Empty / angry after EMDR

[bigtree87]

Hi all,

Recently I have been feeling down because I've realised I've lived my entire life up to last year with PTSD.

Firstly, EMDR has been a miracle and completely turned my life around for the better - I couldn't be more grateful. However, I do occasionally feel frustrated and angry with the past because where I am now is a result of how hard it's been living with PTSD. Secondly, I occasionally feel empty from having no more trauma in me and I am re-learning life / getting to know who I am again.

Does anyone else have / had this?

ps I am genuinely excited for my future and maybe this is only a phase - perhaps it's worth letting go instead of holding on and being more compassionate.

 

[Freddyt]

Hey was that me that posted that?

Same situation. 45 years before things went really really wrong. EMDR is fantastic for what it does but I do as many if not more sessions of somatic and talk therapy as EMDR. Understanding all the "stuff" that goes along with PTSD is really a huge part of therapy.

Losing your trauma or your trauma as it was in your mind is losing a part of you, part of your identity, a part of your self. It's been there so long its hard to deal with it being gone. You will rebuild your view of yourself through therapy.

The anger and frustration? Yeah, that's hard stuff to deal with. I'm wrestling with it still. Mostly for the same reasons. Eventually - it sorts itself out, all I can say now, is its a process and a lot of it is related to how we see the past and present, and learning to separate the two.

The way I have looked at it is, my T is my guide and we will work through all those things when we need to, as I gain the skills to deal with them.

It is fantastic to hear your positive experiences @bigtree87!!

 

[bigtree87]

Thanks for your reply!

It's comforting to know. Perhaps it's something that will fade over time as you begin to embrace the new life ahead.

 

[Freddyt]

Thanks for your reply!

It's comforting to know. Perhaps it's something that will fade over time as you begin to embrace the new life ahead.

I have complex trauma history and it's gonna take a while to get through it all but yeah - it's amazing how much work my T is willing to do as they realize how invested I am in the process.....