Rape or Childhood Sexual Abuse and Feelings of Anxiety
In my clinical practice I see many women presenting with symptoms of Anxiety:
- Excessive anxiety and worry
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Irritability
- Muscle Tension
- Sleep Disturbance
- Distress or Impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
This Anxiety is due unprocessed sexual trauma stored in your midbrain as unconscious material. This unconscious material can be easily triggered and set in motion as high survival anxiety and panic attacks. When an event triggers a neuronal connection to the midbrain, memories of feelings rise to the surface, which can become high anxiety because of the emotional pain. These triggers feel like they are coming out of “thin air” because unconscious material is being tapped into. The triggers bring about a more primitive feeling of survival instinct. The anxiety, on some level, assures you that hyper-vigilance which you believe will keep you safe.
This is one of the reasons why ‘reassurance’ is usually of little help when dealing with traumatic situations that have not been processed with EMDR. You can tell yourself all day long that you are “safe now”, but the midbrain believes you are not.
Many times my clients have no idea their past sexual abuse could be linked to their anxiety, but once processed through EMDR, the symptoms of anxiety greatly decreased and normal sleep patterns emerge.
EMDR is like therapy on speed. In my own experience, it is like removing cinder blocks from your shoulders one at a time. This leaves you feeling lighter and with a much more positive view of the future.
EMDR for rape and sexual abuse victims clears the trauma out of the midbrain where the triggering happens. Once the trauma is cleared, there is a sense of peacefulness and safety and you will be able to live your life without all of the worry and dread of tomorrow.
Contact Orlando EMDR Therapist- Suzanne Rucker at 407-967-9313 or by email LifeCounselingSolutions@gmail.com
(407) 967-9313