EMDR At Home

[Shoka]

I have to hand it to those of you brave enough to use EMDR at home. I DO think this therapy works, but I think it is hard work!

I wouldn't do it at home unless my therapist and I had a lot of that work under my belt already-- the after effects were always a little rough on me, but I assume everyone's experience with EMDR can be different.

 

[Leda]

When it comes to EMDR, I´m totally dependent on having my therapist there to see that I don´t dissosiate. For me I feel it would be dangerous to try it at home.

 

[Dylan]

I've done EMDR at home, with my partner. I did it at home after I had worked through the initial overwhelming garbage with my therapist (using EMDR). After 6-9 months of it with my therapist, having worked through the worst of it, I felt comfortable trying it at home. It felt safe for me to do so and was actually my own idea (didn't tell my therapist till later).

I'd really like to try it at home, on my own; I didn't know you could..what would that look like? Holding your own fingers up or do you just replicate the eye movements?

-Dylan

 

[TLight]

Dylan;
You can do either one, but my T recommended to do it with my eyes closed cause I can get more into the experience (oh joy). The finger can be distracting.

Lately, yesterday and today, I've been doing it on my walks with my eyes open going from treetop to treetop, as the originator of the method did. At the time I'm walking I just allow 'mild' memories to surface, his eyes, the beatings, the hands swinging at me.........and I get my eyes to do the back and forth motion.

Not sure if it is helping though........but I'll try anything to lessen my symptoms. I told myself the whole time I was doing this today that "I'm safe" "He can't hurt you anymore" "no one can hurt you anymore"

 

[Dylan]

Thanks for the explanation, TLight. I'm going to give it a try for "stuck" issues.

Thanks again, and I hope your EMDR 'practice' goes well.

Dylan

 

[fin]

TLight I was wondering how the emdr is going for you are you going to try for it at home?

I found last weeks preliminary was alright on the day, i was concerned about the choice between hand or fingers (a little triggering but..hey Im ok kind of but its hard I did think I had found my safe place at last and that was hopeful to say the least and it does feel it is hard again I came back again with it is what it is again exposure therapy

I hope you are still going well TLi.as always all respect to you fin~

 

[TLight]

Hi Fin....

Well, I haven't done much at home since increasing my dosage on the Seroquel. I must say I've been pretty content the last 5 days and I just don't feel the 'need' to go there.

HOwever, prior to that I had a flashback that I talked about in my diary and my BF did the process on me.

I go in on Friday to do some more with my therapist. I don't know how I really feel about it. This drug has really given me some relief and I almost feel like I'm just ready to move on with things.........but we'll see how Friday goes and if I can even feel?

 

[fin]

I 'm sorry if I am out of line saying this, I do believe you do 'feel' TLight, I really do believe that it is difficult and sometimes hard for people that dont always understand how painful exposure therapy can be and how it works , support does I belive and can play a vital role in how we can progress sometimes, I think I just am so very happy for you T. I have my next one on Friday also now... I am going in hope. take care T and thankyou ~

 

[fin]

Update on emdr preliminary.
Today was difficult and emotional, and we have not yet begun the actual emdr therapy yet. But I am trying to be hopeful today and know I have to slow and rest some more also.

Thanking of you~

 

[Blues in NYC]

Fin,

Though I'm having a lot of positive results with the therapy, I too often need to slow down and rest. It can take me a few hours sometimes to begin doing so.

Not sure about other peoples experiences, but my EMDR and brainspotting work is totally integrated into the talk therapy sessions. If there is something I just need to talk about, sometimes I just talk. Other times I go in and let my doctor know I'm trying to come in with a clean plate that day so we can "go deep." Other days, she suprises me and stops me mid talking and says okay lets take that feeling right there or that incident and let's do some eye movements. I get suprised not because she interrupts and startles me, but instead she focuses on something I was writing off as rather minor. I think as my doc listens, she's picking up thought patterns and finding which memories/patterns need some loosening or rewiring with the help of the EMDR.

It won't always be comfortable. You probably leave exhausted and exhalted on some days, simultaneously tearful and manic. But your notion about being kind to yourself after each session (even if its just a talk day) and deliberately slowing down sounds like a good idea.

Take care of yourself and good luck on your next few sessions!

~ Blues

 

[fin]

Blues I was late for my appointment today and that heightend the anxiety I was already feeling this morning before I got there, and my journey involves me travelling past a trauma scene and an abusers house. I make it to the appointment though reasonably in tact considering those facts. I am finding it difficult because I would so like tobe able to talk (voice talk) to someone and there just isn't anyone to talk to and say what I need to say and feel what I need to feel at the moment.
Thankyou again for taking the time to and trouble to respomd to me like this it is appreciated, as this forum is my support and contact, it is pretty much all of my support and contact (in truth this week has been hell) and the thing that is holding me together is the hope i have when I come to the forum here. I just feel very disconnected inside myself and the pain is quite intense, short of checking myself into the doctors or something (and that would require me to be completely out of control, and I am doing everything I can do not to be in that state right now..) well short of saying something about how extreme I am feeling and I would have to be soo way past where I am at present for me to be able to do that and soo far over the top.. soo I woould be way past how I want to be and still having to deal with this as best as I can today, because I would have to be dangerous really dangerous to get emergency treatment and even then I am not sure. I am supremely grateful to have this forum to come to and write and find a way to learn to get through the feelings I am experiencing at the moment. One step at a time and they may again be really small steps but I am taking them and constantly attempting in pushing through my anxiety levels now rather than giving into the anxiety and fear and letting it consume me.

To go to the extreme would be me giving into the overwhelming fears and pain I am experiencing and right now I refuse to do that. I am still here and I am still going I will not lie down and let this take over and rob me of my life, I am here and I am a fighter today, and that is what I need to be right now I think, I need to fight for myself perhaps, really fight again.

I hope this is alrigth to say this here in this thread, it has been a bad week and I just cant give in to how I am feeling, and I cant put this onto others, so I am putting this out there and it is up to other people if they choose to read me or choose to support me, I am up and I am trying to fight because I am not out yet. Thankyou for your friendship and support here, I think I need to heal a little more today before posting anythng further perhaps. Because I dont want to hurt anyone else in the process of me working this through here.
~