What To Expect With Emdr?

[Martin Taylor]

Thanks Martin... just curious, how did you know when you were ready to begin? did you just dive into it with your T, or did you do other work prior?

We did the up front work and dove in. I guess I was ready, I just wanted to get started. Kind of like being the first kid in class to give a speech, I just wanted to get it over with.

 

[Addy]

I just wanted to get started. Kind of like being the first kid in class to give a speech, I just wanted to get it over with.

LOVE the analogy... this is exactly how I feel!

 

[Complicated]

Hi Addy

I can really identify with what you are going through, I also like control and knowing whats coming. Its perfectly understandale that you are stressed about the upcoming EMDR therapy. I swithched to a new therapist (after having done EMDR) in the beginning of the year to do rescripting and imagery therapy. I didnt know her and I didnt know what to expect, I was also very stressed and didnt even manage to get any sleep the night before I started. I also really battled to eat about three days before starting. Now I am into the therapy and its ok, Im glad I did it but it was scary and stressfull to start with.

Good luck and I am sure it will all turn out ok, even if it doesnt feel that way right now.

 

[Addy]

Thanks Complicated... I am trying to be optimistic!

 

[Martin Taylor]

LOVE the analogy... this is exactly how I feel!

Thanks Addy, I'm surprised at how much of that I find around here. Let me know how it works out.

 

[LizBeth1]

Hi Addy,
I have been in EMDR therapy for over a year and we have not done much of the biostim at all yet (eye movement/headphones or any other type of biostimulation). I may have done it twice or three times. My T (who worked closely with the originator of EMDR) felt that I needed to work through a lot of stuff and get more grounded before really embarking on that part of it. At first this upset me a lot and I was angry about it because I had been hearing from others who just started it right away and saw quick results and I thought it wasn't fair that I couldn't do that too. I was under the impression that the eye movement, or whichever biostim choice you use, was the crux of the treatment. My T assures me that the brunt of the work is the prep work, and the biostim is kind of like the last thing you do once everything else is in place. After some more supercharged memories were uncovered, I realized she was right and that it would be dangerous for me to do the biostim stuff if I hadn't done the exploratory and grounding work first.

So I've been working with her for a long time and we have done a LOT of work and achieved a great deal. I've picked up tools (inner child work) that are really effective and helping keep me in the present or give me the ability to pull back into the present much more easily than before. So it is working, things are moving, energy is shifting, I'm feeling more 'together' than I was, and we still have not gotten into the biostim stuff yet. So don't worry -- you can actually move a few mountains and feel a huge difference even before getting to the biostim! You're still doing it ;) Good luck to you!

 

[Addy]

Thanks LizBeth... appreciate the input. I had a medication change which has me feeling much better. I'm hoping the therapist will agree and recognize that I am feeling more stable, and be more willing to start the EMDR soon. ;) back at ya!