Re:Power Study

I've been reading these threads that compare the effectiveness of EMDR to other therapies used to heal trauma. I think that the conversation is about discrediting all therapy because it can be at best ineffective, or at its worst harmful, while at the same time claiming to be proven effective. And, true believers tend to adhere as strongly to their beliefs as those who see another less effective or more dangerous side of therapy.

That being said, many people who have experienced trauma search a lifetime for relief from the demons. And little by little, life, friendships, and different therapies bring on healing. However, there won't ever be a way to prove that EMDR is effective, or any other type of therapy for that matter. Maybe someday, if the workings of the brain are actually understood someone might be able to discern whether or not EMDR, or eye movements, really heal by bringing on some sort of tangible measurable change. Until then, we'll just have to accept that it helps some, flooding helps other, and any number of other things modify emotions to bring on healing. We may never be able to truly prove that any one technique works.

I suspect that EMDR, and eye movements, help a lot of people overcome trauma. I have to say, it was my experience that I felt that the waving fingers were clownish. And, EMDR didn't do it for me. Yet, I think that it probably works for other people who don't mind the gimicks that feel silly to me. Flooding may be part of the experience that heals. However I have another hypothesis why it works.

It gets into the realm of meditation. Therefore, it smacks of the spiritual or New Age, and it's not a place that a scientist who hopes to engender credibility would want to go. I suspect that the eye movements are much like holding a focus on any thought, feeling, or movement used in meditation. I suspect that holding the idea or image of a traumatic event is much like holding a thought or feeling in meditation. And somewhere, in the EMDR process the mind seperates the traumatic feelings from the self that existed previous to the trauma. It's at that point that the client receives relief from the emotions and memory created by the trauma to get back to a momentary connection with the original healthy self. It's in that seperation that there's relief, clarity, and healing. Then some forward movement occurs into a happier life. It is essentially detachment. I'd be really interested to find out if this is your experience with EMDR.

It really doesn't matter if it can be proven to work. All it has to do is work for some people. I think that I do understand the desire in this thread on one side to defend the science in EMDR so that it is legitimized. I also understand the desire not to discredit EMDR as a good therapy, but to discredit some of the proponents' zeal. I'd say let's just be thankful that EMDR is helpful to some people. I'm writing this very respectfully to both parties.

Replies:

Re:Power Study, by misssusscarecrow@yahoo.com, 10/24/02 Re:Power Study, by Barbara, 10/25/02 meditation, by missusscarecrow@yahoo.com, 10/25/02 Re:meditation, by Barbara, 10/25/02 Re:meditation, by missusscarecrow@yahoo.com, 10/25/02

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