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Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 264 million people worldwide meet criteria for an anxiety disorder, with nearly twice as many women afflicted than men. In the USA, anxiety disorders are the most common, with 18.1% of the population meeting criteria each year. While a great deal of anxiety treatment focusses on symptom management and reduction, there鈥檚 one particular piece to the problem of anxiety that is often misunderstood and overlooked. For some, underlying a lot of anxiety issues is an unrecognized and unresolved experience of trauma somewhere in the sufferer鈥檚 history. Unresolved trauma is a problem that can impact the sufferers emotional, relational and occupational functioning. Anxiety is a messenger that tries to point the sufferer to the deeper issue that needs to be addressed. While many assume that significant or 鈥淏ig T鈥� traumas cause one to be 鈥渄amaged for life鈥� or take many years of therapy to resolve, this belief is not always reality. Additionally, other events, known as 鈥渓ittle t鈥� traumas are often not even recognized as having a significant effect on one鈥檚 mental health. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is one highly effective therapy for addressing both 鈥淏ig T鈥� and 鈥淟ittle t鈥� traumas. EMDR helps people to heal from paralyzing anxiety and trauma issues by using the brain鈥檚 own capacity to process and move towards better mental health and functioning. Nearly 50 studies utilizing EMDR demonstrate positive treatment outcomes. However, many barriers keep people from obtaining treatment, including fear, stigma and access to services. There is much work to be done in terms of providing education regarding anxiety, trauma and treatment as well as encouragement and empowerment for those who are suffering from these issues to aid them to seek the treatment that they need.

Biography

Jennifer L Fee is a Psychologist with over 25 years of training and experience helping people with anxiety, panic and trauma recovery. As an EMDRIA approved Consultant, she helps other professionals gain certification in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). She maintains a full-time private practice and works as a half-time Assistant Professor in the Graduate Psychology Program at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. As an International speaker, she aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health disorders, educate the public regarding trauma and its treatment and inspire hope among those who are suffering.

E-mail: drjenniferfee@gmail.com