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Self-Medicating to Cope With Trauma: How EMDR Therapy Can Help in Substance Abuse Treatment

By U.S. News & World Report

As a primary therapist at a substance abuse treatment center, I work with countless individuals who come to treatment with serious addictions to alcohol and/or drugs. Many of these individuals struggle with an inability to cope effectively with uncomfortable emotions, and drugs and alcohol become a means to “escape” from distress or discomfort. Unfortunately, many have also experienced one or more traumatic events in their lives — including childhood abuse and neglect, which they may not even realize is the basis of their constant discomfort and a contributing factor to their drug and alcohol use.

According to PTSD United, about 20 percent of individuals who have experienced a traumatic event end up developing post traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is a mental health disorder that occurs after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event, which can include war/combat, physical/sexual assault, serious accidents, sudden emotional loss, natural disasters and emotional, physical and mental abuse. Symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks of the event; nightmares; feeling emotionally numb; angry outbursts; hyper-vigilance; avoiding thoughts, situations or people that are reminders of the trauma; panic attacks; and insomnia, among many others. Chronic emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse and/or neglect in childhood increase the chances of developing post-traumatic stress symptoms in adulthood. Childhood trauma may also be less obvious, like growing up in a chaotic home where one or both parents struggled with addiction themselves. Many clients fail to recognize that their unresolved trauma contributes to their chronic anxiety and depression, leading to the compulsion to use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate their distress.

[See: How to Find the Best Mental Health Professional for You.]

Individuals who have experienced trauma in their lives are at a much higher risk of developing addictions. According to the EMDR Institute, EMDR — which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — is a specialized psychotherapy treatment technique that facilitates the reprocessing of traumatic memories using eye movements. The eye movements (or any bilateral stimulation like tapping or auditory tones) help to process disturbing information in a more normal process of memory. After successful processing, the disturbing thoughts, feelings and sensations that derived from the trauma are no longer relived when the event is brought to mind.

The idea behind EMDR is the notion that like the physical body, there is a natural movement in the direction of healing within the mind. A cut or wound will heal as long as there isn’t a disruption in the healing process (like debris stuck in the wound), which, if present, can lead to the wound becoming infected, painful and swollen, and it could spread to the rest of the body if not treated. The brain and emotional body appear to work in the same manner in that they have the same capacity to heal and give off warning signs of an infection.

When a person is unable to process trauma, it’s usually because there is a block to his or her natural ability to fully process the situation and reach a state of health. EMDR seems to clear the “block” and rapid reprocessing occurs, bringing about mental and emotional relief and healing. In other words, when a person experiences a trauma, they get stuck in the images, thoughts, feelings, sensations and beliefs about the frightening situation and EMDR helps unstick it.

In my experience helping clients heal from trauma using EMDR therapy, most clients report positive responses to their once-disturbing memory — including the sensation of “relief” or feeling a new sense of perspective about the situation like, “I’m OK now.” The uncomfortable symptoms of post-traumatic stress diminish and the client has a greater, more positive outlook of their situation. They no longer feel like a victim and are able to move forward and focus on other important aspects of their substance abuse treatment.

[See: Apps to Mind Your Mental Health.]

Of course, not every individual coming in for substance abuse treatment is a candidate for EMDR. It’s an intense therapy and what may take months or years to just “talk” through trauma with a therapist may take just three sessions to reach resolution with EMDR. It’s like taking the healing process 100 miles an hour. During the EMDR session, the client may experience physical sensations, retrieve images, thoughts and experience intense emotions, so individuals who participate in EMDR need to have some positive resources that can help in the healing process. With EMDR, each client participates in a calm/safe place exercise before he or she starts processing trauma, where slow eye movements bring clients to a calm, relaxed place. They can use their calm/safe place as a coping resource to work through any disturbances that may arise throughout their EMDR treatment.

A good candidate for EMDR, who is also participating in substance abuse treatment, is someone who is ready and willing to work through trauma, is committed to staying for the whole duration of his or her treatment (which can be anywhere from 28 to 45 days) and who is mentally and emotionally stable. The support of an inpatient treatment center makes it helpful to use EMDR because clients are monitored throughout the day and have staff nearby for support and extra TLC. EMDR is also meant to work in conjunction with traditional substance abuse treatment and should not be the main focus of treatment; it should be looked at as a supplemental treatment approach.

Clients who are attending substance abuse treatment in an outpatient setting may need to develop more resource-building exercises and establish a strong support network before participating in EMDR. Since these clients don’t have the safety of a residential treatment environment, it’s imperative that they have the support of a 12-step program, are working with a sponsor and have other positive resources and healthy coping mechanisms to process trauma. Processing trauma can be uncomfortable, and there’s a possibility that old coping mechanisms can arise — like increased cravings to use drugs.

[See: 11 Simple, Proven Ways to Optimize Your Mental Health.]

With EMDR therapy, I have witnessed the amazing ability of the mind to heal and process information quickly. Clients come in to my office feeling depressed and anxious, often having nightmares or panic attacks, and through their sessions — although they may cry and feel uncomfortable emotions — experience rapid dissipation of their discomfort. I frequently see the amazing transformation into spontaneous insights and positive thinking. This therapy is more than education or teaching the client tools, it’s facilitating the client’s own physiology to heal trauma. After healing a traumatic wound, clients are better able to cope and respond more adaptively to their environment and the triggers that once led them to seek drugs for relief. Although there is no cure for addiction, EMDR seems to be a helpful catalyst in decreasing internal triggers and fostering progress in substance abuse treatment.

Paige Maurer, MA, LMHC at Delphi Behavioral Health.

More from U.S. News

Apps to Mind Your Mental Health

How to Find the Best Mental Health Professional for You

11 Simple, Proven Ways to Optimize Your Mental Health

Self-Medicating to Cope With Trauma: How EMDR Therapy Can Help in Substance Abuse Treatment originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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