Is Anyone Else Having Emdr Sessions At The Moment?

[oasis2003]

Hi
I am going through sessions of EMDR and finding it tough. It brings out very intense reactions which are extremely frightening. I also find it hard to ground my self. Sometimes I totally dissociate.

I was wondering if any one wants to share their experiences with EMDR,grounding and dissociating.

Apparently if you dissociate too much in a session it can delay processing. Does any one know how not to dissociate.

 

[FindingMyself88]

EMDR is not for the faint of heart for sure. I'm on like my 6 or more target and we had to put it on hold because I have too much going on and couldn't process it.

Did you and your therapist work on building up a supply of coping skills before hand? If not I would mention this to your therapist. A good therapist should make sure you have a big box of skills before starting.

As for the dissociating I still struggle but again we have things in place. My therapist gives me smooth rocks that we call "grounding rocks" and she keeps eucalyptus and peppermint oil on hand. I rub the rocks and she opens the oils and hands them to me to smell. She also has squishy toys and even play dough. She changes things around in her room frequently and will ask me to notice something new. We also will go for brisk walks after EMDR to ground me before leaving and sometimes if it's bad we will go in the middle of session. There is a rock pile by her office and I will throw the rocks at the pile- helps let go of intense emotions.

I also have skills for at home such as an art journal, crocheting, paracord, etc.

Hope this helps!

 

[Anna Roberts]

I can't be of much help, because my first EDMR session is going to be on Wednesday. If you don't mind me asking, what happens during the session? Does it hurt? Is it scary? I'm a little terrified about going.

 

[FindingMyself88]

@Anna Roberts it doesn't hurt but I would suggest making sure you have nothing planned afterwards. The best way for me to describe it is it's like running an emotional marathon- I am exhausted physically and emotionally afterwards.

Make sure you and your therapist have a lot of coping skills in place before starting. I also like to go to a nature trail or something afterward with my dogs to decompress.

Good luck!

 

[Marymickaela]

I've been seeing a trauma specialist since the end of April, but are doing our 1st EMDR session tomorrow. I rated all my Targets and chosen one to work on, which is pretty traumatic from age 12. I'm definitely nervous. I feel no emotions surrounding this incident, but know they're there, so it will be interesting to see what happens. I'm not sure I have enough "resources" to use either. I have one major one, but think I'll take one of my oils with me as I tend to dissociate.

 

[Marymickaela]

I've been seeing a trauma specialist since the end of April, but are doing our 1st EMDR session tom...

Why did the site put this book beside my post?

 

[oasis2003]

@Marymickaela good luck with your first EMDR.
I dissociate a lot during sessions this therapist does not seem concerned about it Infact we did eye movements about the dissociation. Your therapist should help you through the sessions as well as having your own coping techniques.

 

[FindingMyself88]

It's an advertisement.

I would talk to your T if I were you and didn't feel like I had enough resources. EMDR is NOT something you want to just into without them. I've been doing EMDR on and off a year now and we continue to find more resources because at certain times certain ones won't work. Do not me afraid to slow things down. EMDR done right can be. Incredibly helpful, but if done hastily or wrong it can be detrimental too. One time we tried when I didn't have enough resources and I ended up going into crisis and being admitted into inpatient again. Not trying to scare you, but make sure if you aren't comfortable starting yet then you don't.

 

[Eagle3]

My T and I are doing another EMDR target next session. A big one, even though I don't really feel much about the specific target. This could get nasty, but I trust this guy to do this right. The more we talk, the more we find to reprocess. Not fun, but very necessary, and very helpful when the process is over. I seem to respond really well to EMDR, but only in the hands of a true pro. Good luck!

 

[Anna Roberts]

I had my first EDMR session yesterday and I don't feel much different yet. I was extremely exhausted afterwards, and slept for more than 14 hours. Is this normal? When should I start feeling better?

 

[FindingMyself88]

@Anna Roberts yes that is normal. I say that EMDR is like running an emotional and physical marathon combined. I normally feel better in a day or so, but EMDR often keeps working after the session so don't me surprised if memories come up. When doing EMDR I normally see my T twice a week.

 

[Marymickaela]

I am nervous about today's EMDR's session.