Visual Flashbacks. Visual flashbacks are a frequent symptom of acute distress disorder and posttraumatic

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Julianna Turner
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1 Visual Flashbacks Visual flashbacks are a frequent symptom of acute distress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. Visual flashbacks may occur as temporary, intermittent symptoms related to a trauma or as intense, enduring symptoms that continue the trauma experience. 1 Many people suffering from visual flashbacks assume that I will never forget it and that these symptoms will be lasting for the rest of their lives Often visual flashbacks can be repressed into implicit memory that only emerges when they are triggered into awareness 2 1

2 For some people the visual flashbacks cannot be repressed and remain as a highly emotionally charged fixated visual image that predominates during conscious awareness. This symptom is the primary focus for treatment by this new method. 3 Visually fixated trauma may involve images of fear, disgust, hopelessness, sadness, etc., such as: Seeing someone die Seeing a loved one dead Seeing a partner in a sexual affair Seeing visual evidence of one s failure 4 2

The brain s visually initiated neural network is the dominate means for downloading of emotions and learning from the caregiver by mutual gaze interaction

3 The brain s visually initiated neural network is the dominate means for downloading of emotions and learning from the caregiver by mutual gaze interaction beginning at the the third month of child development. 5 Therefore the visual neural network is susceptible to incorporating visual experiences permanently 6 3

4 Multi Dimensional Eye Movement is one of four modalities within the method of Emotional Transformation Therapy (ETT ). ETT is an attachment based form of interpersonal therapy whose outcomes are radically amplified by precise visual brain stimulation. 7 ETT is based on the concept from Ecological Psychology that the brain and the visual environment are a continuum of mutually interacting feedback loops that form a single brain unit. 8 4

5 ETT has produced outcomes such as: 1. Relief of emotional distress within minutes 2. Relief of chronic physical pain in minutes 3. Facilitation of states of extreme well being 9 4. Rapid relief of PTSD 5. Rapid relief of depression, usually faster than most medications 6. Rapid relief of anxiety disorders 10 5

6 The parts of the brain in which trauma, addiction and other conditions operate involve implicit memory that is usually not accessible by conscious verbal means. ETT accesses implicit emotional memory. 11 Visual traumas are particularly disturbing because the brain s visual system dominates the psychological, physical and sensory neurology of the brain. 80% of our sensory intake is visual Over two billion of the three billion neural cells in the brain are involved in the visual neural network 12 6

Copyright 2017 by 13 Therefore, when a visually fixated trauma occurs, it strongly affects

7 Visually initiated neural impulses impact, not only our ability to see, but non-image forming functions that control our physiology, emotions, cognitions and optical phenomena Copyright 2017 by 13 Therefore, when a visually fixated trauma occurs, it strongly affects not only our emotions, but likely affects our physical body, our thoughts and our behavior. 14 7

By harnessing the brain s visual neural network during the therapy process, the parts of the brain relevant to each therapeutic task can be activated to advance the

8 By harnessing the brain s visual neural network during the therapy process, the parts of the brain relevant to each therapeutic task can be activated to advance the progress through emotional distress to conclusion. 15 EMDR EMDR is, by far, the most popular form of therapeutic eye movement and was first published in a 1989 article. 16 8

The New Eye Movement Therapy Subsequent to EMDR, three other forms of eye movement have been developed that observation suggests are far more advanced and precise.

9 The New Eye Movement Therapy Subsequent to EMDR, three other forms of eye movement have been developed that observation suggests are far more advanced and precise. These three techniques differ from EMDR in that they all individualize the type of eye movement to each client. 17 Multidimensional Eye Movement was initially developed around 1996, but was not published until Multidimensional Eye Movement (MDEM) possesses at least ten distinct differences from EMDR. 18 9

10 MDEM differs from EMDR in the following ways: 1. The specific wavelengths (color) of reflective light used to enter the eyes during therapeutic eye fixation and eye movement is an important factor in MDEM and not in EMDR The number of directions of eye movements used in MDEM are almost infinite but are very limited in EMDR. 3. Fixed eye positions play a prominent role in MDEM and are not used in EMDR

4. Eye position or eye movements are based upon each person's "eye scan pathways" in MDEM, but not in EMDR. 21 5.

11 4. Eye position or eye movements are based upon each person's "eye scan pathways" in MDEM, but not in EMDR The speed of eye movement in MDEM is generally much slower (smooth pursuit eye movement) than EMDR (saccadic eye movement). 6. Unilateral visual stimulation is often the focus of eye position or eye movement in MDEM, instead of the dual focus of EMDR

12 7. MDEM utilizes visual focus points in a three dimensional visual field as compared to a two dimensional field in EMDR. 8. MDEM provides rapid access to relevant implicit memory by using specific eye movements associated with relevant procedural memory, whereas EMDR usually does not Attachment based interpersonal processes are used in MDEM and are not a focus of the EMDR protocol

10.The massive amount of repetitions typically used in EMDR are not necessary in MDEM because it individualizes eye movement directions that hundreds of clinical observations have found achieve

13 10.The massive amount of repetitions typically used in EMDR are not necessary in MDEM because it individualizes eye movement directions that hundreds of clinical observations have found achieve outcomes much faster. Therefore, the MDEM eye movements selected are precise in impact and outcomes occur in minutes and lower safety risks. 25 MDEM utilizes hand held dowels that possess specific colors that are selected to match the client s emotion state according to the Vazquez color-emotional profiles taught in the ETT courses

14 Safety Some forms of therapeutic eye movement provoke the distress of a trauma without resolving it. The precision of eye movement used in MDEM provides safety by avoiding eye movements that provoke distress without resolving it. 27 By engaging the same neural network as the fixated visual trauma by means of MDEM that neural network can be accessed, deconsolidated (experienced) and then consolidated (permanently neutralized) 28 14

Outcomes of the Multidimensional Eye Movement Procedure Consistent and long-term elimination of visually fixated emotional symptoms of trauma within fifteen minutes during a single session.

15 Outcomes of the Multidimensional Eye Movement Procedure Consistent and long-term elimination of visually fixated emotional symptoms of trauma within fifteen minutes during a single session. A tendency for the and longterm fading of a disturbing visual image within a single session 29 The speed of treatment within a single session is relatively unprecedented resulting in long-term relief of severe suffering

16 Contact Information Steve Vazquez, Ph.D., LPC-S, LMFT 5617 Adams Avenue Austin, TX ETT International Association VEP Research Board Jim Atkins

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