Sufferer Post-EMDR, but still getting flashbacks

[Metropolitan Nomad]

Hi everyone. I have C-PTSD and have finished an exhausting set of EMDR sessions but the flashbacks are still haunting me. Can anyone help?

 

[Riley Jones]

Hi everyone. I have C-PTSD and have finished an exhausting set of EMDR sessions but the flashbacks are still haunting me. Can anyone help?

Hello Metropolitan_Nomad,

Welcome to the community. I'm truly sorry to hear about the challenges you're facing. EMDR, while helpful to many, can be a difficult and exhausting process, and it's not uncommon for flashbacks to persist even after treatment. Please know that you're not alone in this, and many within our community can empathize with what you're experiencing.

Sharing your journey and connecting with others here can provide comfort and understanding. You might find it helpful to visit our specific forums dedicated to therapy and treatment where discussions on EMDR and other therapeutic approaches occur. Members often share their personal experiences and coping strategies, which could offer you new perspectives and hope.

Remember, it's crucial to reach out to a mental health professional if you feel the need for additional support or guidance. Your well-being is important, and ongoing professional support can be beneficial.

Take care, and we're here to support you as you navigate this path.

 

[Metropolitan Nomad]

Thanks. The therapy was via videolink and I don't know whether that was right or wrong.

 

[Susan Jane]

Hello M. Nomad
I tried EMDR myself, and unfortunately it made my symptoms worse, at that time. I think I was hoping it would erase the trauma. I was not ready, but that was many years ago. I am so sorry you are struggling. I am currently listening to a book about CPTSD and it helps me understand the symptoms more, and it helps me get through bad days, a bit. It is a pretty well-known author Pete Walker Complex PTSD...

 

[thursday]

I was disappointed when I was "finnished" with the last round of trauma T. Imaginary T. I had to go deeper than I ever had been, so I believed my symptoms would be gone. But that's not quite true. I am still in therapy. How do you experience a flashback now after you had EMDR? Do you feel less anxious or are other emotions less? Did you learn how to have more control over the flashbacks? If they still negatively effect your daily life and also your emotions, you should have more therapy.

 

[Charbella]

It sounds like you’re just not done. EMDR isn’t a quick process for those with deep trauma. Did your T resource with you first? Have they checked in? If your flashbacks increased and you’re still in the process, that’s unfortunately normal. You whacked the hornets nest and now they’re swarming. For me there’s a definite shift when EMDR is doing its job. The flashbacks go away and the way I remember it shifts.

 

[Metropolitan Nomad]

Thanks for all of your replies. The EMDR was done via video link and finished nearly a year ago. The flashbacks now occur either when I'm unoccupied or late at night or early in the morning. The sensation I have is one of "writhing" if that makes any sense.

 

[Friday]

Hi everyone. I have C-PTSD and have finished an exhausting set of EMDR sessions but the flashbacks are still haunting me. Can anyone help?

So your trauma isn’t fully processed. That’s okay / expected / normal. Up for another round of EMDR, or do you want to take a break from processing, to work on your life?

 

[arfie]

i started psychotherapy in the 70's with full trauma induced amnesia. over the term, "flashback" didn't come into vogue until near the end of that therapy. i was far more familiar with the cinema/literary use of flashbacks. in that context, flashbacks can be good, bad or a mix tween the extremes.

as my ptsd therapy has progressed and i have learned the new context, i find myself wondering if the diff between a memory and a flashback is how much i ruminate over it.

dunno if i am making sense or if this applies to your case, at all. just sharing.

 

[Metropolitan Nomad]

Thanks everyone. I'm living in a fog of pain and anxiety. I'm always on edge and fear something horrible will happen.