[SingDanceRunLife]

A few weeks ago, I revealed to my T the reason I don't drive, and after we talked about it, she said I have PTSD from it. Basically, I have it from being hit by a car when I was a teenager. She suggested EMDR, but I said I was in no way ready for that then.

Today, I had a very rough session with T...last Friday, I was almost hit by a car in pretty much the exact same situation as the original trauma event. So obviously that brought up a lot of stuff, especially anxiety. Even just talking with T about it got me so anxious that she had us stop and do a grounding exercise to chill me out a bit.

She also [very strongly] suggested doing EMDR, and because it's not the first time she has done that, and I really don't want to live my life in fear, I agreed to try it, but I'm kind of scared...especially since T has a consent form specifically for it because of how distressing it can be and how unexpected things can come up and happen as a result, even though in the end, things are much better.

Has anyone ever done EMDR before? What was it like? Did it help?

Thanks!!

[Teacake]

Any method is only as good as the practitioner.

I got flooded. I was flooded before I began and I was more flooded after. I was also in an unsafe home while trying to do emdr. The therapist should have known better.

than that, when I tried it in later years, therapists weren't doing shapiros protocol at all. One said her clients felt better just staring at the light letting their minds wander. Another waved her fingers in my face as I stared at her incredulously and asked if I felt better. She had no idea that its not eye movement desensitization if my eyes are staring and not moving. In this state any third grade dropout can be al psychotherapist. But they weren't much worse than the PhD who to her credit did follow the protocol

I wouldn't do it again, but Im probably not a good candidate. I have layer upon layer of trauma and most recently jump from topic to topic doing emdr or hrainspotting and my therapist won't or can't direct me to just one. She's an excellent therapist but emdr doesn't work for us.

So the short answer is I
like the idea of it, but I haven't liked the method for complex ptsd. It might be different for simple ptsd. Talk to her about that.

I think therapists Should not push or hurry trauma therapy.

[JaneC]

I started some of the preliminary work leading up to EMDR, and there is a lot that needs to be done to prepare you for it. However I became overwhelmed by talking of historical trauma that we have had to slow therapy right down and back away from it for now.

I personally want my T to do another round of the advanced training before we go ahead, I don't know why, but I need that to feel reassured. I think from all the reading and watching of specialist that it could be good for me....but I am not sure how I will actually take it.

I would suggest making sure your T is registered with the EMDR istitute and that they have had at least 2 levels of training in EMDR and are experienced. I would also do some reading and watching of online videos from experts in the field who talk about how it can and should work.

I wish you tghe very best, and good luck making your choice.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Thanks guys.

My T did say that EMDR usually works best when there is a specific trauma, and not more than one. And I have a specific one. She also wasn't really pushing, just highly suggesting something. My T knows my limits and never tries to push me past them. We've been working together on and off for the past 6 years, and the reason I have not switched Ts is because I really like mine and she knows when she needs to back off and when she can push more.

My T is also very experienced with EMDR. She has been a practitioner for years and is level 2 certified. For the longest time I always wondered what EMDR was because she has a HUGE binder in her waiting room labeled EMDR, but I never wanted to get caught looking at it (I don't really know why), so I never did. But I have looked it up and watched videos etc.

[Teacake]

This is great! I came to correct my answer as I thought it was negative and discouraging, but you seem on top of it. There are good therapists, gold in the straw, and it seems you've got a good one. This makes you some combination of lucky and wise. When you are ready to do EMDR, I hope you will remember to post a success story. Healing happens. Its a great thing.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Yeah. My T is incredible. Absolutely incredible. I knew I would like her from our initial meeting. I didn't completely warm up to her for awhile, but that's how I am with everyone so I think nothing of it. Not only that, but she is a large part of the reason that I am living where I am. One of my best friends wanted me to move down to where she lives and share an apartment, but I couldn't imagine being able to deal with everything I was dealing with, in a city I don't know without my T. So I told my friend that I would love to do it, but that it wasn't a good time for me, and she understood, so we're still cool. But that's just an example of how much my T means to me.

[SingDanceRunLife]

So we are going to start EMDR after Christmas. We had planned on doing it today, but had other things to talk about and decided it would probably be best to do it after Christmas since I'm not seeing her again until Jan 8th which is 3 weeks away.

[too SHy]

EMDR just made me anxious.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by too SHy

EMDR just made me anxious.

My T told me it can be quite anxiety provoking, but that that is why you always need to do some grounding afterwards.

[aziza_akos]

My new therapist suggested it today for me. I have to admit I am have pretty bad anxiety about it she said she has never had anyone depersonalize but had seen videos of people going through it being a fetal position. I have a lot of various trauma that I was actually able to write down on the application at our first session but she mentioned some of it today and I just shut down I have NEVER to ANYONE some of the things I wrote and I feel a lot of shame, guilt and grief. I feel pissed at myself I can't talk and I feel like I am wasting the session.
I don't really know what to expect with this therapy she wants to wait till we build some trust before we try it I'm afraid I will never have that trust right now.
She did say she has never had anyone need anymore then 9 sessions with it. Is that about normal?

[SingDanceRunLife]

I don't know what is "normal" for EMDR, but I do know it isn't supposed to take tons of sessions.

[lisaever]

Originally Posted by SingDanceRunLife

A few weeks ago, I revealed to my T the reason I don't drive, and after we talked about it, she said I have PTSD from it. Basically, I have it from being hit by a car when I was a teenager. She suggested EMDR, but I said I was in no way ready for that then.

Today, I had a very rough session with T...last Friday, I was almost hit by a car in pretty much the exact same situation as the original trauma event. So obviously that brought up a lot of stuff, especially anxiety. Even just talking with T about it got me so anxious that she had us stop and do a grounding exercise to chill me out a bit.

She also [very strongly] suggested doing EMDR, and because it's not the first time she has done that, and I really don't want to live my life in fear, I agreed to try it, but I'm kind of scared...especially since T has a consent form specifically for it because of how distressing it can be and how unexpected things can come up and happen as a result, even though in the end, things are much better.

Has anyone ever done EMDR before? What was it like? Did it help?

Thanks!!

I am currently still going through EMDR and it is like reliving every horrific thing that may have happened to you that has cause the current problems you have today. My problems were health anxiety and panic attacks. I got myself so worked up that I was having digestive problems.. My poor body took such a hit for all the stress that I finally need help! EMDR along with grounding methods have made a huge difference in my life. I also am less codependent and have found my independents it is an amazing journey and I am sure you will benefit from it! You actually think differently. It's great! GOOD LUCK!!!!

[SingDanceRunLife]

We did the whole set up for it this week, and will start the actual process next week...I'm quite anxious tbh...but I'll have my klonopin on me.

[Hellion]

I heard EMDR doesn't have a very high success rate, but if its helped people I don't want to discount their experiences. I have doubts that it would help me.

[LilithOwl]

I have been going to my T for over a year now and went to her specifically for EMDR treatments. That is not to say we do it all the time. I normally can work myself up to doing one a month and have to really push myself into the office to do it. It is the most effective method of moving and understanding trauma I have ever experienced. I dealt with my childhood abuse in one session and yes it was very hard to go through. It can both feel very good and it can be very hard. In my experience it is never the things you expect to be the hard issues to be the absolute worst and the true root of the problem. This may be my defense mechanisms, telling myself that that wasn't so bad so that I don't try to deal with it because it was SO BAD.

For the record I was very open with my doctor and pushed myself to be as honest as possible. I also suggest you do have some type of grounding exercise afterwards as you will be very 'floaty' feeling the first few times and make sure some you can trust will come pick you up or that you are able to wait till you feel alright enough to get onto the bus. I found a local park I could go walk around in afterwards and this helped calm me down.

[LilithOwl]

Originally Posted by SingDanceRunLife

We did the whole set up for it this week, and will start the actual process next week...I'm quite anxious tbh...but I'll have my klonopin on me.

Good luck!

[SingDanceRunLife]

Well, I made it through my first go at EMDR.

I was so anxious beforehand that I took a little Seroquel (pdoc gave me 25mg pills to take for anxiety if needed, but I still have my klonopin if I need that as well). That calmed me down some which was good. I have to say, I was quite surprised at where my mind took me...things that I never would have thought of as being related to my trauma came up and I was flooded with so many emotions. I cried, and that is rare for me in T.

Afterwards, I felt very vulnerable, and tired, and a bit anxious...so when I got home, I took some klonopin and took a nap.

[smadams]

You made it! It isn't an easy process, but it should get easier with each session (it all depends on the topic being worked). The mind is a deep and unpredictable thing, so it can be somewhat of an adventure if you let it. There may be a few "Ah Ha!" moments, which really get you thinking and can really move you forward. Keep at it. It sounds like it is moving in the right direction for you.

EMDR - for those who say it doesn't work - is just like any therapy. It is only as good as the person who is walking you through it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of ill-qualified practitioners out there, and that is what makes EMDR even trickier for many many people. The approach is crucial and should be molded for each person.

Also, it focuses on trauma. One of the few therapies specifically designed for such things. Granted, when it comes to trauma, none of us even want to go to that dark place and begin digging out the nasties. It is a painful process, no matter how you really approach it - because you are attempting to move through and past that pain. It takes time and effort, but it can be a very rewarding experience.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I did make it. But it's been hard since. Does it get easier as time goes on?

[smadams]

It should get easier. As you process, you are able to adjust. It is all about being able to process the trauma. Yo should be able to start seeing things from a new perspective when it comes to you experiences.