Ways Accelerated Resolution Therapy Helps Relationship Trauma
While relationships ideally should be free from abuse, life isn't always that straightforward. Abuse, whether emotional, physical, or sexual, leaves lasting scars. Many people who have experienced relationship trauma fear being intimate with someone else. Despite this, many are bravely seeking to heal their wounds and overcome their grief through various therapeutic methods.
Today, we'll explore an unconventional therapeutic approach that has shown promise in healing relationship trauma: accelerated resolution therapy (ART). We’ll introduce you to the ways accelerated resolution therapy helps relationship trauma healing. Stay tuned!
What is relationship trauma?
Relationship trauma refers to the emotional and psychological scars left by abusive relationships, the kind of partnerships that – unfortunately – aren’t so uncommon in our day and age. These scars can stem from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, and they leave deep wounds that affect a person's ability to trust and connect with others in a meaningful way. Many people with relationship trauma experience symptoms similar to those of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder); their unofficial diagnosis reads – PTRS (post-traumatic relationship syndrome).
What is PTRS?
While, as mentioned, PTRS isn't an official diagnosis (it’s still not recognized by the American Psychiatric Association), it shares many traits with PTSD. The condition can develop after an abusive relationship and includes symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and avoiding anything that triggers memories of the trauma.
Unlike PTSD, where avoidance is often driven by fear, PTRS is more about trauma-related shame.
This makes it a bit harder to heal, as avoiding painful thoughts and feelings can make the symptoms worse.
PTRS can emerge after an abusive relationship, and the words found in the picture above are all common signs of this condition.
What are the symptoms of PTRS?
In addition to flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance behavior, PTRS has other symptoms that can be equally troubling. Here are some key ones to watch out for:
Persistent, unwanted thoughts about the trauma (ruminations).
Intense distress when faced with reminders of the abusive relationship.
Constantly feeling on edge or hyper-aware of surroundings.
Having trouble trusting people or engaging in social activities.
Being overwhelmed by feelings of shame, guilt, or self-blame.
Problems with sexual intimacy and sex drive.
Building healthy connections and moving forward can be challenging when experiencing these symptoms. However, recognizing them is the first step towards seeking help and starting the healing journey. Speaking of which, let’s see how accelerated resolution therapy might help.
Ways accelerated resolution therapy helps relationship trauma heal
First, let's consider the method itself, exploring its definition and key attributes.
What is accelerated resolution therapy?
Accelerated resolution therapy (ART) is a new treatment for PTSD and other trauma-related issues that’s been showing a lot of promise, according to some publications. It was developed fourteen years ago (2008) and is based on a method called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
ART differs from EMDR because it’s more direct, quicker, and simpler to learn.
ART is based on a method called EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing).
How does ART work?
During the therapy, patients can create new images of their traumatic experiences while following specific eye movements to help them relax. ART usually takes between one to five one-hour sessions (3.7 sessions on avg.), and many people feel better after just a few sessions. Although a bit more research is needed, ART could be a very effective and affordable option for treating PTSD and other trauma-related issues.
ART in healing relationship trauma
Accelerated resolution therapy isn’t just limited to treating PTSD; it can be efficient in healing relationship trauma and mental disorders caused by it. It has expanded its reach to address a wide range of psychiatric disorders that might appear as consequences of childhood trauma. This innovative therapy is now being used to help those suffering from anxiety disorders, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, OCD, and substance use disorders.
In addition to helping with various mental health conditions, ART also offers a good portion of relief for those struggling with the emotional and psychological wounds made by abusive relationships. Its versatility makes it a powerful tool for those looking to heal from relationship trauma and find their way back to emotional well-being. Let’s see how!
The transfiguration of painful memories
For individuals dealing with the sore aftermath of an abusive relationship, ART represents a beacon of hope. Using the power of guided imagery, ART helps transform tormenting memories into positive visions. This process can be particularly effective for those struggling with trust issues, relationship anxiety, and emotional distress resulting from relationship trauma. In simplest terms, ART uses eye movements and memory techniques to help people recover quickly, making it a unique and effective way to heal emotional wounds.
Take a chance to turn negative memories into positive ones.
ART ventures deep (down to the root causes of trauma)
ART goes way beyond merely addressing the symptoms of relationship trauma. It ventures deep into the root causes of emotional pain. It targets the traumatic events at the core of the distress, thus allowing a more comprehensive journey to complete recovery.
The method’s adaptability is evident in how it handles trauma-related dissociation (a very common issue for those with deep emotional scars from abusive relationships). Dissociation brought on by trauma often involves feeling disconnected from oneself or one's surroundings as a way to cope with intense emotions. ART addresses this by providing a safe and structured environment where individuals can confront and resolve these fragmented memories.
By tackling the underlying causes of dissociation, ART helps restore a sense of wholeness and stability. This makes it especially beneficial for those who have struggled to overcome the trauma of abusive relationships and are struggling to feel happy with someone once again.
Conclusion
With accelerated resolution therapy (ART), many people today can overcome past relationship trauma and reboot their love lives. Embracing new romantic experiences is essential for a life well lived. Our past should serve as a source of wisdom, not a burden that holds us back from enjoying the possibilities of the future.
Speaking of the times ahead, there are numerous ways accelerated resolution therapy helps relationship trauma. As this remarkable method continues to evolve, we can expect even more future advancements in its effectiveness.
