Briellewannabe
Learning
I did my second EMDR session (after the taking the history session) today. I'm having a hard time visualizing/doing what the T is saying. Like, the first time she wanted to work on the old rules I used to live by (long story), but she had me imagine I was in a bubble outside of time, and I was telling my younger self that I didn't need to do this, or that, etc. I found this extremely hard as I don't do well with abstract thought, and I told her this.
Today, we targeted nightmares I get. But in the same way, she had me imagine telling myself that I'm safe, or fighting someone off, or having someone come in and fight it off... but none of that happened in my actual experience or my nightmares, and I found it difficult to even attempt doing as instructed. It's not that I have a problem doing it, but I struggle to even comprehend the super vague and visual world other than my actual memories or dreams.
Is this pretty typical of EMDR? Changing your memories or something? I guess I assumed it would be retelling what happened while the vibrators went off in my hands, but it's very different. I'm wondering if this would work if I can't quite think in that abstract way, or if I'm purposely trying to sabotage myself... I don't know. I feel like I'm not doing it right and that I'm not sure how to do it.
I mentioned a little to my new T (I still see my original T for talk-therapy) that I'm not getting it, but she doesn't seemed to be bothered by it. Do you think it still is working even if I don't feel like I'm doing it right? Does anyone struggle with this? Any tips?
Today, we targeted nightmares I get. But in the same way, she had me imagine telling myself that I'm safe, or fighting someone off, or having someone come in and fight it off... but none of that happened in my actual experience or my nightmares, and I found it difficult to even attempt doing as instructed. It's not that I have a problem doing it, but I struggle to even comprehend the super vague and visual world other than my actual memories or dreams.
Is this pretty typical of EMDR? Changing your memories or something? I guess I assumed it would be retelling what happened while the vibrators went off in my hands, but it's very different. I'm wondering if this would work if I can't quite think in that abstract way, or if I'm purposely trying to sabotage myself... I don't know. I feel like I'm not doing it right and that I'm not sure how to do it.
I mentioned a little to my new T (I still see my original T for talk-therapy) that I'm not getting it, but she doesn't seemed to be bothered by it. Do you think it still is working even if I don't feel like I'm doing it right? Does anyone struggle with this? Any tips?