Italian migratory phenomenon and trauma:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can come on later to exposure to a traumatic event. In the context of migration, PTSD can be caused by traumatic events associated with the migration process, such as separation from family and friends, loss of home and community of origin, social isolation, racism, discrimination and difficulty in ‘adapt to a new culture. This disorder was found to be present in a significant proportion of Italian immigrants compared to the general population in the United States. Furthermore, the length of stay and the experience of migration-related stressful events, such as social isolation, or discrimination or cultural conflict, were found to be significant risk factors for the development of the disorder which was found mainly in relation to traumatic events such as separation from family and friends, loss of home and community of origin, and experiencing stressful events during the migration process.

A study of 240 Italian immigrants with an average age of 51 who had lived in America for at least 20 years revealed that a quarter of the participants reported symptoms of PTSD, and the data indicated that difficulty adjusting to a new environment and lack of social support could be significant risk factors. Finally, it was found that those who had suffered traumatic events were more likely to develop the disorder.

Dealing with the treatment of migration trauma can be complex, involving managing symptoms, promoting cultural adjustment, and addressing cultural identity issues. Therapy can be helpful in managing symptoms of anxiety disorder and depression.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or desensitization and reprocessing through eye movements) was born as a treatment of choice for PTSD but is also used effectively for many other less serious emotional disorders such as anxiety, panic attacks, eating disorders and addictions. Today it is recognized as an evidence-based method approved by the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and the World Health Organization. The discovery of this method was made by the American psychotherapist Francine Shapiro when by chance she noticed that her state of anxiety decreased if she let her gaze wander between opposite elements, present in her field of vision, and at the same time concentrated on the discomfort it caused her I disturb. She sensed that the relief came from the speed of her eye movements and so she devoted herself to developing and perfecting the technique which has now become one of the most robust and proven treatments used in psychotherapy for trauma and related disorders.

If a person suffers a psychological trauma and is unable to process its effects because he is in a phase of vulnerability, to defend himself he can freeze that experience and block it indefinitely. However, it may happen that something in the present awakens that memory and the negative emotions associated with it, making the trauma re-emerge in all its power and bringing the person back to reliving the negative emotions with the same original traumatic intensity: the trauma once again disturbs the present of the person influencing his behavior. In these cases EMDR therapy, acting through bilateral stimulation (eye movements or other right/left alternating stimulation), reduces the intensity of the negative emotions felt and helps in the reworking of the trauma by stimulating both cerebral hemispheres.

The method can only be used by a qualified psychotherapist who has undergone specific training. EMDR is a therapy that can also be carried out online, the evidence of its functioning arose from the need due to Covid19: research carried out during 2021 showed improvements after three months of therapy with respect to PTSD symptoms and with adolescents there were improvements after only three sessions with respect to anxiety and PTSD symptoms. Each of us can experience psychological trauma. The words trauma and psyche both come from the Greek.

The word trauma means wound, laceration, damage, while the word psyche means soul therefore, according to the translation from the Greek, the psychological trauma is a wound of the soul. There are traumas that are important wounds that threaten our integrity, the traumas that can arise due to the migratory phenomenon can have lasting effects on the mental and physical health of immigrants. Asking for the help and support of a professional who can fully understand the person even at a cultural level and who can speak in their own language of the difficulties experienced and the symptoms suffered can be very helpful in processing the trauma and in overcoming discomfort.