Emdr And Sleep

[Fool me twice]

Has anyone noticed a major change in amount of sleep during EMDR therapy?

I do have a sleeping disorder, but my symptoms remained stable until the intensive EMDR began. Even before my trauma, I could hop out of bed and just "go." Now, I cannot get enough sleep. Today's the 2 yr anniversary of hell breaking loose, so I'm not surprised I slept for 13 hours.

I like that I'm sleeping a lot (a stark difference from my usual patterns induced by my sleep disorder). But I'm worried this will be permanent. It's like I'm becoming a typical lazy person who hits "snooze" until the last possible minute.

Anyone else noticed significant sleep changes? Is it permanent?

 

[Lucycat]

What do you mean by intensive EMDR? I certainly slept well through sheer exhaustion on the days I had EMDR, but not throughout therapy per se. I need pills to help me sleep.

 

[Fool me twice]

Meaning, the nitty gritty of EMDR. The sessions that make you cry and relive it. I call it "the middle of EMDR," because everything is getting dredged up. I'm remembering stuff I never noticed.

Does that make sense?

 

[FindingMyself88]

I have noticed on days I do EMDR with my T that I am exhausted and sleep better that night. Also, overall as we process some of my traumas, I am having fewer and fewer nightmares.. its a good thing!

 

[Fool me twice]

Thanks for the replies. My T is off for two or three weeks and I'm looking forward to "normal" weeks. Granted, I'm not an EMDR grad yet, but my boss would sure like it if I could come to work at a decent time the day after my therapy! It's exhaustion like I've never experienced - and I have narcolepsy! I think I'll try an alternate schedule at work for the day after. It's unreal how hard it is to wake up. Getting out of bed isn't a problem, but making my eyes not snap shut and immediately go into REM is. (Interestingly, what I described in the last sentence defines my sleep disorder; I assume my therapy exacerbating it is a good thing.)

It's not permanent though, I hope?

I feel like a rag doll. Each time I stand up, I've noticed that I'm immediately looking for somewhere to lie down or at least kick back. My amount of sleep has increased by 30-50% most nights.

PLEASE tell me this will go away in time?

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Have nightmares/dreaming increased or is your sleep disturbed in some other way (like anxiety, panic, insomnia etc, etc) more than normal?

 

[joeylittle]

@Fool me twice, I've merged your post on this from the Sleep and Nightmares forum into your post here. It's more productive to keep the same inquiry contained within the same post.

Moderator hat off now, is this something that would be exacerbated by your pre-existing sleep disorder? As in, do you have the kind of sleep disorder where other people might experience a 2 hour delay getting to sleep if they exercise too late, but you get a 4-hour delay.

To answer your main question, I would strongly doubt that it's permanent.

 

[Fool me twice]

My narcolepsy is weird because I also have anxiety (as was the case pre-PTSD, thus current). But sleep is very focal now. As in, teetering on interfering with work (I already have a basic ADA agreement for my N). I feel like I need a 30-35 hr week at work right now (but not gonna ask for it).

To answer your question, the change is so significant that I don't think my predisposition has much to do. I haven't slept like this since high school . I've had many life changes, and serious trauma going on. But only in the midst of EMDR did I note the change. My T says it's good progress. I think so, but it's so sudden and strong. Guess I should enjoy the zzz's while they last?

 

[joeylittle]

I personally think, yes; just adjust as much as you can, and then in your waking hours try and make sure you're breathing well, moving periodically, and getting enough water. Sounds like a blessing and a curse - hopefully it passes soon.

 

[Fool me twice]

Sorry, I can't figure out how to reply to a previous comment. Kas, more vivid dreams and a few nightmares. They're all about the present, with some twisted bit of my past trauma involved. Most not bad, just weird dreams. Incredibly vivid, but that's actually my norm. Been extremely vivid lately tho. Does that help answer your question?

 

[JohnElPaisa]

Hello Fool Me Twice,

I've had the same symptoms since finishing an EMDR cycle - three years ago. I get to sleep easily, don't nap in the day, ingest very little caffeine,- do all the right things. I just like to sleep a lot,. I have very vivid dreams (almost no nightmares). I assumed that my psyche has been trying to process everything that was dredged up during EMDR, but for three years? I feel great once I finally wake up, and I feel like the sleep is something my mind and body need, but I sure have trouble waking up! It's become kind of disconcerting, and almost embarrassing at times. People sometimes think I'm just lazy. I suspect there is some processing that's going on, and that I need the sleep. After all, the trauma lasted for more like thirty years - lots to unwind.