More Questions About Emdr

[GardenGirl0214]

I've had multiple therapists in groups, and they have all done some form of emergency page. I don't...

@joeylittle , that is my hope - that I can continue seeing my current therapist once a week and do EMDR every other week. I'm hoping my insurance will allow for that, but I have to find out.

My current therapist does CBT, not DBT. It has helped with my anxiety disorder.

One of the biggest concerns I have about EMDR is the possibility of making my anxiety symptoms worse! I just suffered through months of anxiety and depression, and only in the last week havery I started to see some improvement. I would have to start having severe symptoms again if I decide to do EMDR.

 

[Lucycat]

You sit in a straight back chair, feet flat on the floor, hands on your knees, eyes closed ( a fear of mine). My therapiat talked to me into being realxed "listen to the clock, the elevator, the rain, the AC" soft tones, always speaking so i knew where he was.

I just wanted to add that there are huge variations on EMDR. The principles remain the same but the structure can be very different.
I had EMDR at home, so I sat on the sofa and sometimes I would have my feet on the floor, other times they would be curled under me. I used bilateral sounds through headphones rather than lights or tapping and I often kept my eyes open. It was absolutely my choice and I could have them open or shut even within the same session. My therapist has a nice calm everyday voice. His EMDR voice is just the same. He doesn't talk all the time as there are significant pauses for me to think of the traumatic memory. I didn't have to say it out loud. That was the great thing about it - not having to talk much.

Anyway- it certainly helped.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@Lucycat thanks! I had done a lot of research about it before I said ok to it, that was more about what it did, not how it was done.

I dunno why my therapist had me come off the sofa and on the chair and he said that i had to sit that way and had to close my eyes to become relaxed and as soon as i opened them is when i followed what he had which was a fat yellow highlighter.

Maybe he based all of that on my trauma, I have a severe fear of not being able to see whats there, especially in a room alone with someone even if that someone is the only person i trust 100% on the planet.

My therapist also has a very soothing voice and he spoke in a calming, soft, sorta sweet tone but when i had said that i was scared cuz i had my eyes closed he said thats why he kept talking, so i could sorta postion him in the room and when i had got scared with my eyes closed he said "keep them closed" and had me listening to sounds again to relax.

Maybe i can ask to sit on the couch next time?

I only did it once and i also constantly try to dissociate in therapy so maybe its based on the person and their trauma?

The one time I did it, i think, is an extreme thing that can happen, which is why i shared it, but def having someone trained in EMDR and trauma helps as he got me out of the flashback and half way ok again really well and amazingly quickly.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

One of the biggest concerns I have about EMDR is the possibility of making my anxiety symptoms worse!

Maybe for a short time but maybe not at all. It depends on the person and the content. Thats why DBT would be good though, if you already have relaxation/self soothing skills, distracting techniques down and can handle things better then whatever comes up will be easier to deal with.

Im doing DBT on my own and its improving things very well. Check iut the link i posted, its a workbook that has you actively paricipating so its easier to apply.

 

[GardenGirl0214]

Maybe for a short time but maybe not at all. It depends on the person and the content. Thats...

Thanks. I'll definitely check out the link and most likely will purchase the book.

I just place a call to the EMDR therapist and left a message on her voicemail. I'm still not sure if I will start EMDR, but I agreed to at least speak with the therapist to have my concerns addressed.

 

[joeylittle]

Honestly, @GardenGirl0214 - it sounds like you are doing really good research and taking all the smart steps you can, towards adding a new therapeutic modality.

What was is that caused this improvement?

I just suffered through months of anxiety and depression, and only in the last week havery I started to see some improvement.

Your symptoms will get worse - let's just assume that, since it's what the majority of people experience. How much worse, who can tell. But you have been able to see your symptoms abate. Was it the CBT?

As long as it's something you can be aware of, managing a rise in symptoms is much easier the second time around.

 

[GardenGirl0214]

@joeylittle , thank you for your honesty about the possibility /probability that my symptoms will get worse. I appreciate honesty, especially from those that have been down a particular path, rather than hearing "let's not go there." Well, as someone with an anxiety disorder, I need to not be taken by surprise!

To answer your question about what helped improve my symptoms, it was a combination of a med increase and my sessions with my current therapist.

 

[katz]

I have been reading a lot of other peoples experiances with EMDR. I'm still scared to try it. I had a T , many years ago, tell me that it would not be good for me, due to the amount of "mess" that I have to look at. (It is all from childhood.)

I'm also very concerned about trying it because I'm between T right now. I keep getting the ones who are leaving. The last two I had both left--for other reasons. I'm now to the point that the first thing I ask any T is "do you plan on leaving soon?"

From what I have read here on the site, it sounds like EMDB very scary and stressing. I have a real problem with trust, since some of my "demons" were family members. I am also very worried about not having a support net. I was put in the hospital, when my partner died unexpectedly, a few years back. When I got out, all my so called friends were gone. I have not heard from any of them since. (over 10 years ago).

I also know that it will take some time to form a trusting relationship with a new T. Some of me wonders if it would even be worth trying to do it. I'm worried that it won't do me any good. Just upset me.

 

[GardenGirl0214]

@katz, I have some of those very same concerns that you expressed. Mostly, I'm scared of being retraumatized! I was told that won't happen, but I'm still scared. I am scheduled to meet the EMDR therapist this week. I am actually glad that I will also continue to see my current therapist while I start EMDR with the new therapist. I don't think I would have agreed to try EMDR if I couldn't continue seeing my current therapist. I have huge trust issues also. Also, I cannot find much information at all online about the EMDR therapist. I find that unusual. I am a bit skeptical about EMDR, but I'm also trying to keep an open mind.

 

[katz]

@katz, I have some of those very same concerns that you expressed. Mostly, I...

Please let me know how it goes. I would love to hear your opinions on what you felt.
FYI, just search for EMDR treatment. There are lots of threads that I have read.

Good luck!

 

[GardenGirl0214]

@katz, thank you! I have my first appointment this week with the EMDR therapist. I'll post an update on this thread after the appointment.