Align Therapy and EMDR PLLC

Hypermobility is a spectrum of conditions (HSD) affecting the entire body including: joints, connective tissue, digestions, executive functioning, organs, muscles, and so much more. it has been called being “double jointed” in the past and diagnosed this way, but is now moving beyond just measures of flexibility. According to the Cleveland clinic, 30% of the population is hypermobile and 50% of Neurodivergent folks are.

Some people do not experience symptoms, but many have chronic pain, joint sublocations/dislocations, fatigue, autonomic dysfunction, proprioception differences, and when well trained, can create super athletes. The more severe end of the spectrum includes Elers Danlos Syndrome (EDS or HEDS)which can affect organs, the vascular system and many other body systems. In the brain, HSD can cause reduced attention, memory/cognitive differences and brain fog affecting planning and organization. It can also cause emotional regulation differences.

There is a large overlap with innate neurodivergence (born with hereditary ND, particuarly Autism and ADHD). It often also travels with other conditions such as MCAS and POTS according to All Brains belong. HSD folks are more prone to injury (especially during times of hormonal changes like perimenopause/menopause), and may not respond or even worsen with conventional treatment (IE regular PT can create more pain and poorer outcomes). HSD physical therapists do exist!

Diagnosis has been using the Brighton Scale (nine point scoring system to evaluate general HSD in fingers, elbows, knees and spine) but newer diagnostic criteria will emerge later this year as arthritis and other factors can influence flexibility. There are genetic tests for EDS. Finding a doctor knowledgeable of HSD is crucial for diagnosis, and treatment, and preventing further injury. Resources:
Hypermobility Syndromes Association, The Ehlers Danlos Society.

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Why would someone consider trying EMDR?
When Talk therapy(Top down processing) does not move the needle on the pain. Your trauma lives in your nervous system, bottom up processing through EMDR addresses it there First.

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Hyper Empathy and the Double Empathy Problem

A big misconception about Neurodivergent people is
that we have no empathy. It is true that ND folks
CAN have alexithymia (difficulty identifying emotions), low interoception (feeling of internal sensations),
and facial expressions that do not match our
internal state, But because these are all on a
spectrum, we CAN also experience ALL the emotions on the higher end of the spectrum.

This means many of us can feel empathy
so deeply that it feels like what we are witnessing happen to
other people, feels as though it is also
happening to us. If a bug or animal is suffering, if
the planet is suffering, if our loved ones are
suffering, if groups of oppressed people are
suffering, we can feel all of this in our bodies to
a degree that can be incredibly overwhelming
(double empathy). To hear others say ND people don’t feel
empathy can be extremely invalidating.

The Spectrum is not a little or a lot autistic.
The spectrum is where all neurodivergent
people fall on the different domains impacted
by neurodivergence: Sensory, emotional processing, executive functioning, relationships & communication (& more). We can fall anywhere on the spectrum in any category.

EMDR can be incredibly helpful in managing holding the pain of others.

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Austin: Our hearts are with those affected (directly and indirectly) by the mass shooting downtown last weekend. Getting help quickly after events like these can help ease the acute stress response and potentially prevent PTSD or the worsening of existing PTSD. EMDR has a Recent Events Protocol for exactly this. Even if you were no where near the shooting, this vicarious trauma can make us question the safety of being in community when we need community more now than ever. Know that you are not alone and there is help.

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