Trevor’s Story and Future with EMDR

TRACY MCCOY

Trevor Davenport is a young man with a story like so many others. His life was challenging from the beginning. Trevor’s mom was unable to raise him and he was left with his grandparents. He was raised and loved by his grandparents whom he refers to as Mom and Dad. His biological father was not in the picture when he was growing up. Trevor’s relationship with his mother was and remains dysfunctional. He struggled with feelings of depression and anxiety throughout his childhood. After high school Trevor became a Certified Nursing Assistant working in a hospital. He loved his job and began making friends at work.

Even working in healthcare he was not aware of any resources available to him for Mental Health. Without these resources, Trevor’s depression and anxiety grew and unfortunately culminated in a psychotic break. His memories of the day are spotty at best but he shared with me what he could. Almost a year to the day since he was hired, Trevor went to work on a Saturday as he normally did. While there he recalls feeling as though everything was collapsing in on him. Everything felt very heavy and he struggled to make sense of what was reality. His co-workers found him in this state and placed him under a psychiatric hold. He was put in the only room the hospital had for psychiatric patients, at the time, and the door closed. In lucid moments he remembers feeling more alone than he had ever been. Law enforcement was called to transport Trevor to a dedicated mental health facility when a bed was located. He was handcuffed behind his back and put in the back seat of the car. He stated that he didn’t know what had happened or where he was going. He asked the officer if he could cuff him in the front and allow him to call his mom. He told her he didn’t know where he was going but he’d be gone for a while and he would make contact when he could.

Trevor was taken to a facility north of Atlanta, once there he was placed in the addiction ward because there were no beds available in the mental health hall. He remembers feeling heavily medicated and was kept there for three days. “I stayed to myself and tried my best to convince them that I was better so I could leave. It was very scary and I felt like I was in prison.” Trevor recalls. Because Rabun County had extremely limited mental health care opportunities, especially for low income families, he sought care at a free clinic in a neighboring county. This was not beneficial to Trevor and he went to see a doctor and was prescribed medications and a referral to a Psychiatrist who diagnosed him with Schizoaffective Disorder. Continuing care with this provider was not an option since Trevor could not work therefore unable to afford care.

When Dr. Amanda Pileski opened Georgia Mountain Psychological Associates, Trevor was able to begin treatment. Adjusting his medications and working to find options that offered relief was the first step. Dr. Pileski had an impressive resume and vast experience as a Psychologist but nothing had prepared her for the extent of mental health care that was desperately needed in this region. Trevor was one of many patients with little to no resources to afford the care. She desperately hoped to establish a clinic here to address the needs but without support from local officials or state and federal grants, she soon found herself in a difficult situation unable to continue. GMPA closed its doors in 2022.

Trevor and hundreds of others were left without care. A problem that extends beyond this county’s borders, although Rabun County at that time was one of the only counties in the state without adequate care for mental health patients. As a nation we are failing an increasing number of patients who without care are a danger to themselves or others. Meanwhile they suffer in silence. The stigma of mental health conditions leaves patients feeling isolated and abandoned.

Dr. Pileski joined Medlink Rabun Behavior Health practice here in Rabun County, helping to establish this practice. Trevor was so grateful to be able to return to therapy. While medications and traditional practices did help him regain some semblance of the life prior to the break, it was the addition of EMDR to his therapy regime that has offered the most relief. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is a therapy method developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro, PhD, in the late 1980s. It has gained recognition from the World Health Organization and treatment guidelines as an effective approach for addressing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

EMDR is designed to aid individuals who have undergone severe and traumatic events. The therapy suggests that un- resolved traumatic memories can become "stuck" in the brain, leading to various emotional and psychological issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. EMDR targets ongoing PTSD by harnessing the brain's natural ability to heal and process traumatic experiences, highlighting the remarkable capabilities of the brain.

Trauma can manifest in numerous forms, such as physical or emotional abuse, bullying, accidents, combat, natural disasters, or the loss of a loved one. Even those who have experienced prolonged emotional neglect or witnessed distressing events may find EMDR therapy helpful. While not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, for those dealing with intrusive thoughts, hyper-vigilance, nightmares, and other disruptions to their daily lives, EMDR therapy has been shown to be an effective and rapid treatment. Moreover, it can help individuals who have carried painful memories for years or even decades such as our Veterans.

Trevor’s psychological breakdown was the result of years of untreated mental health conditions. He said that EMDR has been life-changing for him. It has allowed him to begin healing from the trauma of his childhood, the break he experienced combined with the lack of treatment available to him. With medication and therapy he has come a long way. He dreams of the day he can return to work and get his life back. If you or someone you know could potentially benefit from EMDR therapy or are in need of mental health treatment please reach out and schedule an appointment with Dr. Pileski or one of her associates at Medlink Rabun Behavior Health located at 1048 Old 441 North in Clayton, Georgia. You may call 706-521-3113 for appointments or visit www.medlinkga.org/services/behavioral-health/ for more information.