EMDR therapy from one patient's perspective

[HannaD]

At first it sort of just seemed like talk therapy that was guided with a strange device in my hands. We would phase back and forth between recounting traumatic events and processing them.
Apparently, the process is similar to that of the REM sleep state. It was not hypnotic though. I was fully awake and in control at all times. It changed how my nightmares were playing out. Graphic stuff, with no hope for help would change to others coming to my aid and fending off the danger.
My reactivity to triggers and intrusive memories steadily went down throughout the sessions. My sense of control and security became the inverse that and started to go up. I still have those symptoms just to a lesser degree.
I found that after the EMDR sessions I would be so exhausted that I only wanted to rest and sleep for the next two days. About the time I would start feeling better I would then be due for the post EMDR session. This usually involved reassessing my symptoms and reaffirming my coping strategies.
As time went on I would begin to feel like a little bit of weight would be lifted off my chest with each therapy session.
EMDR therapy didn't cure me like some claimed it would. What the therapy allowed me to do was move forward with my symptoms. In despite of them.
Now here's the weird part and my therapist told me this would be true. Years after having EMDR therapy, I was/am still experiencing moments of progress with the trauma. It's like someone flipped a switch in my head to process things and now it can't be switched off. Yes I still have symptoms from PTSD but, as time goes on I'm finding it easier to live with.

 

[Wendell_R]

It's like someone flipped a switch in my head to process things and now it can't be switched off.

Yes, I have had this, too. it's almost like I am hearing the beep-beep-beep back and forth in my head while I work through something. And I often call in my safe people and places that I learned in EMDR therapy.

 

[Ellabella44]

Thank you for your perspective. I've been afraid doing Emdr would make things worse. That my dissociating would come back like it was when I had onset. Constant flashbacks, drinking again, self harming like I did back then, insomnia everything. I've just had a setback in my recovery two weeks ago and dissociated in therapy last Monday. I do want to improve and thought I had this mostly together till this recent breakdown. I want to try this when I have enough to cover my insurance co pay. I want to learn about this as much as I can before I do it. Disaster planning sigh.

 

[Wendell_R]

I want to learn about this as much as I can before I do it.

I did a year of stabilization with my EMDR therapist before we did EMDR, and then we spent a good amount of time doing "resourcing" EMDR where we worked at establishing safe people & safe places. If you decide to try EMDR, I suggest talking to potential EMDR therapists about their approach, and finding one who emphasizes a phased, safe approach.

 

[somerandomguy]

I wholeheartedly agree with @Wendell_R. Everyone is different, but I don't think doing EMDR without first learning to use grounding and emotional regulation techniques effectively would be of much use. In my case, I'm glad I did extensive talk therapy along with learning those techniques before I started EMDR.

 

[Ellabella44]

I've had 5 years talk therapy. Before a few weeks ago I considered myself as stable as I can be at this time. Sounds like I need stabilization with the person I will do Emdr with. I will see if my therapist can suggest someone who eases into things when its time. Thank you. I feel a bit better that it might not be lighting myself on fire while parachuting.

 

[Fahrenheit451]

EMDR therapy didn't cure me like some claimed it would.

I think this happens a lot when people talk about EMDR. Before I started treatments my psychologist and I discussed at length what she hoped to accomplish. So I was under no false assumptions that everything would suddenly be sunshine and roses. And just like you Hanna, after every session I was just beat. Looking back I would say they definitely helped. Even though I still have nightmares I seldom wake up in a blind panic and start running around the house.
It’s a long road and I hope you continue to recover.

 

[Karolina12]

We just jumped in without any preparation, talk therapy, or grounding or containment work. I couldn’t get the hang of the safe space thing.

For me, it turns out what was most helpful was a therapist that is highly flexible in how we use EMDR and can see what is working/not working and course correct in the moment.