This month, I have been thinking a lot about trauma and dissociation. Trauma can have such a profound and long-lasting effect on people's lives - whether it stems from repeated events or one singular instance. While trauma affects each individual differently, people who have experienced it tend to share certain experiences.
One common effect of trauma, dissociation, can simultaneously terrify and comfort those affected by it. This complex phenomenon can disrupt and disjoint people's lives, leaving them confused, afraid, and even out of control. There are, however, various strategies to alleviate the effects of dissociation, reduce the frequency of episodes, and help people regain a sense of autonomy and control.
My blogs this month offer a diverse range of resources and information on approaches to treating and self-managing the effects of trauma. There is always an opportunity to heal even the deepest wounds.
Monthly Blog Round-Up
The following is a round-up of our monthly blogs in case you missed any on our social media pages.
Dissociation is a psychological defense mechanism that involves a disconnection or disruption in the normal integration of memory, identity, and perception of the environment. It is a way for the mind to cope with overwhelming or traumatic experiences.
During dissociation, people may feel detached from their thoughts, emotions, sensations, or surroundings. They may experience gaps in memory, which causes them to feel like they are watching themselves from outside their body (depersonalization) or to experience the world around them as unreal or distant (derealization).
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in 1990, is a structured psychotherapy modality that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma.
Shapiro states that the aim of the therapy is to reprocess memories and integrate them with the client’s standard biographical memories. Traumatic memories cause disruption because they aren’t properly processed in the brain when they occur. To understand how EMDR is an effective trauma treatment, it is helpful to know how trauma affects the brain.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a modern, interactive psychotherapy modality that was specifically developed to alleviate psychological distress associated with traumatic memories.
EDMR combines side-to-side eye, bilateral hand stimulation, or cross-body tapping movements with talking therapy in a structured and controlled environment. EMDR has been extensively researched as an integrative psychotherapy approach and is proven to be highly effective for the treatment of trauma.
Dwarfism is a medical condition that causes a person to have a significantly shorter stature than average. The impact it has on individuals can vary widely and includes issues like joint problems, spinal issues, or respiratory difficulties.
However, It is important to recognize that individuals with Dwarfism are diverse in their abilities, talents, and experiences. Despite a lack of understanding of the issues that people with Dwarfism face, they can lead fulfilling lives, pursue most careers, and engage in a wide range of activities with the appropriate accommodations and support.
