Chronic pain or chronic illness and anxiety, depression and trauma often go hand in hand. First, individuals with trauma history are far more likely to have chronic pain or health issues like migraine, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fibromyalgia or even autoimmune disease.
This does NOT mean your health issues are "in your head." What it does mean is that your nervous system is constantly on alert due to a trauma history which means that it might be releasing more inflammatory neurotransmitters into your body and reducing your body's immune system to function adequately. The immune system can then turn on the body's own tissues as in the cause of autoimmune issues. Or, the body can hold onto the pain response long after the injury as more or less resolved as a way of guarding.
First, I am here to validate your pain and frustration. I know that it is more than just "thinking positive" to get past your pain or cope with it better. EMDR can be used to help release old patterns in the nervous system and body that contributes to distress around chronic pain and illness, which helps individuals cope with their pain or illness and live a happier more fulfilling life. Sometimes, but not always, depending on the situation EMDR can reduce or resolve pain issues if they do not have a physical cause.
I can't make any guarantees about the outcome of specific cases but I have helped many people cope with their pain and illness and sometimes even reduce or eliminate flare-ups that were fueled by emotional distress.
Contact me at Lindseystewart05@gmail.com or 916-952-7187 (email is best) to find out more how we can work together and try and improve your quality of life.