Beth Main's blog

(This article is cross-posted to adhdsolutions.net)

I used to think my professional interests - adult ADHD and trauma/PTSD - were an odd combination. Would I have to give up my work with ADHD adults in order to pursue my new(er) passion? Do these two issues have enough commonality to make sense for me to specialize in both?  Would people get it?

"A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not on the branch but on her own wings."

This quote (author unknown) has really been resonating with me lately.  There are so many things in life to be afraid of. Slipping on ice, getting sick, the death of a loved one... the list is endless. We can worry and worry about what could happen until we drive ourselves completely crazy.

What if, instead of trying to convince ourselves that bad things won't happen, we learn to trust our ability to cope when they do?

Here's a recent article that describes EMDR from a client's point of view. It was written during the COVID-19 lockdown and the sessions were held online via video, much like I conduct sessions with my clients. The author, Nathalie Olah, writes: "By the end of each session, the memory I had focused on had gone from being highly charged to being somewhat neutral: like a scene playing out on a screen but disconnected from my emotional responses. Each memory became distant and less important. The cumulative effect of this process led to an overall sense of contentment, inner calm and happiness. The results have been quiet but profound."

BBC News (bbc.com) reports a study where nearly a third of 18 year olds had experienced childhood trauma. 25% of them developed symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including insomnia, flashbacks, avoidance, guilt, irritability, impulsivity, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of isolation. The BBC article notes that many people wrongly think PTSD only affects people in the military. It goes on to describe a young woman who developed PTSD as a result of surgery she endured as an infant. "People don't really associate PTSD with a young child - and that has to change," she said.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is quite a mouthful to say. More importantly, it's one of the most extensively researched, efficacious treatments available for trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). EMDR is believed to work similarly to the processing that occurs during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. It helps us process things that are too overwhelming for the conscious mind to make sense of.

2018 is shaping up to a big year for continuing education. In February, I completed training in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)/Tapping. Then in April, I traveled to Toronto to learn a process called Matrix Reimprinting that extends EFT to sort of reprogram past traumas. In September, I'll begin a course in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), another highly effective trauma technique.

Here's an article I wrote for ADDitude Magazine about EFT.  While the article is ADHD-specific, EFT can be used to treat a wide variety of physical and psychological problems. 

I recently spent a few days in Miami Beach. One of the highlights of my trip was the service I received at a little street-side café.  All I had was a $12 burger and a glass of water. I asked for the burger with no bun (I don’t eat refined carbs) and no onion like I always do. Ten minutes later, the burger arrived encased in a bun and garnished with onion.  No biggie.  I just put the bun and onion on the extra plate and pushed it to the side. The burger was delicious. I was very impressed with the place:  elegant atmosphere, delicious food, fabulous prices for a resort community. 

Many Americans are concerned about what will happen when Donald Trump is sworn in as our 45th president next week.  Which of his outrageous campaign promises will he keep?  What will happen with immigration and civil rights?  How will other countries react?  Is the zombie apocalypse on the horizon? No one really knows what will happen.  And that is uncomfortable, to say the least.

As you may have read elsewhere on this site, I favor a solution-focused approach to psychotherapy.  Traditional therapy tends to spend a lot of time analyzing the history and scope of a problem.  Solution-focused therapy, on the other hand, starts with a vision of how you want things to be.  We look for exceptions to the problem, focus on what is working well, and discover sources of strength.

This metaphor from internationally recognized psychologist Fredrike Bannink describes it perfectly: