blog

I’ve always been a big fan of exercise as it simply feels good!  More and more evidence is accumulating as to its positive effects not only on physical health, but also on mental and emotional health.  Here’s another article discussing the many benefits of running.

How do long term marriages or even friendships survive.  It requires a combination of commitment , perserverance and forgiveness.  No relationship can survive every slight being talked about and processed, neither can it weather never addressing conflict.  Proverbs 10:12 says “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses,” and 1 Peter 4:8 says “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”  So I think if we are able to truly  let offenses go without developing bitterness and resentment and thus hindering the relationship, that is the way to go.  However if on honest examination, someone else offense is causing us to harbor hurt, resentment and bitterness we need to talk it through.   

 Here is a a great article by Dr. Henry Cloud that addresses the need for forgiveness in marriage.

Bessel van der Kolk , one of the leading traumatologists in the world in this video  discusses the difficulty in processing traumatic events with talk therapy, and the effectiveness of EMDR in treating PTSD.

Here’s a video featuring actual EMDR clients discussing how it has helped them.  Notice the various applications, not only, PTSD , but also anxiety, depression and eating disorders.  It is a very effective treatment modality.

Here in this article from “Humans of New York” , veterans of war describe their initial resistance to seeking help for themselves.  After engaging in  EMDR therapy, here’s what the veteran said:  “The symptoms started to go away. After a few sessions, I remember walking into my therapist’s office and saying: ‘This stuff actually works!’ And he said: ‘Yeah. It does.’”

Yes it does, EMDR works and not only for PTSD for war veterans , but also for anyone who has experienced trauma whether from childhood abuse, chronic chaos, criticism or trauma in adulthood.

Vicarious trauma, also known as “compassion fatigue” is defined as trauma affecting those who help the traumatized.   First responders – paramedics, firefighters, police officers, hospital or military medical personnel and even counselors who emotionally engage in their client’s trauma stories can all be affected vicariously by someone else’s trauma.  All of these helpers are first hand witnesses to someone else’s pain, fear and terror and they can be adversely affected.  Vicarious traumatization can result in PTSD or the helper living with a replaying of the stories or scenes that are witnessed or heard and an increased level of unrest and fear.  Here is the story of a paramedic suffering from PTSD and his recovery using the powerful modality of EMDR.