Flashbacks which are normal, are recollections from the past. They may be pictures, sounds, smells or feelings or the the lack of them (a kind of numbness). Unless we deal with them effectively as they arise, flashbacks can cause us to feel trapped, powerless, and/or out of control. We may feel at the mercy of our experiences. This need not happen with the following techniques.
EMDR – needs professional guidance. EMDR involves stimulating eye movement in such ways that the brains information processing systems are stimulated.
Amazingly, negative internal messages are squashed instantly while the person’s eyes flicker back and forth, side to side, while focusing on the painful memory.
How to use for best results –“horses for courses” applies. Some might find one tool or technique helpful, others will experiment with another that proves helpful. All are available to try and it’s often about finding “what works”.
*Reprinted with permission 2020 @wiley-blackwell @johnhenden @beatingcombatstress
