Monday, February 3, 2014

New Program helps patients with PTSD - WGEM.com: Quincy News, Weather, Sports, and Radio

New Program helps patients with PTSD - WGEM.com: Quincy News, Weather, Sports, and Radio


I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when I was 18 or 19.  I went to a therapist in St. Louis that used this technique and at the time I thought she was crazy as a bed bug.  I also think it is weird that they are just now getting this type of therapy around here seeing as I tried it 17 years ago.  Anyway, that isn't the point.  Maybe it really does work for some people and I just didn't give it enough of a chance.  hmmmm.  Whatever.  Still interesting to know it is offered for people with PTSD.


MACOMB, Ill. (WGEM) - McDonough District Hospital is making strides not just when it comes your eyes, but also with your memory.

The new program used by Behavior Health Services at McDonough District Hospital teaches patients to use back-and-forth eye movements and sensory aids to ease physical anxiety when patients remember traumatic events. The goal is to stimulate the left-and right-brain separately so patients can reprocess their traumatic memories.

"They compare it similar to what we do during REM sleep," Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Sheryl Yoder said. "Our eyes are moving and often times we're reprocessing information as we're sleeping and coming to a healthy adaptation about whatever it is that our mind is working on."

She says it allows the patient to get to the root cause of trauma.

"What the event was in their life and they sort of watch it objectively taking place, at the same time the brain is reprocessing that information and eventually we link it with positive memories and positive cognition's about themselves," Yoder said.

McDonough District Hospital says PTSD patients have reported rapid improvements like decreased nightmares and better interaction with others.

No comments: