Shrouded Memory: Excerpt by Krista Wagner Rian relayed the details of the event, from start to finish, reciting the beats of the Black Friday, 2013, as though she had been programmed to. She couldn’t yet reconcile the emotions with the occurrence, so the replay came out quite mechanically.
“We can start the therapy next time, but for today, I want you to share with me what’s on your mind, why you are here.” Rian started with the unsettling feelings, the perception that something wasn’t quite right, as if the darkness of that night was continually flooding back to her. “When do you experience these feelings? What are you doing when
Rian thought for a moment. They happened in particular situations. At the restaurant. At home. In her dreams. Behind the sense of something dark lingering seemed to be the presence of a systematic planner. “Based on everything you have told me, I can see that you have a minor case of post-traumatic stress disorder. The nightmares are a part of that. Right now, your senses are strong as evidenced in your dream. We will be working on reconciling them to the thoughts you have at the restaurant, at home, so that you can process them. In the meantime, I want you to think of a safe place.”
Excerpts
Carly introduced her to a technique called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a form of trauma treatment. The therapy was less than thirty years old, having been discovered by Francine Shapiro in 1987 when, during a stroll in the park, she recognized that her eye movements reduced the negative feelings she had toward her upsetting memories. After conducting case studies, she discovered that the combination of eye movement and a cognitive module drastically altered the negative emotions associated with previous traumatic experiences. In essence, the anxiety connected to the event drastically diminished.
they take place?”
Rian thought for a moment. “In the car, with Jack, me leaning on his arm as he drives.” “OK, good. So, when you start to experience those feelings of unease, focus on this place in your mind.” ******** Carly did a session of EMDR with her. They began with a time when Rian felt like she was not in control. It was during her college years when there seemed to be no light at the end of her academic world.
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