Why Is Emdr So Exhausting?

[LizBeth1]

...or any trauma therapy, for that matter?

After processing some intense chunks of trauma for the last 2-3 weeks, I find myself exhausted, like a chronic fatigue type of thing over the last few days, but am unsure why exactly this is. I've been getting a decent amount of sleep and I've 'backed off' processing anything else for a little while, but still have an all-over-body fatigue.

Anyone know?

 

[jimmy-joe]

I'm just hazarding a guess, I keep trying to get to the EMDR stuff but never do :(, but if it is as they say and you are reliving your trauma, but safely, your body may have been reacting at first by dosing up with adrenaline? More intense stuff more fear reaction?

Or maybe you have less of the buried emotional burden and less is triggering you? so less adrenaline from a body used to using adrenaline?

My mind says something to do with adrenaline, but, I'm no doktor! :p

 

[Lucycat]

My T warned me that EMDR is exhausing. He says it is simply the hard work that your brain is doing. Because he had warned me, I do not worry about it and just accept that if I am THAT tired then the EMDR must be doing something!!

He says that you cannot have EMDR more often than 7 days apart for that very reason. I have described some of the harder sessions as being like having your brain fried. That takes a fair bit of recovery!!

 

[KP the nut]

Lucycat, you are so right. My T also warned me, in fact he told me to clear the day in my diary and if poss the next day as well.

I would do a session, drive home and sleep. I also became worse before I saw the benefit, T also warned me to expect that. He said it was my brain continuing to process the information which had resurfaced. It has not been easy but I am seeing huge benefits and for the first time I seem to be in control of my symptoms.

Lizbeth, I would discuss this with your T, however from my experience it is normal. If your body says rest, listen to it, even if you don't sleep at least lie back and rest.

I wish you well, keep us informed
KP

 

[LizBeth1]

Thanks everyone. Your observations make sense for sure. My T told me it was normal to be tired... she didn't say why though. Lucycat, agree with 'brain fried'!! LOL. And Jimmy Joe, I agree that there's an adrenaline thing going on for sure. KP, I think I'm experiencing that 'worse before better' thing too; glad you are seeing benefits!!

Yes, sometimes it's like my body is exhausted but I can't sleep. It does make sense - I thought about it some more and realized that it's not unlike the nutritional detoxes I've done to eliminate toxins. With a nutrition detox, you can have a 'healing reaction' -- the body has flu-like symptoms and exhaustion as the toxins are pulled out from the cells and making their way out of the body. This feels very similar (except more extreme). I guess because emotions are energy that lives in the body, it could be a very similar 'healing reaction' when we uncover and process old traumatic feelings.

I forgot how much energy it takes to think. Years ago I went to a silent meditation retreat where we were trained to quiet the mind (basically, to drop all thought and mental chatter!) and if any feelings came up, to acknowledge them but not get attached to them. For a few days I did manage to experience a totally still, quiet mind. Along with the internal stillness came so much physical energy that I only needed about 4 hours of sleep a night! It was shocking to me how much physical energy the mind uses. So yeah, this was something I'd forgotten but I think in a way it relates to what's happening now.

Some people even say that not only does trauma work use a lot of energy, but that it also uses water - which is strange, because I have def. been feeling dehydrated lately and drinking more water!

 

[Froggie]

Hi LizBeth1. As a T myself equiped with PTSD :confused:, I can assure you that it is a good sign that you are fatigued afterwards. It is also a sign that your T is doing a great job in guiding your therapy. It's a "physical emotional" response that is being released. When I would go see my psy, I would not take clients for at least 36 hours, giving me the time to re-energize myself. BTW, I too need to drink more after one of those psy workouts !

 

[jimmy-joe]

I bet u sweated some too, adrenaline burns ur water faster, or idk the specifics, but i know im always thirsty and i pretty much live off adrenaline, lol i have to pump myself up to leave the house :p, the silent medatation =(about) goosebump shake!

 

[Froggie]

I bet u sweated some too!

Hmmmm how did you guess ! Ts are not immune to that JJ :D, we're human too :alien: ... really ... :p

 

[jimmy-joe]

I've lived my entire known life in a state of panic, nothingness, or ecstasy doing something dangerous lol. I don't really know much else :p besides what is fun for a kid. And book smarts :p

 

[Jestadud]

Did you know that your brain uses 20% of your body's energy?
That's on an ordinary day for a normal person.

 

[Tinyflame]

Wow. So we might say ours uses '200%', wow. No wonder it's exhausting, eiy. :eek:

 

[cat]

I also found EMDR exhausting but found if i slept afterwards I'd have nightmares & once woke up at the spa shouting, it was very embarrassing, so i saved my sleep until i got home.
What I did find helpful after a session was to sit in a cafe with a coffee & write all that came into my head. Reading them the next day helped me to understand more of what had resurfaced during emdr & I was able to take my notes to discuss with my psch at my next session.
I found therapy very exhausting, think it was both a physical & emotional reaction.