

After a profitable EMDR session, my shoppers sometimes expertise lowered misery and vividness related to the unfavorable reminiscence and report {that a} beforehand tough expertise “now not bothers them.” In addition they report lowered signs related to the reminiscence and extra peace and pleasure of their lives.

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EMDR for Kids

EMDR remedy shouldn’t be solely applicable for adults. It’s a child-friendly and developmentally applicable remedy for youngsters and adolescents. Therapists can tailor EMDR therapy to satisfy the wants of every youngster by utilizing enjoyable and interesting methods, comparable to storytelling, drawing, and play remedy, to assist kids really feel secure and cozy whereas processing their traumas.

Extra importantly, EMDR remedy will help kids with ADHD and comorbid situations develop coping expertise and techniques to handle their signs extra successfully. For instance, it could train them rest methods to scale back nervousness, enhance their skill to focus and full duties, and assist them develop wholesome communication and relationship expertise.

It is very important notice that EMDR might be an amazing and susceptible remedy; therapy ought to solely happen with a skilled EMDR skilled — and solely after each the skilled and consumer are prepared for it.

By serving to people course of and launch unfavorable feelings related to traumatic experiences, EMDR remedy can alleviate nervousness, despair, and PTSD signs and even scale back some signs related to ADHD. Whereas EMDR is not going to alleviate an ADHD prognosis, it could assist those that battle with ADHD signs stay a happier, extra productive life. EMDR helps shoppers to develop a extra optimistic self-image, self-confidence, and stay a greater high quality of life.

To discover a licensed EMDR skilled, go to emdria.org.

EMDR Remedy: Subsequent Steps

Rebecca Kase, MSW, LCSW, RYT, a member of emdria.org, and an emdria-approved coach and guide.

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