Just started EMDR

Have had 2 sessions. Anyone been through the process? What were your results? What were your experiences? I'm still trying to understand the process.--Suzy

Hi Suzy5654,

I had one session - found it helpful for getting rid of a feeling of despair that I couldnt nail down to any event -didnt have any more as had bad migraine after and T would not do any more.

Hope it works for you P7

I had 8 sessions of EMDR paid for by my insurance for a single traumatic event. It was very helpful mostly for relieving the nightmare/flashback/intrusive thought stuff. As well it helped to reduce the intense feelings around the event. However, this event is still with me, not as often, but still there. I know I have more work to do around it- but I can barely speak of it in my current T relationship.

My thoughts on EMDR are: first- make sure the T you are seeing for it is properly trained. Second - make sure they explain it fully to you so that you understand because there are things that may be going on with you that can make it less effective or contraindicated. And third- make sure you can have "enough" sessions, whatever that means to you. I don't think I had enough sessions to get through all the stuff I needed to.

Many people have very very good results w/ EMDR. Good luck!

~Searching

I've had EMDR off and off for years with my T. and it's been very helpful to me at processing old stuff from my childhood. I can only describe it as a weird experience - I frequently get muscles spasms and twitches when doing it, but it does seem to help me access and process painful memories.

Be careful though, if you have any tendency to dissociate, EMDR can actually make dissociation worse.

You're T should be properly trained so ask what training they've recieved and ask them to explain the theory behind how it works to you. You should also agree with them on what memory / experience you want to target for processing. I found that having a clearly laid out sequence helped me a lot.

EMDR can be really intense so my T usually uses the last 5- 10 minutes of a session for grounding after we do it, so that I'm ok to drive home. I find this helpful.

I find that quite often after EMDR my energy level really spikes for a couple of days and I often feel almost elated, which is great. But then again I've also thrown up after some of my initial really rocky EMDR sessions. So like I said it can provoke really strong reactions.

Good luck with it, I hope you find it helpful.

---splitimage

I have PTSD from a 17yr.violent marriage.Am looking for EMDR therapy.When
anything connected with the 'ex'occurs...I've been told I
obsess.Ex.:He's decided to stop my health ins. altho' it's in divorce decree.I don't
have $ to pay for it myself. Are people with PTSD/agoraphobia/anxiety/depresseion also prone to obsessive
compulsive thinking? Suzette44
I

HI Suzette44,

I think the answer is yes - from what you have been through i think that obsessive compulsive thinking about your ex would be somthing that would almost certainly happen - I know it did when my sister left her abusive husband - your therapist could help you with this if you are seeing one and EMDR is good at freeing emotional states. take care P7