Starting emdr

[Hush92]

My therapist introduced me to it a while ago and I did research on it and it seemed really promising and supported. So I was excited to start. It took a while because I was unstable at the time so she waited for me to be more level. It was weird because during the session I actually barely felt anything and even felt sort of silly about it....but then all this week I have been off. I have been extremely irritable and angry at every little thing. I was snapping at my mom for minor issues. I began having stressful and quite violent nightmares.

It's strange and concerning. Did anyone else have anything similar?

 

[Dolphin Lady]

Yes, absolutely. EMDR can seem really bizarre to begin with and you can feel like it is not doing anything. But when you come away, during the week you can get all sorts of emotions popping up. I felt low in mood and very sad for a few days after my EMDR sessions. Do something nice for yourself and go easy on yourself too, your brain is busy processing the memories. It has been stirred up so it will cause you to have vivid dreams and other memories can come into your mind too.
Hang in there!

 

[Deleted member 37474]

Yes. I am doing emdr at this time. My T recommends that you just kind of ride this stuff out. Don't try to fight or process it during the first few days. I am currently writing this because I am up from a nightmare. Good luck on your therapy, I know that mine is helping.

 

[Freida]

yep. and @TexCat is right -- don't fight it. Just let your brain run free. Which can suck but it's how it heals, I've been at it for over a year (because I am spectacularly screwed up!) and was pretty weirded out when I started. Now I'm more into a pattern. I sleep a lot afterwards, and it takes about 2 days to really hit me. T says to think of the nightmares as my brain just finally shoving memories into long term memory where they belong instead of keeping them in real time.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

It was worth it for me. I am no longer tortured by the painful agonizing memories and intrusive thoughts anymore. It was so worth it.

 

[Hush92]

My therapist hasn't brought it back up for a while now. She thinks I have DID....I don't really think I have it though.

 

[EveHarrington]

Why does your therapist think you have DID?