Physical Reaction To Trigger

[zoie33]

I'm not quite sure how to describe this I asked my therapist the first time it happened during EMDR but he said he doesn't for sure. We were processing a new memory and it led to memories of my dad and I started feeling this strange sensation in my stomach or core area kind of like an uncontrollable need to stretch. It has been getting worse and worse. Now at certain times throughout the day or when I have certain memories it's very strong and it's extending to my arms and sometimes legs like a full-body uncontrollable stretch but it always starts in my core. Has anybody experienced anything like this before? It is getting to the point where it's embarrassing if people see me doing this.

 

[shimmerz]

Yes, I get this in my back. It happens (for me) when I have a shifting of energy (which is usually a shifting of ideas). This traumatic energy can get stuck in the body, it isn't just in the mind.

For myself, I try to imagine (while it is happening), releasing it through my feet and into the ground. I try to picture the energy moving and releasing outside of myself this way in order to get the energy in my body moving again. Along with this will come more physical energy shifting, so it is no wonder that you feel it in your arms etc now.

I would suggest that you trust the process. One question. Are you able to stretch at will like this?

 

[zoie33]

I have stretched like this in the mornings although always involuntarily. It is not like when you stretch your arms out and yawn or something. It is mainly centered on the left side of my stomach area. Sometimes it is not too strong and I can control it bit without showing visible signs to the world. That happens throughout the day but when I am being triggered it happens to the extreme and I literally look like a spaz when it is really strong and takes over my arms and even legs. It has gotten progressively worse and more frequent over the past two weeks.

 

[shimmerz]

I have no personal experience with EMDR, but is there a way you and your therapist can try to get to the root of this physical reaction during your next session?

 

[zoie33]

Not the next session but once he finds out how bad it's been we may address it at some point I have too much baggage I'm still trying to address one car accident it's been going on for 3 months I don't do too well with EMDR yet