Getting Past Your Past audiobook cover - Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy

Getting Past Your Past

Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy

Francine Shapiro

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Categories:
Personal DevelopmentPsychology

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Key Takeaways from Getting Past Your Past

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Getting Past Your Past
The Brain-Mind Connection+
EMDR & Bilateral Stimulation+
Healing the Body+
Building Healthy Relationships+
Tools for Healing & Growth+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
According to the text, why do people often overreact to current situations with intense emotions or physical sensations?
  • A. They have a genetic predisposition to emotional dysregulation.
  • B. Current situations trigger 'unprocessed' memories stored with original emotions and beliefs.
  • C. Their brains lack the necessary neurotransmitters to suppress negative thoughts.
  • D. They are consciously choosing to dwell on past traumatic events.
Question 2 of 8
How does Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy work to heal painful memories?
  • A. It uses hypnosis to erase the traumatic memory completely from the brain.
  • B. It guides patients through intense physical exercise to release endorphins.
  • C. It uses bilateral stimulation to trigger biological healing processes similar to REM sleep.
  • D. It relies solely on talk therapy to rationalize and reframe childhood trauma.
Question 3 of 8
What is the primary purpose of the 'butterfly hug' technique mentioned in the book?
  • A. To physically restrain oneself during a panic attack.
  • B. To stimulate both sides of the body and calm strong emotions when triggered.
  • C. To improve posture and relieve tension in the upper back and shoulders.
  • D. To signal to a partner that you need emotional support or space.
Question 4 of 8
How does the book explain the origin of baffling physical symptoms like phantom limb pain or severe hypochondria?
  • A. They are usually the result of undiagnosed genetic autoimmune disorders.
  • B. They stem directly from traumatic memories that remain frozen and unintegrated in the brain.
  • C. They are purely attention-seeking behaviors developed in early childhood.
  • D. They occur when the body's nervous system is damaged by chronic stress hormones.
Question 5 of 8
What does the 'floatback' technique entail?
  • A. Concentrating on a current physical distress and letting the mind trace it back to an earlier similar experience.
  • B. Imagining oneself floating above a traumatic event to view it objectively from a distance.
  • C. Taking a warm bath or floating in water to relax the muscles before therapy.
  • D. Scanning through a timeline of future goals to distract the mind from past traumas.
Question 6 of 8
How does the book suggest dealing with a harsh inner critic?
  • A. Write down the criticisms and burn the paper in a safe environment.
  • B. Argue logically with the critical thoughts until they are disproven.
  • C. Imagine the critical voice sounding like a cartoon character, such as Daffy Duck.
  • D. Meditate in complete silence until the critical voice fades away entirely.
Question 7 of 8
According to the text, what is a recommended step for preventing unresolved issues from negatively impacting current relationships?
  • A. Ensure your partner goes to therapy with you to understand your past.
  • B. Avoid discussing your childhood so it doesn't burden your partner.
  • C. When triggered by a partner's behavior, check if you are overreacting due to your own unresolved issues.
  • D. Rely entirely on your partner to help you process and heal your traumatic memories.
Question 8 of 8
What is the limitation of the 'Lightstream visualization' technique for chronic psychosomatic pain?
  • A. It only works on emotional pain, not physical pain.
  • B. It provides only temporary relief and does not resolve the underlying traumatic memories driving the pain.
  • C. It requires an EMDR clinician to be present to guide the visualization.
  • D. It can accidentally trigger worse pain by focusing too much on the affected area.

Getting Past Your Past — Full Chapter Overview

Getting Past Your Past Summary & Overview

Getting Past Your Past (2012) offers practical eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) techniques that can help you understand how personalities develop and overcome barriers. It explains why you can become trapped in unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and provides exercises to help you take charge of your life, improve your relationships, and effect real change.

Who Should Listen to Getting Past Your Past?

  • Patients with unresolved chronic pain or unexplained medical symptoms
  • Self-improvement and personal growth seekers
  • Therapists and counselors looking for new techniques to help their clients

About the Author: Francine Shapiro

Francine Shapiro was an American psychologist who pioneered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. In 1987, she discovered that moving her eyes from side to side reduced disturbance from negative thoughts and memories. This breakthrough led Shapiro to develop standardized EMDR procedures to treat trauma which are now used globally. She also authored EMDR and EMDR as an Integrative Psychotherapy Approach.

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