[Sunnyhunny00]

I went into see the counselor today. My dx was mood disorder (nos) - bipolar 1.... I thought I was type 2. Then PTSD. (I quit treatment 6months ago due to mania)

It was amazing! I landed an appointment with the Pdoc tomorrow!!!! I'm so glad I was able to get in so fast!! I don't have to wait the typical few weeks! YAAYY!

I'll be seeing a trauma therapist and be doing something called EMDR psychotherapy.

Has anyone ever done this type of therapy? How does it go? Does it work? I'd love some feed back. I'm excited!

I'm so relieved to believe that I may be able to live life without the affects of all the trauma. It seems impossible... But I'm looking forward to it!

[Sunnyhunny00]

Well... Just got a call. My appointment was switched to next Friday.. So there goes that. But, it's with a Dr I like so that's good.

[pattijane]

I use EMDR therapy as my primary psychotherapy treatment and I've also personally had EMDR therapy for anxiety, panic, grief, and “small t” trauma. As a client, EMDR worked extremely well and also really fast. As an EMDR therapist, and in my role as a facilitator who trains other therapists in EMDR therapy (certified by the EMDR International Association and trained by the EMDR Institute, both of which I strongly recommend in an EMDR therapist) I have used EMDR therapy successfully with panic disorders, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, body image, phobias, distressing memories, bad dreams, and many other problems. It's a very gentle method with no significant "down-side" so that in the hands of a professional EMDR therapist, there should be no freak-outs or worsening of day-to-day functioning.

The research on EMDR therapy, in addition to that on trauma and PTSD, includes its efficacy with generalized anxiety disorder, treatment of distressful experiences that fail to meet the criteria for PTSD, dental phobia, depression, body dysmorphic disorder, chronic phantom limb pain, panic disorder with agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and peer verbal abuse.

One of the initial phases (Phase 2) in EMDR therapy involves preparing for memory processing or desensitization (memory processing or desensitization - phases 3-6 - is often what is referred to as "EMDR" which is actually an 8-phase method of psychotherapy). In this phase resources are "front-loaded" so that you have a "floor" or "container" to help with processing the really hard stuff, as well as creating strategies if you're triggered in everyday life. In Phase 2 you learn a lot of great coping strategies and self-soothing techniques which you can use during EMDR processing or anytime you feel the need.

In phase 2 you learn how to access a “Safe or Calm Place” which you can use at ANY TIME during EMDR processing (or on your own) if it feels scary, or too emotional, too intense. One of the key assets of EMDR therapy is that YOU, the client, are in control NOW, even though you weren’t in the past, during traumatic events and/or panic/anxiety, or whatever disturbance(s) on which you’re working. You NEVER need re-live an experience or go into great detail, ever! You NEVER need to go through the entire memory. YOU can decide to keep the lights (or the alternating sounds and/or tactile pulsars, or the waving hand, or any method of bilateral stimulation that feels okay to you) going, or stop them, whichever helps titrate – measure and adjust the balance or “dose“ of the processing. During EMDR processing there are regular “breaks” and you can control when and how many but the therapist should be stopping the bilateral stimulation every 25-50 passes of the lights to ask you to take a deep breath and say just a bit of what you’re noticing, anything different, any changes. (The stimulation should not be kept on continuously, because there are specific procedures that need to be followed to process the memory). The breaks help keep a “foot in the present” while you’re processing the past. Again, and I can’t say this enough, YOU ARE IN CHARGE so YOU can make the process tolerable. And your therapist should be experienced in the EMDR therapy techniques that help make it the gentlest and safest way to detoxify bad life experiences and build resources.

Grounding exercises are essential. You can use some of the techniques in Dr. Shapiro's new book "Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR." Dr. Shapiro is the founder/creator of EMDR but all the proceeds from the book go to two charities: the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program and the EMDR Research Foundation). The book is an easy read, helps you understand what's "pushing" your feelings and behavior, helps you connect the dots from past experiences to current life. Also gives lots of really helpful ways that are used during EMDR therapy to calm disturbing thoughts and feelings.

Pacing and dosing are critically important. So if you ever feel that EMDR processing is too intense then it might be time to go back over all the resources that should be used both IN session and BETWEEN sessions.

Many organizations, professional associations, departments of health of many countries, the US Dept. of Defense, and the VA, all have given their "stamp of approval" to EMDR therapy. There are 35 randomized controlled (and 20 nonrandomized) studies that have been conducted on EMDR therapy in the treatment of trauma, and many more on other psychological and physical conditions.

The World Health Organization has published Guidelines for the management of conditions that are specifically related to stress: Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR are the only psychotherapies recommended for children, adolescents and adults with PTSD. “Like CBT with a trauma focus, EMDR aims to reduce subjective distress and strengthen adaptive cognitions related to the traumatic event. Unlike CBT with a trauma focus, EMDR does not involve (a) detailed descriptions of the event, (b) direct challenging of beliefs, (c) extended exposure, or (d) homework." (Geneva, WHO, 2013, p.1)

[Crazy Hitch]

This is a very positive step forward for you Sunnyhunny.

I am glad everything is falling into place with regards to the professional medical assistance that you so much deserve.

Please take care.

[Sunnyhunny00]

Originally Posted by pattijane

I use EMDR therapy as my primary psychotherapy treatment and I've also personally had EMDR therapy for anxiety, panic, grief, and “small t” trauma. As a client, EMDR worked extremely well and also really fast. As an EMDR therapist, and in my role as a facilitator who trains other therapists in EMDR therapy (certified by the EMDR International Association and trained by the EMDR Institute, both of which I strongly recommend in an EMDR therapist) I have used EMDR therapy successfully with panic disorders, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, body image, phobias, distressing memories, bad dreams, and many other problems. It's a very gentle method with no significant "down-side" so that in the hands of a professional EMDR therapist, there should be no freak-outs or worsening of day-to-day functioning.

The research on EMDR therapy, in addition to that on trauma and PTSD, includes its efficacy with generalized anxiety disorder, treatment of distressful experiences that fail to meet the criteria for PTSD, dental phobia, depression, body dysmorphic disorder, chronic phantom limb pain, panic disorder with agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and peer verbal abuse.

One of the initial phases (Phase 2) in EMDR therapy involves preparing for memory processing or desensitization (memory processing or desensitization - phases 3-6 - is often what is referred to as "EMDR" which is actually an 8-phase method of psychotherapy). In this phase resources are "front-loaded" so that you have a "floor" or "container" to help with processing the really hard stuff, as well as creating strategies if you're triggered in everyday life. In Phase 2 you learn a lot of great coping strategies and self-soothing techniques which you can use during EMDR processing or anytime you feel the need.

In phase 2 you learn how to access a “Safe or Calm Place” which you can use at ANY TIME during EMDR processing (or on your own) if it feels scary, or too emotional, too intense. One of the key assets of EMDR therapy is that YOU, the client, are in control NOW, even though you weren’t in the past, during traumatic events and/or panic/anxiety, or whatever disturbance(s) on which you’re working. You NEVER need re-live an experience or go into great detail, ever! You NEVER need to go through the entire memory. YOU can decide to keep the lights (or the alternating sounds and/or tactile pulsars, or the waving hand, or any method of bilateral stimulation that feels okay to you) going, or stop them, whichever helps titrate – measure and adjust the balance or “dose“ of the processing. During EMDR processing there are regular “breaks” and you can control when and how many but the therapist should be stopping the bilateral stimulation every 25-50 passes of the lights to ask you to take a deep breath and say just a bit of what you’re noticing, anything different, any changes. (The stimulation should not be kept on continuously, because there are specific procedures that need to be followed to process the memory). The breaks help keep a “foot in the present” while you’re processing the past. Again, and I can’t say this enough, YOU ARE IN CHARGE so YOU can make the process tolerable. And your therapist should be experienced in the EMDR therapy techniques that help make it the gentlest and safest way to detoxify bad life experiences and build resources.

Grounding exercises are essential. You can use some of the techniques in Dr. Shapiro's new book "Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR." Dr. Shapiro is the founder/creator of EMDR but all the proceeds from the book go to two charities: the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program and the EMDR Research Foundation). The book is an easy read, helps you understand what's "pushing" your feelings and behavior, helps you connect the dots from past experiences to current life. Also gives lots of really helpful ways that are used during EMDR therapy to calm disturbing thoughts and feelings.

Pacing and dosing are critically important. So if you ever feel that EMDR processing is too intense then it might be time to go back over all the resources that should be used both IN session and BETWEEN sessions.

Many organizations, professional associations, departments of health of many countries, the US Dept. of Defense, and the VA, all have given their "stamp of approval" to EMDR therapy. There are 35 randomized controlled (and 20 nonrandomized) studies that have been conducted on EMDR therapy in the treatment of trauma, and many more on other psychological and physical conditions.

The World Health Organization has published Guidelines for the management of conditions that are specifically related to stress: Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR are the only psychotherapies recommended for children, adolescents and adults with PTSD. “Like CBT with a trauma focus, EMDR aims to reduce subjective distress and strengthen adaptive cognitions related to the traumatic event. Unlike CBT with a trauma focus, EMDR does not involve (a) detailed descriptions of the event, (b) direct challenging of beliefs, (c) extended exposure, or (d) homework." (Geneva, WHO, 2013, p.1)

Thank you so much for this!! I wish I could thank this more! I was skeptical to how this would really work.
I have more confidence now that it will.

I can cry right now just believing my life can actually be lived free of all the trauma. I almost still can't belive it.
I'm still unsure how anybody can help me see all that happened any differently...

I pray it works though.

Thank you!!

[shebby]

I haven't been diagnosed with bipolar, but I have done EMDR. I imagine it depends on why you're doing EMDR, how you interpret what you feel/remember/experience, and how you cope with that afterwards. In my experience(trauma being sexual/physical abuse) it started off going well, I was feeling better about myself and felt that the abused no longer had control over me and that it wasn't my fault. Afterwards, I crashed really hard. My understanding based off of my own experience in super short form: you choose a traumatic memory, rate on a scale of 0-10, 10 being worst you've ever felt, a negative emotion/thought you have about the trauma, and then the same but with a positive you'd like to feel instead. The session starts, I picture the memory for 10-15 seconds, then, keeping my eyes closed and body relaxed, my worker began tapping on the knees(there's other ways) so she lightly taps, alternating, and when she stops asks me to tell her what I saw/felt - usually from there, another memory would come up, something would change in the original, sometimes nothing just emotional and physical feelings(the physical touches I felt were terrifying), and very rarely I would see bright colours or a bright white light, this would continue on over and over until I was either too uncomfortable to go on or I didn't feel as anxious about the memory/negative thought I chose. I did the scale again, and then she would take me through a body scan(to relax and lock the memory away until next session) I think the way that it works, is when you focus on both the trauma and the left and right movements, it forces you to use a different part of your brain related to memory, and it's pretty self explanatory from there. generally I felt more in control of my life or myself when I left. This didn't last very long at all though. when we stopped seeing each other I was EXTREMELY positive, however I started thinking about the new "memories" and I quickly came down from the happiness. It hit me very hard, and I couldn't help but think, "if I couldnt remember these on my own, what else could have happened?" and whether or not they were even real memories. On top of that. by nothing more than the worst ****ing luck, I would see my abuser after every session. I honestly could have just had bad luck with it, I've read and heard about a lot of cases ending amazingly and others ending up worse off than me. imo, if you don't feel comfortable after the first or second session, then I wouldn't continue on with it because you'll only remember more and more.

Good luck with whatever you decide though!

[Sunnyhunny00]

When i think of the memories I don't really feel anything. It's all just picture memories. I remember right before the abuse then nothing.
However, the emotions get reflected into my daily life. Certain things trigger me and send me into a downward spiral very quickly. Normal, daily things or activities. Noises, words, songs, clutter. I get the feeling of intense doom. Many other feelings that are hard to describe.

I'm sorry it didn't work for you. I'm really hoping it does for me. I'm not sure how it will work work blocked memory. I just don't actually remember the act of the sexual or physical abuse. Only right before it. I only recall the emtional and mental abuse.

[UpDownMiddleGround]

I have had a good experience with EMDR therapy. I will say that I was not prepared for the emotional attack that happened after my sessions were over. I'm just a client so I don't have the background that pattijane has but there is something about people who dissociate as a coping mechanism and EMDR interrupting the ability to do that. We did create a safe place early on. I used that as my place for retreat rather than the dark empty place i used to go. Eventually, i could think about my safe place, but it is not quite the same as being transported to another space and place.

It always takes me a few days for my body and mind to stop over-reacting. We have used the bar and sound, just sound, hand, and knee tapping. My therapist always seems to know which one is going to be the best for me during a given session. (Except for that one time. . .) I like the fact that I am in control during my sessions. Again, it was the best-thing-ever for me, but it is hard work.

There is a lot of research. I only care that it works. IMHO, it is worth a try. Good luck!