Emdr - Maybe Its Too Traumatic

[trying2movefwd]

My 4th EMDR session was today. The trauma I dealt with today could have killed me. A few minutes after leaving dissacosiation soared and thoughts of hopelessness just about overtook me. I want the pain, the memories, the constant reliving of those 23 years of hell over! I usually do not even talk like this. It wont go away, I cant work because it wont go away. Its like a constant battle and I am tired of fighting. I think Im going to talk with my doctor about stopping EMDR and soley focus on DBT.

:cry:

 

[EveHarrington]

:hug:

I know processing trauma is extremely difficult. Has your therapist focused on how to stabilize yourself throughout the EMDR process?

 

[The ANP]

I had a similar experience 2 weeks ago. My T and I decided to focus on resourcing and hold off on additional processing until I can see a psych and stabilize my depressive/dissociative symptoms. I have been at this slowly over the past 4 years. Sometimes you have to step back and work on assimilating that trauma knowledge as it emerges. It's more challenging with those of us who have dissociation.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I did EMDR once when I wasnt ready and it was bad, very bad and so we stopped and its been about a year maybe a year and a half now and we are going to start doing it again.

Therefore, it is totally ok to stop, focus something else for a while and go back. I tend to get stuck in one therapy, have to do that on just about everything anyway. So as long as your therapist agrees, I see no issue there, in my opinion anyway.

Understand though that intergrating memories is hard and exhausting but in my opinion it does sound like you are having a harder time then most. So talk to your therapist and move to something else, and DBT I think is a great alternative because that way when you go back to it, you'll some new wonderful tools!

 

[GrayOwl]

:hug:

 

[Stickler]

I think that focusing on DBT and doing EMDR only once a month might work better...or going back to really get better at those coping skills.
If you're decompensating (the clinical term for not functioning and/or flipping out and/or losing your shit) then you DEFINITELY are going at this too hard and fast.

Too much is counterproductive.

 

[trying2movefwd]

:hug:

I know processing trauma is extremely difficult. Has your therapist focused on how to stab...

yes, but i am not very good at it.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@trying2movefwd i dont think anyone is but I agree that it sounda like you are having a rougher time at it than most and DBT is a great alternative to go to and then come back to it later when you are in a different space.

You are doing great! :hug:

 

[oasis2003]

Go back to other therapy means if it is overwhelming with EMDR .

 

[ghotiff]

As people have already said, take a break from EDMR. I think if you make the decision that you will take a break while you allow yourself to adjust then you will feel some relief from a decision made.

Now that the future has been managed, you can focus on the now and how to manage the now.

It's time to pull out your self soothing techniques and do them. Take the day off work if that's good for you. Give your emotions space to calm down. They will calm down, I know it probably doesn't feel like it right now but "this too shall pass"

Hope that helps.

 

[trying2movefwd]

I haven't developed self soothing techniques. ..well healthy ones anyhow. . . Im in process...using 5 senses helps...if im still able to think through it.

 

[trying2movefwd]

And I haven't been together enough to work, but thats for a different fourm.