Anyone done phobia work?

[Deleted member 42665]

if so, what is the process like?

did it help?

we did a very short session with the vibrating hand pad things and he asked me stuff about an event... but thats all so far. I wanna know how the process goes as it seems seriously terrifying being faced with my biggest fears.

 

[EveHarrington]

Do you mean EMDR for treating phobias?

 

[Deleted member 42665]

yes i think its called EMDR but i am not sure

 

[anonymous]

I haven't directly worked specifically on phobias, but I have indirectly worked on them...meaning it came up while processing trauma. Even that for me has had a profound impact. I think to work on a phobia that you would target the earliest disturbing memory related to the phobia.

 

[StellaBlue]

@DogLover33 - are your phobias related to PTSD? Do you have PTSD? Is your therapist trained and certified to do EMDR? Have you worked on developing internal resources? How is it you're doing EMDR and he hasn't explained what you're doing to you?

My concern would be the last question. EMDR can be very powerful and is typically used to address trauma. I'm guessing it's use in treating phobias is similar - targeting a disturbing memory, then using the technique (as "anonymous" alluded to above). However, if you are doing EMDR, you should KNOW that you are doing EMDR. Your therapist should have explained the entire procedure, you should be picking the goals and targets.

I would recommend having a talk with your therapist on what your treatment goals are and how best to approach them. In addition, there are a number of websites and books that explain EMDR in detail. You could read those, then talk with your therapist.

 

[Deleted member 42665]

^ he never called it the named but he explained that part,however my question was not how EMDR works, my question is the process in overcoming phobias. right now we have only done the reflection of memories but i am just asking, do you become faced with it head on as you go? i can just ask him myself. i am not sure my question is being understood here properly lol'

and no i never been diagnosed with ptsd so my phobia is not related to it, its a childhood phobia i just wanna work on

 

[StellaBlue]

So - full disclosure here - I don't know anything about the use of EMDR for phobias. I don't have any "phobias" exactly. I have a known "triggers" that I avoid with a passion - and I'm not sure of the exact differences between the two. I'm also not sure of the criteria of when an irrational fear crosses over into a phobia. I believe you said in a different thread that this was a phobia towards fireworks. How do you know this is a "phobia" rather than a fear?

I do have a friend whose daughter had specific phobias and the treatment they used was a very gradual exposure therapy. In your case, if you're working on a fireworks phobia, I'm guessing there are only specific windows of time that would work for exposure therapy (yesterday in the US being one of them).

Regarding facing our fears "head on". I think there are many different ways to approach this. Exposure therapy builds up your tolerance until you can handle the actual full on thing you're afraid of (for example, actually getting on a plane and taking a trip if you're afraid to fly). I believe EMDR works similarly to Somatic Experiencing (which I'm doing) - where you build internal "resources" in order to experience your emotions (fears) in doses that allow you to stay within your window of tolerance. I could be totally wrong about how EMDR works - but I believe all trauma-informed therapy starts with learning grounding and "resourcing" (could be called other things).

So you're in therapy to work on this childhood phobia? Do you have other goals? Is there a reason you're asking questions on a site specifically for sufferers and supporters of PTSD?

 

[Deleted member 42665]

So - full disclosure here - I don't know anything about the use of EMDR for phobias. I don't have an...

i just wanted to come on here and talk about mental health and therapy, i didn't think i needed to have ptsd based on the forum topics. as for phobias yes i have a fear of fireworks but that is not the phobia in question, i have a few but the only one i am willing to share is balloons and trust me its a phobia. it paralyzes me and i will avoid anything and everything to get away from them. my T even says its a phobia.

i understand a bit more now, makes sense thank you.

nope i am in therapy for anxiety mostly... and dealing with issues of being close to people and childhood neglect/emotional abuse. phobias is just something i wanted to work on while i was there.

 

[Suzetig]

I just wanted to come on here and talk about mental health and therapy, i didn't think i needed to have ptsd based on the forum topics.

The forum is called MyPTSD and is aimed at people who have a PTSD diagnosis or are supporting someone who does. The forum topics all relate to aspects of trauma and PTSD so the support and advice you get here will generally assume you've had some prior trauma.

I'm not saying you need to leave, but don't be surprised when folk give you advice from a trauma frame of reference and for that advice to not fit as well as you might like. EMDR for example is used to treat both PTSD and phobias (and indeed phobias generated by trauma) but the experience for someone who is traumatised will be different to your experience of treatment for phobias.

 

[Deleted member 42665]

ya i know the site, i am not bothered by it, i realize people here have trauma. just because i haven't been diagnosed does not mean i do not either. i still suffer a ton from my childhood issues... but none the less. it was a dumb question and ill just ask my therapist instead of worrying about more replies here

sorry to waste time posting a dumb question lol

 

[chaotic harmony]

There are no "dumb" questions @DogLover33. Have you ever tried the forums on psychcentral? They are for every topic and not aimed at PTSD specifically. Just thought that might help you too.

 

[Deleted member 42665]

^ yes i am on many forums, i go there too, however they tend to be quite rude there. i wont post new topics there anymore