EMDR Not Effective?

[PTSD sufferer]

Hi All,

I started EMDR Therapy last week and really wonder if it is effective. I felt calmer after it but have been in a daze ever since. Is this normal? Or am I doing something wrong? I have a lot of trouble holding the image - my brain works at 100 miles an hour and I find it difficult to concentrate on what I am supposed to be doing...

I still have flashbacks and my anxiety is through the roof mainly because I have a uni exam next week and desperately need to pass - I need some good news in my life. Is it wise to be doing EMDR Therapy when other important things are going on?

Just really unsure about the benefits and timing of this therapy...

 

[amethist]

Hi PTSD sufferer

EMDR therapy can take a few sessions to get used to how it works, and take effect, or even to find if it will work for you, all sufferers being different.

Other members will be able to give you a better idea of how it has helped them, but I can tell you how much my husband has been helped after just 2 sessions. These were done quite a while apart, though it did reduce his nightmares and flashbacks for quite a while.

The first was hard on him, it did take him a week to recover from the effects of it, as bringing the memories forward and then filing them away in the correct place in your mind can and does take its toll. The second which he had last Friday, has actually made a huge difference, he had almost no reaction to it at all. So good was his response, we had our first full day out together on Sunday, across to the west coast of the UK.

He is still feeling good, 4 days later.

The short term rise anxiety levels, actually can be worth the longer term lowering of PTSD symptoms. Though starting it just before you sit exams, this is something you should talk to your therapist about, even exam anxiety could possibly be reduced, if done correctly.

I hope this helps, even in a small way.

Amethist

 

[Iam]

Hi Sufferer,

I think the question of timing is best answered by your therapist. I just started EMDR as well. Have only had 2 sessions and find focusing is hard. I'll share my experience of the first two sessions. Maybe it will help with your question as to whether it is effective or not. I do believe that what is effective for one person might not be for someone else though.

My T said on the first try that I might be worrying about if I am doing it right & that may be blocking me. So instead just be aware of and observe the thoughts and let them pass thru, then bring your focus back on whatever it is you're supposed to be thinking of. Which for me is a container in which I can put my distressing memories and thoughts. I felt calmer after our first session. She asked me to practice it several times a day until next session.

The 2nd session last week was focusing on the container again. I told her that I found moving my eyes back and forth made it hard for me to focus. So we tried using the headphones and settle on classical music. She also had me hold hand buzzers. This was so much easier for me. The music calmed me at first. It also created visual images of ballerinas which really hit emotional buttons. I suppose the music helped with touching my feelings as well. About the fourth round I suddenly got very sad. When I told her this I actually got teary. I was amanzed. Especially considering the fact that I block myself from crying and have gotten teary once in therapy with my regular T for just over a year of therapy with him. I am going to talk with him about it at our session today.

So yes, for me, I think EMDR is going to be extremely effective. I do have to tell you that it knocked me on my butt last week. I felt dissociated right after the 2nd session and by the time I got home I was exhausted. I had horrible nightmares that night (not something I normally have any more) and I felt like I had been hit by a truck the next morning. By that afternoon I was fine again. That is ok for me because I have stopped working for now so I can work on this crap. Don't know if I'd be able to go to school or work at the same time, but we are all different. Again, I would as your T if the timing is good for you. I have done a lot of work on being able to ground myself and I think it is key to be able to be able to do this while in EMDR therapy.

Best wishes for you. Please do keep sharing. If you choose to continue EMDR I'd love to compare notes as we are doing this. Especially considering we are both starting out. Might be interesting to see if it effects us the same way.

 

[PTSD sufferer]

Thanks for your thoughtful comments Amethist and Iam. I am very new to all this and I'm grateful for your input.

I will definitely keep sharing. You're right Iam, it would be good to compare notes. My second session is at the end of the week so I will post more then.

 

[Elphaba]

I hope it goes well for you. I tried EMDR three times.

After each session i initially felt a lot worse; extremely emotional as the EMDR somehow got all these old memories to resurface. After my first session I almost gave my T a right telling off for not having warned me. I don't think I'd have done it if I knew how tough the aftermath would be. But then it got better I feel I need to say this as I don't want to scare anyone away from trying it. It did feel better, it just took some time. T said it is a sign that my brain is processing. "Just because it makes you feel bad doesn't mean it is not working".

I only did three sessions of it as I was then moved to a different T.

In hindsight i wish I had done a few more EMDR sessions as it really helped taking the most painful edge of a few of the worst memories.

 

[PTSD sufferer]

I had my second session of EMDR today. It went a lot longer than the last session. I balled my eyes out the whole way through and when I finally got home, I spent three hours with my head down the toilet vomiting. My therapist said I did good and he could see the neuropathology working...but vomiting after? Is this normal?

 

[James B.]

Hello PTSD sufferer,

I used to have to keep an empty plastic trash can by my feet during EMDR because I often felt on the verge of vomiting. That you had a profound reaction in this manner (and emotionally with crying) strikes me as being a very positive sign. As it relates to the effectiveness of the therapy. Glad you are finding EMDR an effective tool in your recovery. Good luck and best wishes on your path to a better life.

 

[Elphaba]

EMDR can be really emotional, and emotions can trigger physical reactions. I found EMDR tough due to all the emotions it exposed me to, but it did help some in the long run. And my T said EMDR makes you worse before it makes you better!

Wish you all the best,

E

 

[Treacle911]

Hi I am currently having EMDR, I'm on session 7 and have two more to go as its being paid for by my work. I am really worried as I don't feel really any different from when I started the sessions and am scared about what I do next when they come to an end. I am due to meet my dr on Friday to discuss where I go from here. Should these sessions have worked or do I need more? I'm so confused

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I am doing emdr and I have had wonderful results. I also did it on a recent memory and have found tremendous healing. It really works for me. Afterwards I feel bad for a few days. I suppose it it things shifting around inside of my brain. But I have put so many bad memories to rest. They have haunted me my whole life and no longer do this to me anymore. It has made me stronger. I have loved it. I spent 9 yrs in private therapy and it did not help me as much as the emdr.

Make sure you feel safe and grounded while you are doing it. I wish you the very best. Good luck.

 

[Lucycat]

On most sessions of EMDR I felt immediate results, either the same day or the next. If you are feeling no improvement you need to discuss this with your therapist URGENTLY!

 

[poeticprincess88]

It takes some time for EMDR to work. When I first started it I was on the 100 mile an hour track to. EMDR actually helped me to slow down. Do you feel comfortable with your therapist? My therapist is a male. He was the first male therapist I had. Because of my PTSD I had a hard time trusting him. If you don't trust your therapist then it might be hard to do the EMDR.