Addiction is a complex disease. While most people think that drinking or taking drugs is how people become addicted, many times, there is much more to it than that. Sometimes when a person experiences something especially traumatic, they have trouble dealing with the situation and need a way to cope, which leads to the use of drugs or alcohol as that way to cope. Post-traumatic stress and other issues can cause a person to turn to drugs and alcohol and create an addiction.
Thankfully, therapies and treatments are available to help those with both an addiction and mental health issues like PTSD. Not only is addiction complicated on its own, when combined with a serious mental health issue like PTSD, it can feel impossible to deal with. In fact, without the right kind of treatment, having an addiction and a mental health problem can lead to a cycle of endless relapse.
Southern Sky is a top-rated drug rehab in Bluffton that has the tools and treatments needed to handle cases where clients are suffering from an addiction and a mental health issue.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. While the name sounds complicated, it is a very specific type of therapy. EMDR therapy is used to treat trauma-related mental health issues, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The therapy is often administered in a one-on-one setting, where the therapist works with an individual and their related trauma and helps them learn to process it using this therapy in combination with other treatment options.
Most people who have experienced trauma will have long-term issues dealing with it. These issues can impact their day-to-day lives. Instances of flashback, triggers to stimuli, and other problems can cause a person to relive their trauma at any moment, which is why EMDR therapy is so crucial to the recovery process.
What does EMDR Therapy Entail?
EMDR therapy is different from other types of therapy in that it requires very specific actions on the part of the person undergoing therapy. The primary focus of the therapy is to have the person actively try to move their eyes in different directions while they are discussing their trauma. Attempting to relive their trauma while focusing on specific eye movements can have the effect of changing how the body brain react to the trauma (hence the term desensitization in the title.
The therapy is guided by a therapist and is done over time to help minimize the way that a person reacts when something triggers memories of their trauma. The symptoms of PTSD and similar related disorders can vary by person, but the overall goal of EMDR is to lower these reactions.
What is EMDR Used to Treat?
Most often, EMDR is used in conjunction with those who have PTSD. When in an addiction treatment setting, it will often be used alongside other treatments to try to control the symptoms of PTSD as well as find the cause of triggers, and teach the person new coping mechanisms when they experience these triggers.
EMDR may also be used to treat related issues like anxiety or depression to lessen the number of episodes or teach the person how to manage symptoms when an episode occurs.
How to Find EMDR Therapy in Bluffton
If you or a loved one have an addiction and are suffering from PTSD, then EMDR therapy may be the right choice for you.
Southern Sky is your rehab center in Bluffton. We offer outpatient treatment options for addiction with a personalized approach to recovery. Each client gets a plan tailored to their needs, including the latest treatments for co-occurring disorders like PTSD and addiction. We also offer gender-specific treatment programs for men and women, as well as intervention services and other support.
Don’t let PTSD and addiction run your life any longer than you have to, contact us for help today.
