Does Anyone Have Experience Of EMDR?

[lumberjack]

emdr didnt work well for me, sent me don a dark path. However some other people i have talked to had great outcomes with it. I tried once 16 months ago , wrong time for me. Now feeling some what better ,going to try it agian.
mj

 

[llama2]

I have done EMDR with two therapist and found it to be the only method that has given me real help. It evokes very strong emotions in me, but I'm allowed to stop at any time. I am now searching for a therapist in the San Diego, CA USA area to begin again. If anyone is aware of a therapist in that area, I would appreciate your referral if you thought they were good.

 

[pandora]

What is Your Experience Regarding EMDR? Good or Bad

I have decieded to change therapists...mine is great and the CBT techniques that shhe

 

[pandora]

Sorry.....I am not sure why this didn't edit.

I don't know what I did....sorry!

The original post was........

I am changing therapists due to the three hour trip and it is too much for my back. Crmiminal injuries just approved another 15 sessions.

The new therapist...I know from church, 20 years ago. She said that it was ok to do EMDR even with multiple traumas....according to the PTSD workbook, I have 12. I am a bit unsure as i have read that it can be containdicated with numerous traumas.......I don't want to make a bad decision.

Does anyone have any advice or has anyone had EMDR with multiple traumas...I think i am starting to panic a bit.....I have to go wednesday afternoon. I am so afraid of making a bad decision but she said it was ok.......

 

[brokenchild]

EMDR did nothing for me. I'm not really "in touch" with my emotions (not to mention I think my therapist at the time was an idiot). I've heard EMDR works wonders for some, doesn't work for others, and is too intense for yet others.

Sorry, that probably didn't help any.

 

[pandora]

Every post helps....thank you! I would like to hear what others think and or have experienced.

 

[Dylan]

Hello Pandora,

I've gone through quite a bit of EMDR. About 13 years ago a therapist suggested it. I was worried about doing a "short cut" that wouldn't really be real, but he reassured me it was not, so I agreed to try it. My symptoms and distress got quite a bit worse for several weeks (I was really disocciative, I cried and slept a LOT, and my particular coping/distress symptoms worsened -- cutting and bulimia), but then suddenly it seemed to shift and start getting better. I needed a lot of extra support during the rought time -- counseling 2x a week, and a support group that met 2x a week. I don't remember how long it was, but it seems like it was several months of it. I actually didn't cut for 13 years (only recently backslid with that when I took a pretty severe header, which prompted me to go searching for support, which is how I found you guys).

I felt like it cleared a lot out in some ways, but when I tried it again a few years ago, to do more work, it wasn't effective at all - but maybe I'd gone as far as I could with that tool. Being very emotionally numb, it really helped me get to feelings. I have a friend, an incest survivor, who tried EMDR and it did nothing at all (although, she did try the tool - not sure of the official name - where she would tell the story over and over and over until it didn't have as much of an impact, emotionally, reliving it anymore and she felt like that one helped her a lot).

HTH,
Dylan

 

[cherryblossom]

I haven't found any benefit in EMDR so far. On the one hand I find it very intensive, which is more of an after effect, that lasts for several days. This makes me feel worse rather than better. I also find it hard to connect with my emotions during the sessions. However, I think this is due to not trusting my therapist 100%.

I know some people who find EMDR great. From what I have heard from others, my EMDR experience has been very different to theirs, which makes me question my therapist. I literally go there for EMDR and have no form of emotional support from her. I generally feel like a number, rather than a human being with feelings. She has also (IMHO) said some very thoughtless things. While these issues are slightly separate from the EMDR, I think it is important to have a therapist that you get on with, and also one that does more than just EMDR, so that you feel supported through a very difficult journey. I have an EMDR session tomorrow and I have to confess that I am dreading it, not only the session itself, but the after effects too.

I didn't have a choice in therapists because it is NHS treatment. Although I knew from the start that I felt no affinity with the therapist, I felt like I was still willing to give it my best shot. Now that it doesn't really help me, I wonder where I go from here..... but I digress.

I wish you well, whatever you decide.


oh.. I just want to add that I'm only dealing with one trauma (rape), not multiple traumas.

 

[Tristesse]

I wanted to try EMDR. I've been in therapy for so long and nothing changes. My therapist told me that it would be dangerous -- that I'm too traumatized, not secure enough, not centered enough. I thought, "What? I'm too damaged for therapy?!" I'm so frustrated about not making any progress in overcoming this condition, and I was angry at being denied something that I thought (hoped?) might help. Feel less wrathful now that I read about it being contraindicated for multiple traumas. Still disappointed, though.

Has anyone tried EFT? That's what my therapist has me doing now. So far, nothing seems to be happening.

 

[pandora]

Thank you everyone, start wed. I will keep you all updated.

 

[reallydown]

I've also been encouraged to try EMDR...and a couple of ppl even tried a little bit with me bu tI just couldn't get into it...Kept thinking..."what the hell does this have to do with anything?"....and the person was a bit condescending so I guess I was more concerned with annoying her...and therefore stopped listening to her...Stupid of me, I know...but I can't help it. Otherwise, I have no expereince with EMDR and no good info on it other than what I've read here and on a couple of other sites.

 

[HollyH]

EMDR can be great when done by a highly trained therapist and if it is deemed appropriate. It has also been reported to have made some people worse if not done under the correct conditions. EMDR only works for some people, if the therapist is good they will rveiew your case thoroughly and decide whether or not is is suitable for you. I personally am a big fan of EMDR, I've had it done and it was really effective but it's definitely not for everyone.