Trauma: Is it Possible to Erase Painful Memories?

From the moment we are born, we seek to understand and make sense of the world around us. Frequently, especially during certain age groups of our children, we hear questions like “What is this? What is it for? Why does this exist?” All of these arise from our need for knowledge. When we learn something, these experiences are stored in networks created by brain cells called neurons. Similar networks are interconnected. To give a simple example: when we learn fruits such as strawberries, cherries, plums, and oranges, our brains will categorize them under the fruit category. What will happen when we encounter mango or pineapple? If we learn that these are also fruits, we will associate them with fruits. But what if we cannot associate something with any experience? We call this, in its simplest form, trauma. In other words, trauma is the inability to relate a newly acquired experience to past experiences and/or the individual’s coping mechanisms being inadequate for this experience.

Traumas may not only occur due to major disasters, wars, accidents, or exposure to abuse/assault, as we traditionally think. Just witnessing these events can also lead to trauma. Sometimes, it is having thoughts like ‘I am not loved’ that come to mind when we feel neglected or constantly believing that we will be ‘abandoned’ by our partner during arguments. When we think about traumatic moments or experience flashbacks, it is painful for us. While it may not be possible to erase painful memories, desensitizing to the painful memories is possible with EMDR.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Due to the structure of our brain, it receives disturbing experiences, and processes occur during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. However, our brain cannot perform this necessary processing in the case of trauma. Even if years pass, a trigger (which can be an image, a sound, or a smell) that reminds us of the traumatic event can take us back to the time of that event. And we experience exactly what we went through during the traumatic event.

The goal of EMDR is to essentially enable the reprocessing of freely circulating traumatic experiences/memories of the individual. These reprocessed memories are associated with our other past experiences. As a result, individuals no longer exhibit negative (emotional, physical, cognitive) reactions when they remember traumatic experiences; they become desensitized to the traumatic memory.

EMDR therapy consists of 8 stages and is three-pronged (past, present, future). The 8 stages are as follows:

1. History-Taking and Treatment Planning: Suitable history-taking for EMDR, identification of existing problems, planning of therapy.
2. Preparation: Introduction of EMDR, application of stabilization techniques.
3. Assessment: Determination of the target memory (identification of negative cognition, emotions, discomfort level, and where it is felt in the body).
4. Desensitization: Desensitization is performed using bilateral stimulation (BLS).
5. Installation: This stage involves placing a positive cognition.
6. Body Scan: After desensitizing the target memory, a body scan is performed by visualizing it.
7. Closing: Evaluation of the session is done, and the client leaves the session in a stable state.
8. Reevaluation: The previous session’s positive results are checked, and new data from the client is evaluated. Based on this, working with other memories begins.

Issues Addressed with EMDR:

• Attachment Issues
• Complex Trauma & Dissociation
• Depression
• Anxiety Disorders
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Personality Disorders
• Pain Disorders
• Eating Disorders
• Sexual/Physical Abuse
• Phobias
• Sexual Dysfunction
• Grief

According to EMDR, many psychological and psychosomatic disorders have unprocessed memories at their core. If you have difficulties coping with your emotions and are triggered in places, situations, or with people that you cannot understand, you may have traumatic experiences. Seeking psychological support where it negatively affects your daily life will contribute to living a healthier and more functional life.

Meltem GÜNDÜZ

Clinical Psychologist

Education:

Istanbul Aydin University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology (With Honors)

Specialization:

Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Institute of Social Sciences, Clinical Psychology