EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitising and Reprocessing)

Thank you for posting this. I would not have watched the Samantha Stein video had it not been for your post, since I am not a parent I'd assumed it wouldn't be relevant. However it covers so much more. 

Samantha and her family were offered EMDR therapy following a period of severe sensory trauma. I think it links well to one of todays other videos 'Sensory Trauma: The Daily Experience of Fear'. https://www.autismwellbeing.org.uk/sensory-trauma

I have been interested in EMDR for a while but I am not sure how easy it is to access on the NHS. The website of my local IAPT service suggests that it is available for people suffering from PTSD. I have read elsewhere that it can also be effective for anxiety, panic and phobias.

I am now understanding more that the trauma I have experienced as an autistic person living in a world not designed for me is very real. It may not be recognised as trauma by others or given a formal PTSD diagnosis, but that does not mean it should not be treated as such. 

Some quotes from web page I have linked to above:

The events experienced by autistic people as painful, distressing or life threatening may not necessarily be the extreme events typically associated with trauma.

An event that causes an autistic person to experience sensory trauma may be construed as harmless or inconsequential be a non autistic person in the same environment.

When an autistic person experiences the pain and distress of sensory trauma their response is directly proportionate to their experience.

I note that the NHS website actually says "Any situation that a person finds traumatic can cause PTSD."

I'd be interested to hear of other experiences with accessing and receiving EMDR therapy, especially without a PTSD diagnosis.

Yes, I'm really getting quite a lot out of today's lineup.  And I home in on anything related to trauma in conferences and webinars like this one.

I did get a couple of sessions of EMDR via our local IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) service a few years ago, but I was then abruptly discharged because, as they said, my "depression" was exogenous and related to what was going on in my life.  A bit puzzling, I thought, as I felt sure that many of their patients would find themselves in the same boat and then have nowhere to turn.  But the service might have changed since then.  

I didn't have a PTSD diagnosis but, after reading around the subject, I think I might have cPTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder) and it might be worth me getting a couple more sessions privately.  I did notice that the 2 sessions I had did seem to take the sting out of some of my past experiences.  The memories were exactly the same but somehow my feelings about them were different and much less intense.  Plus I was very interested when, in passing Evaleen Whelton (of Ausome Training) said that she thought it was a bit like stimming, which of course can be helpful in dissipating strong feelings.   

It happens far too often that people have referrals declined or are discharged from mental health services without any alternative support being offered. The services should have to agree between themselves which one is most appropriate, rather than leaving the individual without any help and back at the end of yet another long waiting list. I have experienced that myself, being bounced around with no service willing to accept the referral. In fact IAPT did that to me last time I was in contact with them and I very much doubt that things have improved since. I think they only want to take on cases where they think they can easily help. Any that are deemed too 'complex' they try to pass on to someone else

I am currently interested in autistic trauma too. I recall reading about some academic research into c-PTSD in autistic people. I think it was saying that autistic people can experience a cumulative effect of all of the traumas they experience on a day to day basis and this can result in c-PTSD. If I can find the link again I will post it. This page, from a web link you recently posted, gives a good summary of the types of trauma commonly experienced by the neurodivergent https://www.kelly-mahler.com/resources/blog/unsafe-unheard-misunderstood-trauma-neurodiversity/

Whoops! In desperation I am going round in circles - I actually bought this book in 2019.  Off to find my Kindle.  :). 

Whoops! In desperation I am going round in circles - I actually bought this book in 2019.  Off to find my Kindle.  :).