Last year I quit EMDR therapy because I was too depressed and apathetic for it. Now the depression has lifted somewhat (yay!) and I want to start again. I emailed EMDR T today to see if that's possible - it should be, she promised we'd continue when I was feeling up to it again.

PTSD symptoms have really been playing up this past few weeks. Partly this is because of school and the unsafetyness (and triggers!) that that brings; partly I'm noticing it more because I go to school and have to be functioning.

So I want to start EMDR again.

Just wanted to share.

[Semi-depressed]

I hope it helps. Do you think it helped before even though you did not complete treatment?

[splitimage]

I hope that you are able to start it again. I found EMDR to be really helpful.

splitimage

Thanks for your kind wishes.

EMDR T gave the green light after her vacation (a week in a week) we'll start. First with a meeting between me, her, current regular T and someone from the unit I'll be staying during treatment. The way we do EMDR is like this: I'll go inpatient for a week and during that week I'll have EMDR twice a day. After that week I'll go home for a few weeks and just see my regular T. Then I'll have an EMDR week again.
It's easier to "just get it over with" than only an hour every week, and also easier because I don't have to be functioning because I'm not in "real" life (but inpatient).

Semi-depressed, it helped a tiny bit. So it's my goal to have a lot of tiny bits total up to some significant relief. :-)

[everythingsworld]

Tried it once, didn't get through it.

[pattijane]

Originally Posted by Breadfish

Thanks for your kind wishes.

EMDR T gave the green light after her vacation (a week in a week) we'll start. First with a meeting between me, her, current regular T and someone from the unit I'll be staying during treatment. The way we do EMDR is like this: I'll go inpatient for a week and during that week I'll have EMDR twice a day. After that week I'll go home for a few weeks and just see my regular T. Then I'll have an EMDR week again.
It's easier to "just get it over with" than only an hour every week, and also easier because I don't have to be functioning because I'm not in "real" life (but inpatient).

Semi-depressed, it helped a tiny bit. So it's my goal to have a lot of tiny bits total up to some significant relief. :-)

So, some info FYI about EMDR therapy! 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.

I want to share a bit about the research and validation of EMDR therapy.

EMDR has been around since the late 80s and is NOT an experimental treatment. However, ask the hundreds of thousands of people who've been helped significantly around the world and they may tell you it is indeed a wonder-cure. It is considered a first-line treatment by organizations such as ISTSS (International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies), the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Department of Defense, the Departments of Health in Northern Ireland, UK, Israel, the Netherlands, France, and other countries and organizations. There are 35 randomized controlled (and 20 nonrandomized) studies that have been conducted on EMDR therapy in the treatment of trauma to date. And more excellent research now on the role of eye movements, mechanism of action, and other Randomized Controlled Studies, not only on trauma and PTSD, but also on the use of EMDR therapy 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.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is an agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This national registry (NREPP) cites EMDR therapy as evidence-based practice for the treatment of PTSD, anxiety and depression symptoms. Their review of the evidence also indicated that EMDR therapy leads to an improvement in mental health functioning.

The World Health Organization 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)

As a recently retired psychologist, I used 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 (now retired) role as a facilitator who trained 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.

I can't say enough good things about EMDR therapy. It's changed my life both as a person/consumer, and as a therapist. It's so satisfying to have someone come in for help and then to witness them get through their issues and finish therapy relatively quickly (compared to regular talk therapy, it's like night and day). I am both humbled by and grateful for this wonderful method that heals suffering.