First Emdr, Resource Strengthening Went Wrong (?)

[Satuma]

This T used bls and some hypnosis kind of resource strenghtening, I think. Then she said a word, don't remember what (maybe it was "nurture"?) and I instantly started crying. Felt how I was falling in to my rediscovered "black hole of sadness", so quickly pushed it away and tried to feel the nurturing. Felt pretty good afterwards in some way, but the sore spot was active at the same time... hard to explain.

Now the feeling of solidity has wore off and I'm feeling raw and like crying.

So scared that EMDR wont work for me since even resource installation triggers me. :(

Would really appriciate if someone could help me understand, maybe someone who's had a similar experience?

 

[EveHarrington]

I've never heard of hypnosis being used to prepare someone for EMDR.

Usually it's a matter of building up coping skills, learning what grounding tools work for you, and creating a safe place in your mind.

Please don't take this as a sign that EMDR isn't right for you.

 

[Sandstone]

I don't think the crying is necessarily a sign of anything wrong. When I first tried using a safe place, within therapy, I cried. The T thought it was a sign I didn't feel safe , but to me it makes complete sense - I wouldn't cry while confronting dangerous concepts, I would wait till I was somewhere safe. Perhaps the word nurture is the same for you - it is only when you get to a situation whee you are nurtured that it safe to release your distress.

 

[Biz]

@Satuma , I've read stuff about hypnosis being integrated with EMDR; it seems like your T has a lot of training. Having done EMDR for 8+ months, I would not call your resource installation appointment a 'fail.'

EMDR is mysterious and one's reactions to it are mysterious, and the best illustration of that is they don't actually know how it works yet as you may have seen from previous threads, it can trigger all kinds of stuff or nothing at all. I would have crying episodes 2-3 days after EMDR appointments. Yet, during it felt like nothing was happening.

Keep working with it, sounds like it has some effectiveness emotionally for you. Maybe you'll find a whole range of different experiences as you continue.