Emdr After Effects?

[Deleted member 34328]

You must go through trauma to get out the other side of it. Running away will just make this worse for you.

Are you referring to reliving it in therapy - or on your own? Flashbacks tend to do that for you. I agree with you in that progress isn't made by running away. But many would argue that reliving it will keep you in the past - not moving you forward.

My issue is wanting a "break" whereas my T is saying that although it's my choice to do so, his opinion is, I'm not really taking a break, I'm running away from the work.

 

[anthony]

his opinion is, I'm not really taking a break, I'm running away from the work.

I agree with your therapist.

Are you referring to reliving it in therapy - or on your own?

Neither. You only need to raise past trauma where it is causing you a present tense problem. You don't have to raise everything, yet at the same time, raising one aspect that bothers you now will likely raise more, which means they're bothering you too. Your brain prioritises how much is pissing your off, in simple terms. Then lines them up, as you knock down one problematic past memory, another is waiting. You keep knocking them down, and over the months, years, you have very little left / the issues are minor and you use your already existing skills learnt to continue knocking issues off in your own time.

 

[Deleted member 34328]

Thanks @anthony makes sense. I guess I have quite a few layers pissing me off.

One layer gets exposed - then life happens, which in turn can create another layer. - or brings up a deeper level.

 

[Lizwash07]

wow! I am so glad I came upon this thread. Thank you for this explanation. I have been doing EMDR therapy since March and often wonder if I am losing my mind :/. I never had flashbacks until started and now I have begun sleep walking or all things. Again something I have never done. I didn't realize how much control I am capable of having in these sessions. I have a great therapist who has helped me so much and it has been great to read this new perspective! Thank you for sharing. Also any thoughts on whether the sleep walking is common with EMDR? I am on vacation until mid July and this will be the longest I have been away from therapy since I started back in November. I know I have had a lot of anxiety about dealing with life without that constant check in point maybe triggering it?