MEMI Testimonials - We appreciate the Feedback
Marie had suggested giving MEMI a try, so I figured why not. As we went through the protocol, I believe we were able to identify some factors which contributed to my negative worldview which I could then uproot and replace with truth.
One thing Marie shared with me during was that it was designed to help my body come out of a heightened state of stress caused by responses to trauma/experiences which is something I was excited to see the results of.....I have certainly noticed my ability to handle stress much better with increased mental capacity. I find that stress is far more momentary right now rather than persistent stress and anxiety. This especially became clear recently when the company I work for was making unforeseen layoffs and I feared my job was on the line. Rather than immediately feeling suffocated and worried, the normal anxiety you’d expect in an event such as this was coupled with an ability to think rationally, something I previously struggled to do when my brain remained in a high stress state. It's hard to say how things may have shifted had I been laid off and then experienced a tough period of unemployment, especially only days after closing our first house. But, given the way I have been able to operate in life following my session with Marie, I believe I’m more equipped now to remain positive through heavy trial should I find myself facing adversity.
Volunteer Firefighter
After the Allen Outlet Mall mass shooting, my two daughters and I sought Brian’s help because I had seen him before after a traumatic event while working on the ambulance as a paramedic a couple years prior. My daughters, 12 and 14 at the time went through the MEMI protocol with Brian. They had never been to any type of counseling prior to this experience. Due to the shooting and the things that happened on that day and what they saw, both of them had become withdrawn, scared of being in public, were scared of being alone, were having nightmares, and just afraid in general. My oldest had trouble initially with talking about the event and was more anxious when attempting to discuss it. She feels like the MEMI protocol, as well as a few other techniques that Brian provided her with to use outside of counseling, helped her to slowly regain her confidence and have less fear in the outside world. My younger daughter processed the event very quickly using MEMI and seemed to benefit the most. She would go into each session feeling nervous but would come out feeling calm and would tell me she “couldn’t remember” the event much. They both seemed to process and show great progress very quickly. I am thankful that Brian was able to get them in as fast as he was after it happened. They both describe the feeling while processing as feeling like a “dream” but have trouble describing it further and can only say they feel “better” and “aren’t scared of life any more”.
Allen Mall Active Shooter Survivor
After MEMI: I am the assistant coach/ primary coach lol....i've had 2 practices and 1 ballgame. I'm able to be there when work allows, but anyways, I used to get butterflies in my stomach when my son would pitch or if the kids did something dumb. Most of the time I would lash out and let'em have it verbally. But during these events and really just throughout the day I feel so much more relaxed. Over the past many months I have been tachycardic above 100, even at rest, but blood pressure has always been good. I get my vitals taken weekly by the doctor's office and today my heart rate was 80! So whatever voodoo u did, keep up the good work! I may need to schedule a visit once a week with u lolol. I really appreciate your time the other day!’
Anonymous - Medic/Firefighter/Op's Chief
During the practicum, Crystal and I ran the protocol on an incident I had early in my career as a first responder. I was 18 yrs old and responded to a fatality accident that bothered me. From that day forward, I could smell the man's cologne, and it would stop me in my tracks.
As I stated before, I was a little skeptical of the long-term effects of the protocol, as it relates to a recurrence of an event...
Last night, we had a gruesome fatality accident after a pursuit with an ejection. As soon as I walked up, I smelled a familiar smell...
I went on about my job, took pictures of the scene and even carried the body out and on the way home, it dawned on me what that smell was... It was the SAME cologne that had previously stopped me in my tracks for 18 years. It had no effect on me and was just another smell.
I got a little teary eyed and thanked the Lord for his goodness and how He made us so complex and how He, even after all this time, cares enough about us to give us tools to be able to live in REST!
Undersheriff
A trauma memory from 1989, that I thought was resolved. A domestic violence incident with a gun that occurred in my home, within a week of my asking him to leave and stating I wanted a divorce. The incident also included fear for my children whom he left with a stranger as he came to the house “to take care of things.” He threatened to go to my folks home to take care of them.
In training, I noticed my body reacting and felt activated. Initially as we began processing, it felt much closer than 36 years ago, yet not quite reliving. The image was clear, one that was seared into my memory. The image associated with the trauma was “terror.” After 3 sets, all I could see were eyes, fourth set they were there but faded, definitely no charge to them. Brian S, the MEMI facilitator did a great job during the protocol, noting my eyes were not tracking as well as they should. He asked a few questions that led to me revealing that I had experienced two strokes less than one year ago. They affected movement which is restored, yet impaired my balance. Despite that struggle, I was able to integrate the memory.
For days after the processing, I felt light, energetic, and an overwhelming sense of joy. I cleaned my windows to a bright sparkle to allow the sun to shine brightly into my kitchen, and provide a beautiful view of my safe haven – the backyard. I did a deep clean with energy and vigor that seemed long gone. My MEMI was during training in August and my heart is joyful every day!
Since training, I have been using MEMI with clients, the results have been very good. Last week, a client who was skeptical began to smile during our last set. She exclaimed, “this is amazing and crazy, moving my eyes has released my anxiety and fear, I feel lighter and hopeful.”
Licensed Professional Counselor
"By the end I wasn’t feeling the physical pressure on my chest when remembering the scene anymore or the deep pit in my stomach or the unsettled anxious feeling. I could see the scene of my apartment in color and as a wider image I guess. Not so focused in and I could hear what was going on outside when I couldn’t remember any sounds in the initial memory. The overall memory felt brighter and less crushing. It felt more optimistic than before from the scenario."
Anonymous
"Yeah it was incredible! Communicated with him today but the sickening feeling in my stomach was much less intense. It’s like the hard rock isn’t lodged so tightly that doesn’t make my stomach tie up in knots. I could still think clearly and didn’t go completely upside down in emotional distress. Incredible!"
Anonymous
In my experience during the MEMI protocol, I felt a gradual relief in stress. Taking time to name and process a traumatic experience is one thing. Talking to a stranger about this life threatening experience adds a layer of vulnerability, but the first responder who guided me through the process was kind, showed his humanity by relating to me and empathizing, and being patient with me as I took my time to remember what happened and reflect on how my body was experiencing the memories round after round.
I spoke about my birthing experience - from my daughter's birth in a birth center, to the postpartum hemorrhage, to the pressure I felt from the battery of doctors I was met with in the hospital, to the time I had to process in the patient's room with husband about what we each experienced and how God moved to give us strength and comfort.
The first responder was clear on what he would do in this procedure through each round, and he did exactly what he said he would. This allowed me to focus on me, my thinking, my emotions, and my nervous system. Within an hour over zoom, this structure, guided walk through, and space to process allowed me to feel a deeper peace than I had before - in the comfort of my own home.
Survivor of life threatening hemorrhage during delivery
The process was surprisingly simple and straight forward. I definitely felt skeptical going into it. Aside from remembering stressful situations, the process was painless, easy, and relatively quick - but highly effective in reducing my sense of of internal tension and stress. Immediately after completing the MEMI protocol I felt a noticeable reduction in my sense of internal tension and stress. In the days following, that sense of calm and ease continued. Since completing the protocol, in general, I have had less anxiety, less internal tension, and have been able to handle tense and stressful situations with a greater sense of calm and clear-headedness. While still fully aware of the stressful situations of the moment, that stress has less of an impact on my mental and emotional state, allowing me to operate within that stressful moment in a more logical, rational way. In short, stress and anxiety are now street signs and no longer traffic jams.
Kevin - Armed Forces Veteran
"The world had extraordinary weight to just exist in. Had a couple days of poor sleep up and down through out the night with moments of intense tightness in my chest the weekend before we did MEMI.’ After MEMI: Feels like 100lbs was lifted off my shoulders, the situation brings nearly no stress, it's an event, it happened but it's not any more than another scene. I'm sleeping significantly better and have, as Gerry put it, a more relaxed natural stance. He’s pointed out that he could see a build up a few days before it happened.....I feel back on level ground, the world got significantly lighter to just exist in. Last two nights I’ve slept through the night with out getting up once. It feels like a shift in situational awareness and perspective. I’ve talked the event over with a friend since and stress never passed a 1. It's wild because you still feel like it's supposed to stress you out but your brain says no, it's not.’… ‘Thank you! I'm beyond glad to have some one who understands our internal wiring/sticking and can make sense of it. It gives me a sense of relief that knowing what can come up, can be dealt with."
JC - Firefighter
'It’s going good. Definitely have a feeling of relief. After I got home yesterday I took a fat nap with the baby. It’s funny because I woke up this morning at 5:45 feeling super rested and energized. I’m off today.….Thank you so much. I’ve never heard of this... and to be honest had no idea how much I needed it.' 3 weeks later: ‘I have been so much more relaxed. Usually I’m the uptight one and now my wife is commenting on how relaxed I am. That’s not my normal. I am more patient with the kids and family issues. It’s really good.’
Anonymous - Firefighter
'After MEMI I felt like I could remember the good memories of my husband without having to relive and be in the intense sadness all the time to remember him.‘
Anonymous - Wife of Firefighter
Deathly afraid to fly in planes but wanted to go on mission trip to Eastern Europe. 3 days after MEMI: ‘I had a good dream about flying. I didn’t wake up scared, heart racing or overwhelmed like I normally would have!’ 2 weeks later: She said, ‘ I was able to rationally pick my seat on the plane. No heart racing, no anxiety, no issues. Just made the decision and went on like a normal day!’ After trip: I’m free to go wherever we want now!’
Anonymous