EMDR Therapy

Hi, Had a few questions for any of those have experience with EMDR. I started this type of therapy 2 months ago. A lot of it has been prep work to give me better coping skills once we get into the more intense part of this therapy. 3 weeks ago therapy got sort of weird and this was testing me out for emdr I guess - therapist had me close my eyes and guided me with this imaginary piece of fruit. I had to vision how the fruit looked - she then asked me to turn the image in my head black and white, then make the image small and a few other commands (felt like I had photoshop going on in my head lol) I left that appt (3wks ago) feeling tired and having bad headaches. Next few days I started having real vivid dreams that were waking me up in a panic. I am unable to stay asleep and getting 2-3 hrs sleep per night which isnt healthy. I talked to my therapist and she says this happens when the channels are opened in EMDR and she says I responded well to it and had to go back in to reclose what we opened(sounds strange writing that smh) My sleep has been messed like i said I am afraid to sleep for what dreams may come up - she asked my pcp to write a med called prazosin (sp) that helps with dreams. Is this normal to happening the sleep issue? The weird thing through this all is I have very profound social anxiety and have been doing really well around small groups of people and am not isolating I dont know if it is because I am so tired. Now if I could get sleep and be social I would be happy lol

I can't comment on EMDR as I haven't had it. But you've helped me with your testimony of your experience, in terms of what to expect. It scares me as I'm so marginal with my CPTSD - anything will set me off and I'm scared I wouldn't cope with EMDR. My sleep is already compromised and bringing something else in that would compromise my sleep could have me end up in the public psych ward. It's so frustrating. I do extensive work with psychiatry and psychology and have for years, but I'm still paralysed with CPTSD and Biploar II. My life can't move forward. I'll look at any other posts in this thread and there might be encouraging info re EMDR.

I haven't experienced what you have, but as Discover asked for encouraging posts about EMDR, I'm responding anyway. Hope you don't mind.

I've had a fair bit of EMDR and am currently waiting to start again. I think EMDR is a very good method for trauma. Whereas regular therapy has you diving into the ocean of memories, EMDR is like sitting at the shore, waiting to see what comes up, what floats your way. No diving required.

EMDR is the only thing that has helped me with trauma. It has only helped a small bit, but I'm counting on lots of little bits tallying up to something significant.

I've done some EMDR. Mine has been "resource development and installation" so I've only had one even remotely negative experience. In general, it's been like replacing traumatic memories with supportive ones. Often it involves my T keeping me safe during violent and awful situations from my past. I can hold on to these images and they sometimes form a safe place for me when it feels like the world is crumbling. Not always, but sometimes. It's hard to describe, so I hope this doesn't sound stupid. We use it off and on rather than as a focus of the therapy. Like a supplement rather than a treatment.

I'm about to start EMDR. Just started working with T on specific memories to use.
I hope EMDR is helpful. Keep us posted

I have completed a course of EMDR... An Image that I was working with was.. I am in an Urban Environment and a Woman unknown to me was standing on the corner of an intersection... It was an eastern city in the fall... With fall light and fall smells. The woman was holding her baby. This woman in the middle of a busy city was only paying attention to get child... Talking and fussing over this baby. This image haunts me... It was not my image but the image introduced by my T. It broke me, I cried uncontrollably. This emotion came out of no where and it printed rather hard. As I am reflecting back on it I can feel rather disturbed by it.

Im nervous to start my EMDR therapy tomorrow. This is going to be my 1st therapy ever. I tried groups and one on one but when I have it thru me into bad places and one time the hospital for a few days. Im every emotion right now about starting it. Just wanted to try to get some good words about it if there are any. Some of the previous posts helped me and some kinda scared me. I just want to see the light beyond this. I wonder too if it will tap into my biopolar depression and anxiety. Thank you.

I have only had 2 sessions so far, and they haven't included the therapist putting a sentence or thought in my head, its been me deciding what that would be. The memory or the positive thought to replace it. Thanks for sharing that though.

I am due to start some sessions next week, having just started work with a new therapist. I last had therapy over 18 years ago, but have recently had to come to terms with the fact that I am experiencing cptsd - and have done since childhood.
A friend had 6 sessions, and he was very inpressed - nothing negative, became calmer, less depressed, and his wife noticed a big change in him after only one session. I am hoping for the same...
My therapist did not say anything about guided imagery, only that I would decide on the first memory I wanted to face, then move on to whatever came into my mind next.

I have now had 4 sessions, my next is tomorrow. We didn't do much of that kind of prep work. Nothing where the T was suggestion images or anything like that. 2 sessions have been very emotional and difficult, and 2 have been calmer. I have noticed a big change in myself, so hopefully, things will just continue to improve.

I know this is an older post, but I wanted to comment that i'm experiencing the nightmare thing (though strangely enough, they just make me uncomfortable, and are unrelated to the trauma we are working on)... my t says it's normal and a good sign. It's all throwing me off. I've done emdr before, and it was really noticeably effective almost right away, but t says that was because the target we were working on was smaller in scope. She says this rounf will be tougher because it's more involved... :shrugz:
I hope it ends up working again.

I hope it works again as well and this may be part of it doing that. When I had the EMDR I had vivid nightmares and it was explained that a lot of stuff was being churned up during the session and it would settle down at some point. Doesn't make it any less uncomfortable but it did help to know it was helping to get to the end. Feel better.

Hi Trace14, I saw you post regarding nightmares...I had some every strange ones after EMDR,,, in fact the whole dynamics of my dreams have changed since... I was thinking I may need to do it again to see if I can get rid of these new ones.

I do very well with EMDR and my T is a consultant clinical psychologist with 10 years experience. I'm on round two of it at the moment and its bringing up more stuff and dreams. It is difficult but Oh so worth it.

You know the brain is an amazing organ. I think doing it again would be worth it as long as you know that there's a chance it may get worse, while getting better. If there's a safe therapy, done by professionals who know what they are doing I say go for it. It's always our choice, but the outcome is anyone's guess IMHO.

Awesome!

I here you... I think right now I am willing to take the risk... something was dragged up. And frankly would being willing to do what I can to make it stop.

Let us know if it helps.

make sure you and your T spend lots of time in one of the initial EMDR therapy phases (Phase 2) which 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.