More Questions About Emdr

[GardenGirl0214]

I apologize in advance if this has been asked before, but I'm trying to learn as much about EMDR before I decide whether or not I will try it.

I understand that EMDR is NOT talk therapy. However, in the reprocessing part, what happens (in terms of the therapist's response) when/if that part becomes too difficult for the client to handle? I assume I'd have the ability to stop right then and there, but will the EMDR therapist encourage me to express why it was so difficult? I'm someone who needs feedback/input from my therapist!

Also, do you process/reprocess the trauma in every session, once the reprocessing phase starts? The very thought of that is overwhelming to me!!!:sick:

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Well, being someone that "wasnt quite ready" for it, I can answer this.

You sit in a straight back chair, feet flat on the floor, hands on your knees, eyes closed ( a fear of mine). My therapiat talked to me into being realxed "listen to the clock, the elevator, the rain, the AC" soft tones, always speaking so i knew where he was.

Say a thought or memory, open eyes and follow a thick yellow higherlight while he said a better thought.

After the hightlight went the second round over I heard my mom's voice like she was in the room, i had a flashback, jumped backwards directly over the chair (had no clue i could jump that high) and curled in the corner behind the chair, covering my head screaming "dont hurt me" over and over.

My therapist moved the chair, crouched down and talked to me in a calming tone, let me know he was my therapist, not my step dad, got me in the couch and got me simi ok again so i didnt fo drive toward incoming teaffic or something.

EMDR only lasts 10 to 15 mins, not the whole session.

We will be re-visting that soon, that was well over a year ago....but i aint reminding him.

 

[Seasounds]

For me, I was not satisfied with the processing aspect. I think it may depend on therapists, to some degree? Lostforgottensoul's therapist did a good job, it seems like to me.

After hearing members' responses, I wonder if it would be useful to speak to your therapist regarding your questions?

 

[Abraxas]

I started EMDR after about a year of working with a therapist. I think the trust is key, as you are essentially going to have an extended, guided flashback. I did feel more detached from what I was seeing than in a normal flashback, probably because my therapist was familiar with the story and was almost narrating, while keeping me talking. I think its similar to hypnosis in that you can't be made to do anything you don't want to do. you can say stop, and your therapist is there to throw you a rope and pull you back out. For me a 20 minute session of it would seem like less than a minute, and I wouldn't fully recall the experience. The second half of the appointment would consist of her walking me through what I had described and talking about it. You definitely burn a hell of a lot of calories and can work up a sweat. I was exhausted after each session.

All that being said, I highly recommend giving it a try. So long as you feel safe and comfortable with your therapist. I went from two or three flashbacks a week to two or three a year after a few months of EMDR. When I get them now, it feels more less like a hallucination and more like a bad daydream.

Hope this helps. I'm glad you're taking the time to learn about it.

 

[GardenGirl0214]

Thanks for the replies.

The EMDR therapist would be someone new to me. My current therapist, whom I think is awesome, recommended this therapist to me. I have not yet met this new therapist, and I definitely have trust issues. So starting this process is very scary to me. My current therapist thinks it'd be a good idea for me to continue seeing her while doing EMDR so that I have a sense of familiarity.

 

[Abraxas]

Thanks for the replies.

The EMDR therapist would be someone new to me. My current therapist, wh...

Maybe your current therapist could sit in on the EMDR sessions with you?

 

[GardenGirl0214]

Maybe your current therapist could sit in on the EMDR sessions with you?

I would absolutely find that helpful and a wonderful transition. However, that's not possible, i don't think, as they are in different offices, about 35 minutes from each other and with my T's schedule, it wouldn't work. Great suggestion, though!

 

[Abraxas]

I'm sorry to hear that. I feel very grateful to have had a T that was trained in EMDR. Maybe you could have a few sessions with them without EMDR to build the trust? I would be hesitant to begin it with a stranger too.

 

[Seasounds]

Just curious, are you trying EMDR due to your existing therapist's suggestion, or because you want to see if EMDR will be helpful to you?

 

[angrypanda]

Emdr is intense, exhausting and can exacerbate ptsd symptoms for days afterwards. I feel like a zombie, just mentally depleted. The most important two things are: you need to be ready to try something new and open to suggestions and second you need to be able to trust the therapist. Emdr can start slowly with just some bilateral tapping and you have total control of how far you want to go. If you're not ready, or resistant the progress will be minimal. I've been doing intensive emdr for 10 months (only twice a month) and my flashbacks are fewer, hallucinations are less, the length has been cut down from weeks to three days and my brain is better at processing stress and triggers. I don't get derailed as often. However, I jumped into emdr totally ready, open and willing. Those I know who put up walls in emdr and are resistant struggle to make progress and quit. Hope that helps in some way.

 

[Crow]

The grounding skills are so important before ever beginning EMDR. And trust in the therapist. I was able to successfully process/resolve some violent events from my older childhood and young adulthood. Hasn't worked so much with the early developmental stuff though my trauma therapist uses it in concert with somatic experiencing - though not in the traditional sense.

Thanks for the info on the bilateral tapping. Explains my T's use of the little bilat thumping things she uses sometimes when I'm highly activated and we're doing SE. Didn't occur to me that it was linked to emdr.

 

[GardenGirl0214]

Just curious, are you trying EMDR due to your existing therapist's suggestion, or because you want to see...

I'm definitely trying it because of my therapist's suggestion. I previously rejected this suggestion from her, which she respected, but I had a horrific anxiety attack in her office on more than one occasion, and just last week I agreed to at least speak with the EMDR therapist. This is a huge step for me, and it's also scary.