EMDR

[Elphaba]

I tried EMDR for the first time earlier this week. I found it exhausting and have been bursting out into tears, for what appears to be no reason, extremely frequently since. It's like it brought up a lot of feelings that I am not sure how to handle.

I wonder if anyone has any experiences of EMDR? I am supposed to see this therapist 3 more times (as it was meant to be a temporary measure as I am on a waiting list for somewhere else), but I am confused as to what 4 sessions of EMDR actually can achieve? Can it makes the trauma go away? It certainly doesn't feel like it after the first session.

I am very new to this entire thing - It was only yesterday I properly accepted that yes, I do in fact have PTSD and need to address it, but I have a lot to learn...

Apologies if there are other threads where this should be posted instead - I am also not used to navigate in the forum yet.

 

[Deleted member 541]

If you do a search, you will find a lot of threads on here concerning EMDR....

 

[cherryblossom]

I have just moved a long thread about EMDR into the therapy section (which is why you may not have seen it). This is the link

[DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/threads/6815-Does-Anyone-Have-Experience-Of-EMDR[/DLMURL]

If you look at the 'Therapy' section, you will also find a few other threads about EMDR. As SheCat has said, you can search the forums for threads and posts using the 'search' box at the top right of every page - just under the green PTSD logo.

Hope this helps

CB

 

[Elphaba]

Hi, thank you both for your suggestions and help! I did a search earlier but I think I got every single post with EMDR mentioned up as a result, so I need to refine my searching skills a little :)

The linked to thread here is very helpful! (I am not sure, to be honest, that three emdr-sessions will be the answer to everything!)

Thanks again!
-E

 

[Elphaba]

Hi
I am finding it difficult to participate or ask questions in existing threads - I understand that it takes some time before becoming a full member, but in the meantime, is there a way to ask questions/take part at all? I don't want to start duplicate threads, only that I am unable to ask in the existing ones, so I am not quite sure what the etiquette would be.

Sorry again if this is an annoying question.

-E

 

[catjudo]

As long as you're a "restricted" member you can only post in the New Member section. If there is a post in another area that you have a question about, you can start a new post in this forum area (New Members: Discussion). Others will see it and be able to respond. Once your membership is no longer restricted, the thread you created will be moved to the appropriate area (or sometimes even merged with the thread you were referencing, if appropriate). HTH

 

[Elphaba]

Thanks for the response, catjudo! Looks like I have access now, but maybe the question will still be relevant for new newcomers!

-E

 

[Mina]

I tried EMDR for the first time earlier this week. I found it exhausting and have been bursting out into tears, for what appears to be no reason, extremely frequently since. It's like it brought up a lot of feelings that I am not sure how to handle.

That's how it was for me at first, especially when I began working through the most highly charged parts of the trauma. It sucks to go through, but ultimately helped me work through some things. The first step for me was to find those feelings via EMDR. Once you've found them, now you can work on handling/dealing with them. It's okay that you don't know how yet...you've just met them, and it will take time.

One question - did your therapist do a positive set at the end? That'd be one where you focus on or hold a positive (or at least neutral) thought/feeling for the duration of the last 'set' of EMDR. I know if we don't do that, I will consistently have the reaction you describe, even at this point in my journey (two years in).

 

[Elphaba]

Hi Mina,
thank you so much for your response, that was very reassuring to me.

My therapist tried to do a few positive sets at the end (to help me calm down, I thought) but it was difficult as I have problems finding my "safe place" as in my mind there are nowhere that cannot be blown up should someone set their minds to it (ptsd was brought on by bombings in my case). So maybe that is what went wrong.

There has been a few days now since my first EMDR session - and I do have to say that it really does feel like something has changed in me, so it has certainly had *some* effect. I will be going back later this week - with some questions for my therapist this time.