Emdr

[Hopefully]

My previous therapy has involved trauma focused CBT with some exposure therapy. I had a review with my therapist a couple of weeks ago as we had come to the end of the allotted time I was given for CBT. The theme of the chat was very much I should get in touch with a local charity that offer counselling for sexual abuse.

Really surprisingly I have heard from her today and she is recommending me for EMDR and I am terrified! I feel like my experience shouldn't warrant this and that I must have duped her into thinking that this is what is necessary.

I was just wondering if it matters that my memories are quite disjointed and blurred? I worry how trustworthy they are. Also something I have struggled with all along is acceptance, I am always minimising and diminishing what happened. Will EMDR be beneficial while I feel like this? Is there anything I can do before the EMDR begins to make sure I am in the best mental place for it?

 

[Marymickaela]

My previous therapy has involved trauma focused CBT with some exposure therapy. I had a review with...

I was in traditional CBT therapy for over 10 years and while it helped keep me stable I knew I needed more after being dx'd with Complex PTSD 5 years. It was like with CBT I was just treading water.

Well I found a fantastic EMDR therapist. We spent the 1st couple months just doing talk therapy before delving into EMDR and that was 18 months ago. I've made more progress with EMDR then any other therapy. It's rough, sometimes grueling and I've cried so hard I'm left with excruciating headache the rest of the day. I've asked my therapist the 1st time I connected into some deep emotions "OMG! What happened? Where did this come from?" She said she didn't know how it works, but that it does and as you tap into those hidden connections in your brain you start healing.

 

[Hopefully]

Thank you @Marymickaela for the reply, sorry for the delay in responding, things have been a bit all over the place during the Christmas period.

I think my worries are I don't know how to tap into those feelings, as soon as I start to feel that way I shut it off completely, with the exposure work I did, I was still very much at a distance from the memories, there is still so much fear around them. I completely welcome any tips! Also due to how the system works in the UK I am limited to short period of treatment so I put extra pressure on myself to get it right, to make the most of the time I have.

I am also frightened of letting go of my control, I know the way I have been dealing with this is really ineffective, but it is the only way I know, I feel some safety in that.

I guess I just have to go along and see what happens, I just really want to get all I can from it and not to let me sabotage myself from healing some of the defence mechanisms I have are really deeply ingrained in.

 

[Frolly]

My previous therapy has involved trauma focused CBT with some exposure therapy. I had a review with...

I too have just had suggested to me EMDR but I am not sure what that entails, how it will leave me after a session etc, so if you or anyone else is able to give some info and/or thoughts that would be great.

 

[Friday]

@Frolly, pinned on the top of the Therapy Forum is Comprehensive Q&a With Francine Shapiro, Inventor Of Emdr which might help answer some questions.

 

[Frolly]

Thank you!