[JaneC]

Hi all.....I am new, yikes!
I recently got a Dx of c-PTSD after a long road of other challenges.....and my T is talking me through the possibility of EMDR therapy. Have any of you experienced this, as I would love to hear some feedback and outcomes if you are cmfortable to share.
I am terrified of it really because of my fear of actually looking at my past and 'remembering' what ever I have forgotten. I know of some trauma, but have many many years of no memories at all.
Thanks for reading....

[pattijane]

Originally Posted by JaneC

Hi all.....I am new, yikes!
I recently got a Dx of c-PTSD after a long road of other challenges.....and my T is talking me through the possibility of EMDR therapy. Have any of you experienced this, as I would love to hear some feedback and outcomes if you are cmfortable to share.
I am terrified of it really because of my fear of actually looking at my past and 'remembering' what ever I have forgotten. I know of some trauma, but have many many years of no memories at all.
Thanks for reading....

I'm a psychologist who uses EMDR as my primary treatment psychotherapy 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 (certified by the EMDR International Assoc. and trained by the EMDR Inst, both of which I strongly recommend in an EMDR therapist) I have used EMDR successfully with panic disorders, childhood sexual/physical/emotional abuse and neglect, single incident trauma and complex/chronic PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, body image, phobias, distressing memories, bad dreams and more...

It's really crucial that the therapist spends enough time in one of the initial phases (Phase 2) in EMDR that involves preparing for memory processing or desensitization (memory processing or desensitization - phases 3-6 - is often referred to as "EMDR" which is actually an 8-phase psychotherapy). In this phase resources are "front-loaded" so that you have a "floor" or "container" to help with processing the really hard stuff. 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. So if you start feeling overwhelmed or that it's too intense, you can ground yourself (with your therapist's help in session, and on your own between sessions) and feel safe enough to continue the work. In my practice, after the Phase 2 work lets us know that my patient is safe enough and able to cope with any emotion and/or physical sensation both during and between EMDR processing sessions, I often suggest we try a much less intense memory first if there is one that happened BEFORE the trauma(s). If there isn't one, then I suggest we start developmentally with the least disturbing memory and work our way "up" to the most disturbing event(s).

Grounding exercises are indispensable in everyday life, and really essential in stressful times. Anyone 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). Anyway, the book is terrific. It's 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 teaches readers lots of helpful techniques that can be used immediately and that are also used during EMDR therapy to calm disturbing thoughts and feelings.

As I’ve mentioned about Phase 2, during EMDR therapy you learn coping strategies and self-soothing techniques. 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 is that YOU, the client, are in control NOW, even though you likely were not during past events. 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 hand/knee tapping - all forms of bilateral stimulation that should be decided by the client for the client's comfort) 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 or so passes of the lights to ask you to take a deep breath and to say just a bit of what you’re noticing. 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 techniques that help make it the gentlest and safest way to neutralize bad life experiences and build resources.

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. Your therapist should be using a variety of techniques to make painful processing less painful, like suggesting you turn the scene in your mind to black and white, lower the volume, or, erect a bullet-proof glass wall between you and the painful scene, or, imagine the abuser speaking in a Donald Duck voice... and so forth. There are a lot of these kinds of "interventions" that ease the processing. They are called "cognitive interweaves" that your therapist can use, and that also can help bring your adult self's perspective into the work (or even an imaginary Adult Perspective). Such interweaves are based around issues of Safety, Responsibility, and Choice. So therapist questions like "are you safe now?" or "who was responsible? and "do you have more choices now?" are all very helpful in moving the processing along.

In addition to my therapy practice, I roam the web looking for EMDR discussions, try to answer questions about it posted by clients/patients, and respond to the critics out there. It's not a cure-all therapy. However, it really is an extraordinary psychotherapy and its results last. In the hands of a really experienced EMDR therapist, it's the most gentle way of working through disturbing experiences

I was too scared to even go there.



I've heard it works wonders though.



Here's hoping you find it helpful for you.

[avlady]

Sounds Interesting!!!!!!!!!

[JaneC]

Thanks pattijane for that detailed response. I am currently reading Getting Past Your Past and while it is really useful(and finally I have been able to find a calm place I can actually use, which was really difficult for me to find because everywhere had negative feeling/emotions etc attached)..... I find that even reading the book is stimulating memories and connections that I prefer to keep behind the doors of the rooms I built in my head for them. I am having trouble deciding 100% to go for it, because my T is fairly new to EMDR(but not a new psychologist at all) and I struggle to trust someone that is such a beginner. Yikes! We are working through my reluctance.......

Pfrog.....I am really scared, but I figure if I dont have to talk in detail about all the bad stuff it has got to be a good thing. Just experiencing the emotions ans sensations though already is TOUGH!!!

Now my T is on holiday for 3 weeks....so plenty of time to procrastinate and stress about it!

[MoxieDoxie]

Yes ...I have cPTSD, bulimia, self harm, past suicide, suicidal thoughts, emotional flashbacks.....oh such fun. I sought out an EMDR therapist and it did wonders for looping memories and thoughts that caused sleep problems and flashbacks. It did not solve everything but eased some suffering. Oh I am still Bulimic.....
EMDR could not cure that. Still get triggered and have emotional flashback. Still have issues but my quality of life is 10x better. cPTSD is a attachment disorder and a personality disorder so i have read.

[fancy]

I tried EMDR but my therapist did not prepare me in any way and certainly not in the way that pattijane suggests.

I did ok in spite of it for a time. I processed some difficult memories and it had the desired effect of those particular emotional (beliefs?) having less power and intensity. I was abused severely from age 2 to 14 so there is so much..I finally stopped going because it was too hard. I prefer a gentler route for now but may do it again.

I would say it was worth it and would work especially well if there is one particular trauma you would want to address. I would use someone reputable.