Terrible Effects After Second Emdr Session

[Deleted member 37085]

Thank you so much for your response. It makes me feel better knowing that it's not just me. After I got...

@SheenaL, so grateful for your post. As you, I also grew up in a violent alcoholic home with extreme dsyfunction chaos central. I isolated a lot before emdr and now since beginning emdr 9/22, except for when I have to go out i.e. groceries, dr.'s appts. pretty much for now am a recluse and do not want to go out - except on Friday to a writing class (have no writing experience yet love to go here on Friday) otherwise curled up on couch trying to maintain what's left of sanity @SheenaL.

Horrible family and stranger danger traumatic past experiences/memories and like you now am dealing with these in emdr. After emdr my brain just takes a vacation (putting it mildly) initially that's what it seemed like. Then got worse after moving from bi-monthly to weekly sessions. Brain began having auditory and visual problems, then came extreme paranoia, and terrifying episodes of severe hot flashes/cold chills with pschotic (short burst- seconds) thoughts in between the flash and the chill.

After sharing in here, I went to T and said no more emdr unless we stop sessions after 20 minutes and only 30 second light machine runs, also T on the week we're not doing emdr, is going to work more (or I'll quit emdr and told him so nicely yet firmly) processing what came up in emdr sessions, and T will work more on stabilization and grounding me and teach me same. I apologize for not addressing your concerns @SheenaL. I didn't have emdr this past Tuesday (THANK GOD!) and now I've realized that I needed to answer your post that you posted.

I hope and pray that isolation is passing symptom since we are in emdr allowing this therapy to connect disconnected trauma memories that are very painful, and causing me to want to be left alone, except in here where people understand. Hope isolation is passing thing. Headaches, body aches, paranoia, etc. hope all will dissipate with time. Hope you'll keep us posted. JJ

 

[June1960]

Ironically, my insurance will pay for 60 minutes, but this medical group only allows 45 minute sessions after intake, so that's that. Not sure if I'm going to keep going.

 

[Deleted member 37085]

Fried my brain; too long sessions June 1960; as long as dr. holds sessions to only 20 min. I will keep going. Otherwise, I'm out of there! Hope you'll keep me posted. JJ

 

[SheenaL]

@SheenaL, so grateful for your post. As you, I also grew up in a violent alcoholi...

Thank you for your response! Wow it sounds like you are experiencing some pretty intense stuff from emdr. It's good to know we aren't alone. I'm definitely wanting to isolate. I can't stand being around anyone at work anymore. I hope it gets better for you as well! Thank you for your prayers!

 

[Deleted member 37085]

Thank you for your response! Wow it sounds like you are experiencing some pretty intense stuff from emd...

@SheenaL yes, isolate - should be my middle name now; hate doing so, yet over-stimulated by barrage of incoming sensory information and I have to "take cover" so to speak. Now that EMDR dr. is not cooking my brain (no EMDR for next two weeks due to overkill and overexposure to trauma after trauma, horrible paranoia and fear) I went to writing class today (next week we break for spring, the following week we are back). I am trying to slowly and I do mean slowly learn to write a non-fiction, also poems interest me as well. I can't stay shut up in my place for days on end (which (I'd been doing because of EMDR insanity) @SheenaL I must venture out for a bit, then can't wait to come home and get away from human contact. I'm no longer ashamed to say that for I've recently learned terrible things in EMDR and I have lost nearly all trust in mankind. I pray this is only a part of the grieving process and the processing of terrible things father and so many other perps did to me.

I'm in protective mode now; and I'm being cautious around everybody now, I'd say this is par for the course after learning father sexually hurt me @SheenaL, along with other perps as well. I seem to be hypersensitive to sight, sound, smell, touch, taste and more hyper-vigilant than ever around people. Haven't been to church in several weeks now, and I want to be left alone here, except on-line when able to be here. I can't stand to be around anyone right now and there's such freedom in admitting so. As I pray for you, do you mind saying a little prayer for me too? JJ

 

[New]

So sorry to hear you had bad side effects from EMDR. I tried it twice and both times we had to stop. I started hyperventilating and blacked out once. I was shaking and crying uncontrollably and just couldn't handle it. I couldn't drive or sleep for days and don't even remember several days. My therapist is so sweet though and we decided EMDR is just not for me. We started going through a workbook called Overcoming Trauma and PTSD by Sheela Raha, PhD. It has really helped and has a lot of great information. I have a really hard time with dissociation during my T sessions and having this book helps so I can write things down and take them with me.

@SheenaL yes, isolate - should be my middle name now; hate doing so, yet over-sti...

I'm praying for you as well.

 

[Hopeless17]

Wow I had to read everyone's comments because my next step after being on therapy for 5 years was EMDR. Meds are not an option as all they do is block the issue but once you stop the meds the images are back present and you're now dealing with the trauma all over again plus withdrawals. I am glad we are together in this and I will continue to pray for God to help us through this journey. This isn't easy but we are not giving up!!!!!

 

[Kenny S]

Hi there!
I was recently diagnosed with ptsd after almost 3 years of therapy and really no progress. I...

My psychiatrist recommended EMDR for my CPTSD. I'm 56 and melted down two years ago resulting in a failed suicide attempt. I managed to put together a successful life for about 45-50 years (therapists say mine started at 3) then too much shit broke my back.

EMDR was successful at bringing back lots of suppressed memories (e.g. brother threatening to kill me with the bloody hammer he just pulled out of our neighbor's head - I was not yet 4). But I spiraled downhill after 4 or 5 sessions, had to significantly increase meds. It helped in a way, but it was too much for me. In the end the work did me a lot of good, but I don't have a safe place. Never have

 

[SheenaL]

My psychiatrist recommended EMDR for my CPTSD. I'm 56 and melted down two years ago resulting in a fai...

I'm sorry to hear you didn't have the best outcome with the emdr. It really does stir up so much crap. It's hard to deal with

Wow I had to read everyone's comments because my next step after being on therapy for 5 years was EM...

Thank you for your prayers! I'm praying for you too and I hope the emdr helps! Keep us updated!

 

[Ama Marie Simard]

Honestly I have heard of this with emdr... do research from a non pro emdr website.

Hi there!
I was recently diagnosed with ptsd after almost 3 years of therapy and really no progress. I...

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[Jasperluna]

I started emdr yesterday. Things were ok during the session but a few hours later I felt the exhaustion I was told would happen. Sleeping was very disturbed and I kept waking in a panic and it felt like my brain was split in 2. Was. Up for hours and when I got out of bed was dizzy and nauseous. It subsided after a few hours but a little worried about tonight as I'm so tired.. does this reasonate with anyone? Thx

 

[New]

I started emdr yesterday. Things were ok during the session but a few hours later I felt the exhaust...

Yes. You will be exhausted. I was for several days and we never were able to finish. I was never able to drive afterwards either. Hang in there. You are doing some really hard work.