EMDR and C-PTSD
What is C-PTSD?
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or CPTSD is developed from repeated events that are traumatic. Versus PTSD, which is from a singular event. Although C-PTSD is relatively new and has yet to be adopted in the DSM however there are discussions of this addition as research is ongoing. Individuals with CPTSD often spend developmental years in home environments with repeated negative events, inconsistent caregivers, abusive caregivers (emotionally or physically) and or did not get their basic needs met over a long period of time etc. C-PTSD is common in those whom grow up in abusive households as children are malleable and abuse can significantly impact a child in significant nuero-cognitive and emotional ways.
C-PTSD Symptoms
Feelings of Loneliness
Trust Issues/Fear of Abandonment
Disorganized Attachment
Hyper-vigilance
Flashbacks
Emotional Dysregulation
Feelings of Shame and Guilt
Sleep concerns
Dissociation
Suicidal Ideation
Self-Destructive Behavior
EMDR and C-PTSD
Since disassociation (symptom of C-PTSD) acts as a barrier in processing trauma. Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) can be tremendously beneficial for those struggling with C-PTSD.
Those who suffered repeated traumatic events particularly in childhood had to learn safe coping skills at a young age which may include disconnecting from the world around them (disassociation). Children are very good at this as a child possess the ability to access imagination. This learned defense mechanism can carry into adult-hood making talk therapy for trauma difficult.
EMDR utilizes bi-lateral stimulation to help keep the client in the difficult memory to re-process the memory in a safe-setting. For example, more than likely this memory happened at an age where the person did not have the emotional skills to process and or to physically protect themself as they were merely a child and these skills are typically not learned until a later stage in development. EMDR helps the client process the memory as an adult with learned emotional regulation techniques and healthy coping skills.
This is just one example of how C-PTSD symptoms can affect processing trauma.
Additional Ways EMDR is Beneficial To Those Diagnosed with C-PTSD
EMDR can be utilized to process multiple different memories. With C-PTSD there will be a multitiude of different memories. Some might question, well was that memory really traumatic? Trauma is simply how our brain processes an event. Two individuals can be in the same car accident and one may process it as trauma, while the other does not.
C-PTSD may cause feelings of guilt and or shame as identifying the past as harmful or traumatic. EMDR is helpful in validating ones past experiences as a significant reason of their suffering. An important part of the healing journey is identifying negative events that have impacted our core beliefs as an adult.
A Short Case Example
Jane grew up with an abusive alcoholic father, he began drinking after the families Mother passed away at an early age from cancer. There were multiple times where food was not provided and Jane and her siblings were left on their own to figure this out even before the age of 5. Janes father would experience bouts of rage while drinking where he would physically harm Jane. Jane learned to dissconnect from her body during these moments (dissasociate) so she could numb the emotional and physical pain. Jane always thought her actions caused the abuse.
Jane came to therapy and after feeling safe and connected with the therapist they begin EMDR. EMDR helped Jane face these difficult memories- her core belief which was “I am to blame he was abusive because I was a difficult kid” began to shift as she learned she was not the cause of the abuse, and she could not protect herself at such a young age, no child can or should be put in the position to. Instead Jane discovered it was her Father at fault due to his actions and inactions while acting as the primary caregiver during her formative years by not receiving the help he needed and in turn causing life altering trauma.
