Overcoming childhood trauma: ‘I think this may have saved my life’

“If I don’t do this, I’ll never be able to move on and live my life free.” Lisa reminded herself as she arrived at LSS Behavioral Health. She took a deep breath. She was ready.

At 56, Lisa knew it was time to deal with the abuse she experienced when she was young. She spent decades trying to avoid her past, but it always had a way of bubbling to the surface when she least expected it. “I can no longer quiet the pain and stop the memories from coming back,” were among the first words she spoke to her therapist, Rachel Shepherd, director of LSS Behavioral Health Services.

After a few sessions of talk therapy, Shepherd recognized that EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) could be useful in Lisa’s healing. As a newer, evidence-based therapy, EMDR can help process traumatic memories to alleviate stress and anxiety. The pair talked it through and made a plan to start implementing EMDR in their sessions.

“Lisa was nervous about facing the emotions surrounding her childhood, but she was eager to feel better and be better. Together we talked about what might be happening in her brain and body,” Shepherd said. “I explained that the things she experienced in her childhood and the emotional pain she feels now are very real, and sometimes different techniques are needed to help our body and brain let go of them.”

EMDR works to recount traumatic memories and experiences in incremental doses. It does this by helping the individual maintain focus on a particular stimulus, such as handheld buzzers or lights, that trigger bilateral stimulation and rapid eye movement.

“The vibrations of the buzzer and the lights keep the individual grounded in their current environment—sitting in the room with me at that moment and assuring them that they are safe,” Shepherd explained.

LSS therapists are trained in EMDR as a response to increasing rates of suicide reported in South Dakota. This technique has proven effective in helping reduce post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma-based symptoms.

“Reaching and processing trauma on a deeper level is important to the long-term success of people who carry the burden of difficult past experiences,” Shepherd explained

After a few sessions of EMDR, Lisa was finally able to verbally process the childhood abuse she had struggled to confront for many years. These immediate results were encouraging, and she was eager to continue her work with Rachel week after week.

“There were a lot of tears, which is expected in this process. Lisa’s breaths grew slower and deeper as we moved through the exercise. She was able to maintain control of her body, relax, and feel what she needed to feel,” Shepherd continued. “This process is really tough. I was amazed by Lisa’s resilience. I don’t think I had ever seen such determination in this stage of the therapeutic process before this moment.”

“It’s a beautiful thing to witness somebody break free from the impact of their trauma and feel better,” she added. “For me, this experience with Lisa was a big ‘a-ha’ moment about the effectiveness of EMDR and the importance of staying on the cutting edge of technology and techniques.”

When she finished her final session of EMDR, Lisa felt at peace with her past.

“I will never justify the acts that happened to me, but I no longer feel like they control or define who I am,” she explained. “Thank you for everything you have done. I think this may have saved my life.”