Emdr and “parts”

[Skywatcher]

I was reading about emdr and there are many statements about how our wounded selves get frozen in time and the treatment helps process that. Here is where it gets weird for me. Trauma therapy has sort of caused my parts to surface, only it just isn’t a full younger version of me. Some of them have names. They are kind of like one dimensional characters in a book. I only become them if I fully disassociate, but even then, a tiny piece of me is still around. My T speaks of them as though they are as real as I feel them to be. In emdr, she seems to be guiding them to have a conversation so that they can understand each other better and she is doing a very good job. I’m actually seeing some progress. Does anyone else have this experience with emdr or parts? Am I just a really imaginative person and need to process creatively?

 

[Ronin]

If it helps you and helps you get more functional or just healthier and feeling better in any way, then awesome and good for you :)

 

[hithere]

Yes. It's a lot more common that people want to believe. It also helps me to become more "stable" in many ways. Sounds like you have a therapist who is very helpful and understanding.

 

[KwanYingirl]

My t says I’m too dissociative for EMDR. I like to read what actual sufferers have to say about it. I think if you’re feeling relieved and engaged, then go for it. I’m only becoming aware of having separate parts and once I get my meds under control, I’m diving into it. Good luck. I’m glad it’s helping you.

 

[EveHarrington]

My parts are a little different. My parts are A) my little one and B) various emotions. Little one is fully fleshed, emotions are one dimensional.

 

[Wendell_R]

Yes, I have parts just like you describe. Some are more one dimensional than others, although they are becoming less one dimensional with time. We do EMDR with them. They were really afraid at first, but now like to do it. Initially, it was also hard for me to voluntarily switch to them, but now it can happen quickly. Big Wendell has had to learn to stay out while they are talking. I think my imagination has a little to do with them, but I am also convinced that listening to them and letting them talk lets us access deep parts of my psyche. The combination of parts work and EMDR has been very healing for me. It's really wild.

 

[Skywatcher]

@EveHarrington that is kind of what it is like for me, as well. The part from today’s set is the protector that held all of her pain, but she is very scared of her. They are both in human form. I am very thankful that I have my T to guide this.

 

[Deleted member 36028]

The parts lanuage has really helped me 'check in' with myself, especially the little part and ensuring I keep myself feeling safe and validated. At the moments literally asking my child self what I want for dinner makes me feel more integrated.

I haven't figured out the big stuff yet e.g. adulting, how do i navigate work and function with confidence?

 

[hithere]

I wish so much that my therapist and I could have worked on this more. It was the most helpful. There is a part the therapist didn't like and it is the part that holds so much instense pain, so much rejection. I would love to be able to have the assistance @Wendell_R describes.

 

[Wendell_R]

There is a part the therapist didn't like

Why do you think the therapist didn't like that part?

 

[Skywatcher]

@hithere, I have some parts that cause chaos in order to protect me and some that are a bit abusive, but my T believes they are all there for a reason and that we need to show them compassion. Not sure why your therapist would hate one. I read a thing recently that says that each part has an opposite. This creates a sort of balance within us. I sort of find that true when I really look at it.

 

[hithere]

It was a suggest to me by a pyschiatrist the therapist is a latent sadist and the traumatised part is masochistic, and the therapist has not done his own own work on himself, so sadism is evoked in the therapist by the submissive fear of the traumatised part.