Deaf Global Nomad
Platinum Member
Hi Lorax,
Welcome to the forum! I do not live in the UK, but I have extensive experience with EMDR as a client. It is definitely one of the top treatment options for PTSD and usually works quite quickly. It always sounds like it is a good idea to try because it does bring relief to a large number of people. The researchers and practitioners have become quite adept at designing techniques to make the treatment available to people of all abilities and even preferences. They can use eye movement, vibration in hands, tapping of thighs or hands, etc... to make the treatment accessible to everyone.
However, researchers and practitioners have also found some contraindications for when it is a high-risk intervention option. One of these contraindications is for people with multiple traumas, complex PTSD, or developmental traumas. For these individuals (to which I include myself) it may work at first and then cause a snowball effect of neuronal firing basically causing an avalanche with the firing of all experiences. Those effects can be extremely drastic and very scary. Please make sure that you have emergency numbers and people checking in on you during the first weeks of treatment. There were quite a few people years ago on this forum who experienced very similar reactions to myself. I think in the meantime the fully certified professionals with the credentials of the two year training program have become much better at selecting who is and who is not a good candidate for EMDR.
I would definitely say that it is worth a try, but make sure you set up an appropriate safety net for the week after the first few treatments.
I have in the meantime become a convinced supporter of Somatic Experiencing mentioned by Eat above because it is significantly more gentle. However if it is not by NHS, then it may be out of reach.
Best of luck and I hope all goes well! Please keep us updated...
Welcome to the forum! I do not live in the UK, but I have extensive experience with EMDR as a client. It is definitely one of the top treatment options for PTSD and usually works quite quickly. It always sounds like it is a good idea to try because it does bring relief to a large number of people. The researchers and practitioners have become quite adept at designing techniques to make the treatment available to people of all abilities and even preferences. They can use eye movement, vibration in hands, tapping of thighs or hands, etc... to make the treatment accessible to everyone.
However, researchers and practitioners have also found some contraindications for when it is a high-risk intervention option. One of these contraindications is for people with multiple traumas, complex PTSD, or developmental traumas. For these individuals (to which I include myself) it may work at first and then cause a snowball effect of neuronal firing basically causing an avalanche with the firing of all experiences. Those effects can be extremely drastic and very scary. Please make sure that you have emergency numbers and people checking in on you during the first weeks of treatment. There were quite a few people years ago on this forum who experienced very similar reactions to myself. I think in the meantime the fully certified professionals with the credentials of the two year training program have become much better at selecting who is and who is not a good candidate for EMDR.
I would definitely say that it is worth a try, but make sure you set up an appropriate safety net for the week after the first few treatments.
I have in the meantime become a convinced supporter of Somatic Experiencing mentioned by Eat above because it is significantly more gentle. However if it is not by NHS, then it may be out of reach.
Best of luck and I hope all goes well! Please keep us updated...
