More Questions About Emdr

[GardenGirl0214]

Emdr is intense, exhausting and can exacerbate ptsd symptoms for days afterwards. I feel like a zomb...

Thank you for your honesty!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I wonder if it would be useful to speak to your therapist regarding your questions?

My therapist is trained specifically in EMDR so id make sure that yours is and also i would ask as many questions as you need before its done, i not only asked a bazillon questions, i researched it A LOT before i agreed to do it.

 

[GardenGirl0214]

My therapist is trained specifically in EMDR so id make sure that yours is and also i would as...

The therapist that my current therapist recommended is definitely trained in EMDR. I will absolutely be asking her a bunch of questions. I've also been doing a bunch of online research, including asking questions here to get input from those who have done EMDR and those who are currently doing it. I have not decided for sure if I will do it yet, and I won't make my decision until all my questions have been answered. I've already started a list for the EMDR therapist and I haven't even met her yet!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@GardenGirl0214 That's all awesome!

I would recommend EMDR as it is the one of the best memory intergration therapues out there but when done when not ready (as in my case, the 'programming' was too engrained, too tight) then you have adverse effects...but even those that have those effects it can be calmed, you can, like in my case, return to it much later when ready or you can keep plugging along, dealing with thise effects in therapy as they come up.

Its sounds like you already have a therapist ready to go but i would suggest not having a therapist within a group as mine is, cause I cant call him, text him (i dont even has his cell number) and though i can call the office and ask he call me back (and he does) he only has a few mins as he sees patients back to back every hour except for lunch.

It seems those that have therapists not in a geoup can get ahold of them, have their cell to call or text in sort of an emergency or tailspinning situation.

If i was every hospitalized for a mental thing (not likely) i dont know if he would be able to come and talk to me and i would never talk to any other therapist. Im that patient that huddles in a corner and doesnt say a word. Took me going to my current therapist every week for an entire year to even tell him why i was really there.

So it just seems that if you have a bad effect with it, one outside of a group seems to be better.

 

[GardenGirl0214]

@lostforgottensoul , what do you mean when you say it's best if the EMDR is not part of a group? Are you referring to the therapist not running a group, or one that is in a group practice? As far as I'm aware, the EMDR therapist that my current T recommended is not in a group practice.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@GardenGirl0214

The therapist, some are independant and some (mine) are in groups

i would suggest not having a therapist within a group as mine is, cause I cant call him, text him (i dont even has his cell number) and though i can call the office and ask he call me back (and he does) he only has a few mins as he sees patients back to back every hour except for lunch.

 

[Sideways]

Hypnosis? Hypnosis-voice, guided-relaxation voice - that's a trigger for me. I have flashbacks when anyone tries to talk to me in that kind of tonal voice. Grounding has to be done in the T's regular voice...

Sooo, I'm guessing my odds of being able to EMDR are about zero to none??:sick:

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@Ragdoll Circus Hynosis isnt a good therapy anyway and since the false SRA claims after hypnosis in the 80s, most have stopped doing it.

Hypnosis is suggestion, EMDR isnt and it isnt hypnosis either as its not a suggestion of any kind.

Its a way for memories to intergrate, bad with the good as they should be and it uses REM to do so.

 

[Sideways]

Yeah, I've been thinking about giving it a try & have a fair bit of info & some local emdr soecialists, it's just the tone of voice people use the triggere my flashbacks. Like, I can't do most guided relaxation because they use the same tone of coice you use in hypnosis, you know?

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@Ragdoll Circus my therapist doeant. I do know what you mean but because i have a hang up on hysnosis and having my eyes closed he just talks in a soft sorta sweet tone, not monotoned at all.

He continued talking when eyes are closed to relax me which took forever and so that i know where he was in the room.

Just tell the therapist you dont like that tone and if your feeling anywhere near triggered you can stop it. He made sure i knew that i was in control of the entire thing.

 

[joeylittle]

t seems those that have therapists not in a geoup can get ahold of them, have their cell to call or text in sort of an emergency or tailspinning situation.

I've had multiple therapists in groups, and they have all done some form of emergency page. I don't think it's a group/not group thing, it's just whatever the policy is for the individual, or whoever is head of the group.

@GardenGirl0214 - does your current therapist use any DBT skills, or have a background in it? Something that could really work - if your insurance would cover it - would be to see your therapist once a week, and the EMDR therapist once every 2 weeks. It would allow you to do aftercare with your current therapist.

Another thing you could look into is whether you could do some time in a DBT-focused Partial Hospitalization program (PHP) or an Intensive Outpatient program (IOP), either to prepare for starting EMDR or concurrently with it. Those kinds of programs are really great for providing structure and skills, especially while going through tough stuff.

Finally - I've no idea what your work situation is - but if you could take a few months off, somehow, or lighten your load, it would also make things a great deal easier. I started working on my trauma when I was on a full leave from work, and looking back on it, I could not have done it any other way. Now, I can balance having a job and processing, but at the time, I was so exhausted and symptomatic, it would have been impossible.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I've had multiple therapists in groups, and they have all done some form of emergency page. I don't think it's a group/not group thing, it's just whatever the policy is for the individual, or whoever is head of the group.

Ah i see. When i first joined i was like "why does everyone else have their therapist's cell number" and someone had said it was group/non-group thing, thats where i got it from anyway.

Not that i ever plan to change therapists, its a good thing to know, thanks!

@GardenGirl0214 on the DBT homefront, though id agree a DBT therapist would be better, if you must do it alone, this book that my therapist has and i bought is amazing!

Dead Link Removed

DBT helps with regulating emotions and tolerating distress so what may come up for you after EMDR wiuld be handled better if you do DBT first or during but in my opinion its better if you have some of these skills down first as it takes a lot of practice.