My Trauma Therapist Wants To Begin Emdr

[Quang]

I had EMDR two years ago. It worked well for single events, the ones that came back as violent flashbacks. I can now say that I don't have these totally immersive flashbacks anymore, so it is a great improvement. I focussed on four well identified memories and EMDR made them fade away. The memories are still there, but they don't elicit a disproportional emotional response anymore.

However, EMDR didn't do anything for the "Complex" component of CPTSD (I am just speaking for myself, it may be otherwise for some lucky ones). The thing is that there is no unique event I can focus on: it is a pervasive feeling that spans over 10 years and is much more deeply ingrained, because it is part of what made me during all my childhood and development as a person.

All things considered, EMDR did have a noticeable and positive effect and I think it is worth it. It is a procedure that can be exhausting and very distressing, so make sure you are well prepared. I went through 4 preparatory sessions with my EMDR therapist before starting EMDR per se.

 

[recoveringfromptsd]

I tried EMDR and was not a big fan

MY trauma T was upfront about it works for some and not for others, and in some cases it helps a lot or helps a little.

 

[recoveringfromptsd]

@Quang Actually my regular T and DBT address the behavior stuff. My trauma I believe is hoping it will address both my safety by reducing intensity, and also it could directly affect my hypervigilance.

 

[Intrepid]

Actually my regular T and DBT address the behavior stuff.

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I have my regular therapist too. I cut down with her to once a month, but I still need the extra feedback.

 

[ground crew]

I had EMDR about 4 years ago after i got all crisisy. The theripist introduced me to this therapy and suggested i read up on it and know all i could. Being some what clever and skeptical she thought it would reduce my fear and secondarily enhace trust and comradery which is needed for the majic to work. It did help to understand the process superficially. The majic worked well but we ran out of sessions. It did help me reorganize some early trauma which does explain a lot of the rest of childhood... I would do it again but i am not sure what is left to unscramble.

At the same time of the emdr, i started meditation and mindfulness studies and practice. That was really helpful too. And working out, that's been a constant and key to how i stsy balanced, or what i consider balanced.

There is no panacea. Use every tool, look at all the paths, experiment. Find your thing. Emdr used properly is a good tool. A therapy not a cure. Whatever path you choose, you have to do the work. It's worth it.

 

[recoveringfromptsd]

The theripist introduced me to this therapy and suggested i read up on it and know all i could

Ditto, mine did that too

 

[recoveringfromptsd]

There is no panacea

I am scared to death, yet at the same time excited there might be something that cuts threw the intensity of my hypervigilence.

My hypervigilance which is 24/7 (situational vs events or actions) is a real problem, I am having to go into PHP because of it, to stay out of the hospital, from a situation my regular therapist says most people who brush off. But for me, its got me close to being papered.

 

[ground crew]

So my symptoms are not that sever. If you can trust your therapist and your therapist knows your big traumas, assuming they are qualified, this should help speed healing. It is a bandage of fast or slow... Both hurt but one is faster. Or you could continue reagular therapy for a longer time. Either way some eastern philosophy and mindfulness/meditation are effective tools for combating sever symptoms.

 

[recoveringfromptsd]

Mine are several and situational (24/7), anything outside of my comfort zone where I have some control or hand in it tends to become a crisis.

 

[Just Love]

At my appointment tonight she discussed with me starting the process of EMDR.

My trauma the...

Emdr was life altering for me. I have experienced so many traumas that I won't get into as to avoid triggering anyone else who may read this but I will tell you this. After working on various traumas (we are still have a long way to go) I can actually talk about them with absolutely no emotional or physical reactions. It's surreal. I think that everyone who suffers with CPTSD or PTSD MUST try Emdr! It should be the first option we are given. Anyone reading this, if you are suffering look into this and find a therapist who is practiced in it. I hope it has the same positive results it has had for me! I can't wait to have gone through everything using the Emdr so my nightmares, triggers, flashbacks & all other physical & emotional pains can cease. Even if they don't completely go away I'm good with suffering as much as I do now. Go for it, I'm curious to hear if it will be as freeing for you as it has been for me.

 

[Pippa Rose]

At my appointment tonight she discussed with me starting the process of EMDR.

My trauma the...

I began therapy for PTSD 6 months ago with the intention of having emdr. It's taken my therapist all of this time just for us to do the ground work for the multiple trauma I suffered. I've got to process each of the extra bad stuff individually with the emdr machine and I've processed to of the events up to now. It's a wierd feeling. U focus on the memory and watch the screen for 30 seconds then u have to say what u see/feel/remember. My therapist then asked me to focus on that then repeats it. Eventually, after about 40 mi a, my feelings changed from anxiety and fear to anger. Then came pity for my perpetrator ( which I never dreamed possible!) then a sense of calm and peace. It was wierd but that was my brain processing the trauma. That's what ptsd is. Unprocessed memories stuck in the emotional part of your brain. I've still got a long way to go but after 28 years of suffering and endless therapies and treatments I think it'll work! The Body Knows the Score explains it and is a must read for people suffering. I was amazed and upset when I read this. It was me. I'd suffered all these years and been misdiagnosed all this time through so called mental health professionals who didn't even know enough about it. It should be compulsive for them in training to read this book alone never mind any other training!!!

 

[Deleted member 28942]

For me, EMDR has been life changing. I was on the verge of despair cause I've tried so many different things and I was even ready to do electro-shock therapy or check myself in a clinic. I have complex trauma and I did not remember many things before. EMDR is helping and as others have said it takes time. I've been doing it for over a year and I'll probably keep on doing it for at least a year more but it helped me tremendously so far.