Just Started Emdr... Any Advice Appreciated

[TimeToHeal]

Hi All...

I've been in and out of treatment or therapy for a variety of diagnoses for most of my life.

I just started back in therapy about 5 months ago after about a 5 year break. I have finally found a great therapist, who is a trauma specialist, with whom I seem to 'click' and work well with.

She is the first therapist I've ever had to suggest EMDR. I was very eager to try/start it....I mean, nothing else has ever seemed to work so why not?!

We had our first (2 hour) EMDR Session yesterday. We spent a lot of time in the beginning reinforcing my 'calm or safe place.' I really had no idea what to expect with the actual EMDR but found it to be quite extensive and a bit overwhelming.

I felt OK when I left her office, though a little drained. But then I found myself sitting, kind of 'frozen,' in my car for like 10 or 15 minutes. I considered calling her from the parking lot, but didn't. I was finally able to force myself to move, put my seat belt on, and drive away.

I drove the entire way to my stable (I ride and train horses competitively and find the stable to be quite healing and grounding), in this weird sort of fog, where things didn't quite seem real and I didn't really feel like I was part of the World or something. Is this normal, following EMDR???

Thankfully the horses were able to bring me back to the here and now and I felt a little better after leaving the stable.

I just felt sort of exhausted when I got home and was in bed super early. Today my thoughts have been preoccupied with yesterdays session. Does all of this sound normal or typical following EMDR?

I emailed my therapist late yesterday.... We frequently communicate this way between sessions...but have not heard back from her yet. It was however, Friday afternoon, and don't know whether she replies on the weekend. So any responses would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks....

 

[marylouise]

I have an extensive trauma history. I started with 12 years of intensive therapy with an extraordinary therapist back in the days when trauma survivors were still routinely diagnosed with everything from B.P. to schizophrenia. I made a lot of progress back then with my extremely gifted therapist, but processing my memories was like walking into an earthquake zone with shocks that resounded for weeks.

I had to go back into therapy for new stuff some years ago, and while my new therapist is nowhere near as intuitive as my old one, she has a remarkable toolset developed by trauma researchers over the past two decades, including EMDR.

I am working on processing the worst experiences of my life with EMDR, and the disruption is relatively minimal. I find EMDR amazing after doing trauma work without it ... but unfortunately it's not magic, and the effects for me are very similar to what you describe.

 

[macca]

It sounds like you were dissociated after the session. This happened to me as well, in my only session of EMDR so far. Take good care of yourself the next couple of days, and keep using grounding to come back to the here and now, like you said with the horses.

My T told me not to drive straight after, so I'm glad you were able to drive in that state without having an accident! I was told I'd probably have some vivid dreams afterwards, but it did not happen for 3 days, then I had a heap. It did feel like it did something, though I'm not sure what, as I continued to get symptoms. It's not supposed to work after only 1 session though, I don't think.

 

[TimeToHeal]

Well, I finally heard back from my therapist. She basically said the same things that you guys said -- that what I experienced was pretty normal. Also, that I went into "a type of self protective mode," and that that was ok, and to let her know if it happens again.

I'm off to work all day today so I'm hopeful that will help to keep my mind focused.

Thank you guys for your input! I hope you all have great and peaceful day! :)