Depression and trauma go hand in hand. Many people who have experienced trauma have symptoms of depression. When the body and mind are overwhelmed by a traumatic event its natural response is to shut down emotions and feelings…both good and bad. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a non-drug treatment that can help some people with depression. EMDR therapy is highly effective for PTSD and trauma based depression.
20 million people suffer from depression in the US. Symptoms of depression include; sadness, loss of pleasure in activities you used to enjoy, change in weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness, thoughts of death or suicide. People can be diagnosed with depression when their symptoms last two or more weeks.
Depression Caused By Trauma
If the depression is trauma based then EMDR clears the trauma so that the depression can go away. EMDR can heal trauma based depression whether it is related to PTSD or smaller ” t” trauma such as relational injuries. Typically individuals who might find relief from EMDR for their depression include those who have experienced a major trauma such as physical or sexual abuse in childhood; a serious accident; a natural disaster such as a hurricane, flood, or earthquake; or a man made disaster such as war. Researchers have also found EMDR therapy effective for the treatment of prolonged stress that may be causing depression, such as growing up with alcoholism, surviving ongoing or multiple affairs, or living in poverty or with loved ones who are mentally ill.People with early onset childhood trauma are more likely to struggle with depression than people who have experienced a more recent or a single incident traumatic event. For people who have experienced early childhood trauma much of their depression origins come from impaired attachments with caregivers or parents. In treating trauma related depression we use EMDR to process early life attachment injuries as well as current relationships issues.Some trauma causing depression is subtle. Our therapists work with clients to identify even subtle traumas that could be causing or affecting depressive states. Once the trauma begins to lift we also will target the trauma of having depression and fear of the depression returning.
