Has Anyone Else Struggled With Emdr? Please

[Shann0n]

Almost three years ago I was in an extremely bad car accident, which left me with severe back problems that I've seen over 20 doctors for in the past three years. There isn't a minute of the day I'm not in pain and not being reminded of the accident I was in.
Mid September I realized something was extremely wrong when I was almost rear ended again and lost myself in a 45 minute long panic attack on the side of the road. I reached out for some help and found a local therapist who specialized in trauma.
After multiple sessions he diagnosed me with ptsd, depression, and all the fun things that come along with that. Since I received a diagnosis, I feel I've become more aware of how much I struggle and that has made it worse.
He convinced me EMDR was a great choice for me to emotionally heal. I've been in therapy since October and I don't feel it has made any difference. I have sleeping problems associated with my anxiety, but they get way worse the days leading up to and the days following my therapy session of EMDR. Most of my week is consumed by the dread and after effects of this method. What is wrong with me, is there another method I could try? I don't know how much longer I can do this. I feel insane and most of all I feel helpless.
Has anyone else struggled this much with EMDR? Please, I desperately need to know.

 

[Deleted member 20280]

I had EMDR for 8 sessions to try and help process multiple abuse trauma coupled with military Combat PTSD. Yes I had major issues in therapy, to the point I would never consider EMDR again.

 

[Seagreen]

Yes I had emdr and really struggled with it for months. Much of that time felt unbearable. Then one day it was like a switch flipped and I felt better. There are other treatment options. it would be worth discussing with youtr therapist.

 

[Seasounds]

EMDR was detrimental for me. It is not for everybody. Feel free to make your choice, to stay with it or quit. There are many other therapies, that help PTSD.

If you search thread titles for EMDR on this site, you will see there are others, like you. :)

 

[Frogs88]

I have found EMDR really useful. I'm working on my second target with it at the moment (Because my ptsd stems from three occasions) the first one I had been having body memories for the last seven years and in the month since I finished it has not bothered me at all. My self estemm is higher than it's been in years. But this second one has been really hard, In the sessions I have stopped breathing, vomited, ect.. yet after the session when I leave I feel like something has been released. I feel like it's going to work.

That said, if you've been going since October you should ask your therapist to change the movement, direction or speed and see what that does. Ask to try it with another therapist or ask what your other options are. You're in charge here, if it's not working don't allow him to persuade you otherwise, be strict, you're in charge.

 

[seedling]

I just started EMDR after being in CBT therapy for almost 5 years while also doing acupuncture. I don't think I could have handled EMDR if I did it in the beginning. I'm more stable now and have coping skills.

The acupuncture helped to release frozen emotion for processing while calming the anxiety. I got in touch with the memories that way and started to realize what my traumas were and what the issues are.

I've come to EMDR with a foundation to work on. I don't think EMDR would have been good before now.

 

[Julie Pitts]

I had EMDR for Complex PTSD. After a severe breakdown for three session the first two worked wonders but the third was with a new counselor I am the one that mentioned I did well in EMDR but when she did it things got bad fast.

 

[J.L. Pitts]

I also have complex PTSD I was in therapy and my therapist studied Jung's theories and I did a lot of drawing and MAN what drawing a tree can tell a properly trained therapist is amazing there were other things I had to draw also but I was in that therapy about 18 months then for some really extreme flashbacks she suggested I do EMDR. The first two times I did it made a huge difference, but then when I moved and was seeking a qualified counselor (don't think I ever found one while living in Florida) I found one that I told I did well with EMDR and it was awful! It magnified the flashback and I have lately been having that flashback...anyway I think it is the method and the person doing it. It is extremely emotional and can feel extremely uncomfortable but My first two worked out really well. I did not have the luxury of finding a good therapist ever again. Thankfully I had great therapy from 92-95 in Killeen, Texas. My whole recovery still revolves around the therapy I received in those three years. I went weekly to private sessions and added weekly group sessions in the latter part of therapy.

That is a picture of me because this site automatically used my gravatar that I use for my Author brand which is on many professional sites but I did not know thwy automatically used it and my name is now associated with it on this forum and I am just going to own it!

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Unlike you I was ready for it. Mabe you are not ready for it yet or mabe never. What works for one may not work for another. I would suggest that you end it for your own sanity. You do not sound ready for it. Remember it is your healing and recovery and you can only be true to yourself and know what you can handle and what you cannot.

For me it changed my life for the better, but like I said I was ready for it. I wish you good on your healing and recovery path you are on.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I don't have the same experience with EMDR. I tried it, and it just wasn't effective for me. There are a number of other ways that you can process your trauma. Some people do prolonged exposure therapy, some do trauma based CBT, etc. It took me awhile to find something that worked for me (intensive trauma therapy), but I'm glad I kept on pushing forward. EMDR may not be right for you, as it isn't a "one size fits all" sort of treatment. Then again, 99.9% of the time things get worse before they get better. I think you should talk this over with your therapist and get his input on all of this. Maybe its a matter of pushing forward and continuing with EMDR, and maybe its a matter of finding a different way to process your trauma altogether.

 

[ekane]

Also consider the fact that everyone processes at different time frames. Some people can handle doing EMDR every week, or even every couple days! Meanwhile others need it spread weeks or months apart. Why not take a break for a few months while your brain keeps processing, and you can do CBT and/or anything else you enjoy in the meantime. Every little bit helps, unless it hurts. Think of it like ice cream. Ice cream is awesome, unless you eat way too much of it too quickly and make yourself sick. Nonetheless, you will still love ice cream... you just won't eat it again this month.

 

[J.L. Pitts]

Does anyone know what that doctor in the UK is doing I think his name is Muss he believes it works so well that when the government pulled funding he chose to do it for. free But I don't understand the process