Does Anyone Have Experience Of EMDR?

[cherryblossom]

Hi all,

My CPN is going to refer me to a therapist who specialises in EMDR.

I have tried to research this on the internet, but I still feel unsure about it and don't really understand it.

I just wondered if :
anyone has had any experience of EMDR?
anyone has had any success with this?
anyone could give me further information as to what to expect?

thanks

cherry

 

[Kathy]

There are quite a few threads regarding EMDR, here are three I picked from a search. You may wish to read a bit before you get other replies:

[DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/thread2862.html[/DLMURL]
[DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/thread5450.html[/DLMURL]
[DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/thread5970.html[/DLMURL]

The first thread listed is quite extensive and contains views for and against. I know members here have had varied experiences. Good luck.

Oh, and here is a link to an article about EMDR in the information section:

[DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/thread771.html[/DLMURL]

 

[cherryblossom]

Kathy
Thank you for your response. I tried to do a search here but I had so many pages come back that I didn't know where to start.

I really appreciate your help

cherry

 

[mouse]

Hi Cherry,

I have recently done some EMDR with my therapist, I am in a huge gray zone as I have multiple traumas, and EMDR is not usually indicated, however my therapist is very well trained and has been very diligent in monitoring me.

I will tell you from my personal experience that EMDR is very difficult and brings up a whole bunch of emotions, but when done right you leave feeling better, however there are some intense reactions and emotions.

To be successful, you have to be completely honest and make sure that you communicate with your therapist about everything, and also be prepared that you may have to tell your therapist that its not working or that, they may do the same to you and change therapy approaches, my therapist uses EMDR with meditation and mindfulness.

My therapist has been trained in both the use of eye movement as well as a tactile approach which involves holding handles that alternately vibrate, they both work in the same way just found that the tactile approach worked best for me. While these are alternating I am asked to relive memories and events that are upsetting to me and that have caused flashbacks, while doing this I am also asked how i feel in my body what emotions are present and how I feel them, then negative and positive cognition are discussed.

Thats just my personal experience with EMDR, I suggest that you do your homework and be as informed as you can and also ask your therapist about the level of training they have.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[grace5555]

I also have a very welll-trained therapist and multiple traumas and the EMDR has helped...we are taking a break while trying to stabilize my brain chemicals, but for me it has been a positive experience but with alot of emotions and work.

 

[2quilt]

I have had it several times, and I have alot of success with it. It makes me cry really hard. I need a nap afterward. But it is very healing for me.

 

[rat]

EMDR is excellent

I wish I could afford more of it. Unlike mouse, I experienced no discomfort. It's wonderful if you're suffering from amnesia. I was working with a horrible memory. Under EMDR, I discovered that it was far worse than I remembered. Yet, I felt no pain at the time, just surprise. I went through a normal grieving process later, but it was just that. Normal. It wasn't super-traumatic anymore. I can't praise EMDR enough.

But it is expensive. You can do it yourself if you use a metronome and put something shiny, like aluminum foil, on the tip of the thing that goes back and forth. You have to use the fastest setting. It's much harder to do it this way than it is with a practitioner. But some of us just can't afford the real thing. If you feel any discomfort, you should stop immediately.

 

[cherryblossom]

I just wanted to say thanks for your replies. I appreciate it.
Now I know more, it doesn't seem like how my CPN described it to me, although he did say that his knowledge of the subject was limited.

I suggest that you do your homework and be as informed as you can and also ask your therapist about the level of training they have

Thanks mouse, I will continue to trawl the internet for information, and then find out more from the therapist when the appointment comes through.

Some of the information I have read has been quite scary. The possibilty that it can make people worse, and that if it's not done correctly, it can cause irreversible damage. This makes me want to run a mile from it.

Hmmm, more research required from me.

Thanks for telling me about your experiences.

cherry

 

[ladybug08]

I too have done EMDR, and my experience has been positive. My therapist asks me at the beginning of each session if I want to do EMDR or just talk. I like that because I am not pressured into doing it.

 

[blossomdearie]

I tried it about 10 years ago with a therapist who specializes in trauma. I must admit that I did feel some emotional or mental resistance to it. In that I mean logically I thought "how could watching someone moving their fingers in front of me change the way I feel about my traumatic memories?" My loss. I had a great deal of difficulty keeping my mind focused on the memory through the process. Kept drifting to benign things like....Gee that was a big tree outside the office window" or "I wonder if this is going to work? etc. Must admit though of the memories that were processed through EMDR some of them do not affect me at all really even to think about those specific ones now. Whichever way you decide to go will be best for you though.

 

[Claire]

Hello Cherryblossom, I've been doing EMDR with my therapist. Its helped me a lot although it is very hard work. I always feel extremely tired afterwards.

There is a mix of information on EMDR and like you say you have found some stuff that says it can be damaging. You can only really find out if it will suit your specific case by discussing it with an experienced practioner. Just because it doesn't suit everyone doesn't mean it wont help you. I really believe you need to be open minded with every possible avenue in healing PTSD. If it works then it works, no matter how or why.

Good luck.

 

[Deleted member 487]

Just because someone claims they can help you with EMDR does not mean they really do. Do research on the person providing the EMDR and their qualifications. Getting the wrong person can hurt you. Be careful.