EMDR as a dissociative system, with PTSD; experiences?

[Dark.Green.Feathers]

Somewhere down the line, I think therapy will begin to include EMDR, with the current therapist. I’m open to it (more so than the previous part predominating therapy) but nervous.

What have your experiences been as people with dissociative disorders in EMDR? I’m curious about both sides; any complications, difficulties, and also positive developments. Additional challenges would also be appreciated. Mainly in the parts front.


It’s all on my own terms, and we’ll only begin EMDR when things are more stable and established. Far ahead, but I think it would be useful to know what to be aware of / expect when we do start. In this more niche area.

 

[Midnightmoon]

Will watch this with interest as my T is in EMDR training to specifically work with DID/ OSDD...

 

[thursday]

I "signed" up for EMDR, but we should do CBT the T said. Than she decided that it would work better for me to do Imaginary Exposure because of my dissociation. .

 

[Renly]

EMDR has been a game changer for us. It has been one of the most healing modalities we have utilized. My therapist and I didn’t know I had DID when we started EMDR, so I did end up going through periods of major flooding and dysregulation. It is likely some of my crises were a result of EMDR opening up the containers in my mind too quickly. I am fortunate to have a great support system and a lot of coping tools in my toolbox, so that helped…but start slowly and don’t be afraid to make modifications. Be aware the effects can last into the next few days as things are processing.

 

[Wendell_R]

We have done a lot of EMDR directly with individual parts. Initially, EMDR was extremely terrifying--the "tappers" that are often used brought up muscle memories of being hit. We went REALLY slow and did a lot of work on first getting used to the sensations, and then establishing a lot of resources that could be brought in during EMDR. Once all that was done, we had no problems and EMDR was effective. After we did EMDR, we were extremely tired and wiped out, but no bad PTSD flashbacks.

 

[DSkyler]

For me EMDR was a game changer. Had it 17/18 years ago and turned my life around. Have now returned to it as I knew I hadn’t dealt with everything. Lots of therapists have it as part of their ‘toolkit’. I made sure I found an experienced therapist who only worked in EMDR and PTSD Trauma based issues.

Going at your own pace is vital.

I have still used other modalities and find other things helpful, but EMDR is the only thing that has consistently rewired my nervous system and got my damaged brain talking to all parts. Still not easy at first, but like anything, the more you do, the more you understand.

The research into this modality is fairly extensive and plenty of brain imaging. In the UK it is NHS approved as a treatment for PTSD and is used a lot here in the US.

All therapies have their limitations so I mix and match. But for me EMDR is the bedrock of recovery.

 

[Freddyt]

What have your experiences been as people with dissociative disorders in EMDR? I’m curious about both sides; any complications, difficulties, and also positive developments. Additional challenges would also be appreciated. Mainly in the parts front.

Part of how emdr works is not changing memories, but changing how you feel about them.
I always think of it like an old timey library card file, your brain is going through and changing any cards that contain any part of that memory. Depending how long between a and b, it can take time.

As for parts (I don't have an issue with that) it is likely you will uncover their origin. From what I see here - it's pretty rough stuff because usually they took memories you couldn't deal with for events. Getting through that can be pretty rough stuff.

Generally though, as others said it's the base therapy, the one you use the most, but probably not the only therapy you will use. I think I have had 4 or 5 different kinds of therapy with my current T.

It's not unusual. I think of it like tools, and you can't fix a complex machine with one tool, you need a whole toolbox, and you can't fox complex trauma with one therapy.

If you have a good T, they will understand when other therapy's are needed. Add to that your T should recognize when to slow things down with EMDR. I laugh to myself some now about that because when I started, things were "here's what we are doing" now its "what are we doing today?". Because well complex. And what seems to most people as simple- can be like digging the Panama Canal with a teaspoon to us.

So summary - EMDR may be the main therapy you use, but expect side trips and using other therapy to get by some other things. And with parts, all those voices need to be heard to.

 

[Dark.Green.Feathers]

interesting, i didn’t know this was posted.

since (and maybe before?) posting that, EMDR resources have been part of therapy for quite a while now. not full on EMDR, i don’t think? but definitely aspects of it. pretty powerful stuff. doing it in very manageable doses so it’s not taking the lids off big stuff yet but really interesting how it works.

i’m pretty open to it all, in a recent session i did some kind of ego state work and that was complicated but interesting. the part who posted this has been willing but reluctant, i think. there’s a younger one who seems to hate therapy so far but i think he did the resourcing anyway, when he attended.

so it all seems to be going well on that front. i know it’ll probably get a bit scary when we get deeper into it, at some point, but i’m not scared of T doing anything weird to me. she seems to know what she’s doing and likes erring on the safe side with where the system’s at right now. i’m not sure what all her modalities actually are (name wise) but i like her approach to me. i’ve got pretty comfortable considering the first time i attended i was scared and hoping another part would come back so i didn’t have to meet her. parts who have attened has gone from 2 to 4 since this post. she must be doing something right.