Pharmacological treatment for depression

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an eight-phase treatment technique that is used by therapists and includes brief, interrupted exposures to the traumatic event, eye movement tracking, and recall of feelings and emotions associated with the traumatic event. The therapist determines which traumatic memory to trigger first and asks the individual to hold this specific memory and associated symptoms in their mind and use their eyes to then track the therapist’s hand as it moves horizontally back and forth across the individual’s field of vision. This rapid eye movement approach allows internal associations to form and the individual can then process the memories and disturbing feelings onto an emotional level where empowerment and strength replaces the fear and anger. Instead of being fearful of the past event or it’s associated trigger the individual will feel a sense of strength for overcoming such a traumatic event. The opened emotional wound is transformed into a scar of strength. EMDR therapy includes focusing on the past traumatic experience, the present triggers and emotions associated with this past experience and the development of skills and thought processes needed to combat these negative feelings in the future and prevent these actions from occurring again.

Emotional and psychological trauma cannot only result in devastation in an individual’s daily life but when left untreated it can result in mental health disorder such as major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, brief psychotic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The anguish and frustration from the traumatic event can even lead individuals to attempt suicide. Seeking help before these co-occurring disorders and complications arise is key to living a successful and positive life.