[exclamationpoint]

I posted this in the survivors of abuse forum, but then I realized that it might belong here instead. I copy-pasted, so I'm sorry if anyone ending up reading this twice.

I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy.

Here is the wikipedia article for this: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I was sexually assaulted by my then-partner when I was 17. I basically haven't thought about this or attempted to work with it in therapy for ten years. Recently I've decided to open up about it and I'm finding it's bringing up a flood of emotions. Therapy has become sort of overwhelming.

My therapist suggested that we try EMDR to help process the memories so that they will be easier to deal with. This is usually a treatment for PTSD, although I do not have this condition. I do not have flashbacks or intrusive memories, nightmares about the assault, heightened startle response, etc. But I am feeling a lot of anxiety, anger, guilt, and shame now that I've been talking about what happened. My therapist thinks that this therapy will help me. He's suggested that based on how emotional working with this trauma has been for me, my brain may not have processed the memory so a reprocessing treatment would help.

Have any of you tried this type of therapy before? What was it like? Did it help you? Did you find the process difficult emotionally? What were your experiences before and after the treatment?

[Tongalee]

Originally Posted by exclamationpoint

I posted this in the survivors of abuse forum, but then I realized that it might belong here instead. I copy-pasted, so I'm sorry if anyone ending up reading this twice.

I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy.

Here is the wikipedia article for this: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I was sexually assaulted by my then-partner when I was 17. I basically haven't thought about this or attempted to work with it in therapy for ten years. Recently I've decided to open up about it and I'm finding it's bringing up a flood of emotions. Therapy has become sort of overwhelming.

My therapist suggested that we try EMDR to help process the memories so that they will be easier to deal with. This is usually a treatment for PTSD, although I do not have this condition. I do not have flashbacks or intrusive memories, nightmares about the assault, heightened startle response, etc. But I am feeling a lot of anxiety, anger, guilt, and shame now that I've been talking about what happened. My therapist thinks that this therapy will help me. He's suggested that based on how emotional working with this trauma has been for me, my brain may not have processed the memory so a reprocessing treatment would help.

Have any of you tried this type of therapy before? What was it like? Did it help you? Did you find the process difficult emotionally? What were your experiences before and after the treatment?

I'm really glad to see you post your questions about this here because I have similar ones. My therapist had also suggested this a few times and I've always been too nervous to try it. I apologize as I don't have any other comment to give other than I'm anxious to hear all of the answers you get. Best of luck, and let us know how it goes if you decide to try it.

[northgirl]

I'm in a similar situation, though I do suffer from some PTSD symptoms. Haven't started EMDR yet though I will be soon and have hopes but am trying to keep low expectations. The impression I've gotten is that it's particularly beneficial for past traumas that weren't able to be properly processed, especially for those of us who didn't have a good support system.

[ThisWayOut]

I formally did emdr for one instance of assault, and it helped that particular memory. I did get very overwhelmed by the process though, so I needed to take a break (but that's generally how I work when it comes to emotionally taxing things:I can tackle a little bit, then need a significant break, then can go back to it again). Unfortunately, I ended up moving away and not having emdr available since then. I did notice however that when I wrote out some detailed memories and subsequently read it to my therapist, it felt as resolved as the memory I worked on through emdr (similar back and forth eye movement when reading from my phone). I think if it's something that you might be interested in, maybe talk further with your t about it and get more info on his process with it. I think it has the potential to help even though there is no ptsd diagnosis. Totally up to you though. I would do more if I had someone here I trusted to do it with. I don't think I could randomly start with a therapist just for emdr. It was pretty emotional and frightening when I did it because I slipped into a flashback, but I trusted my t to get me out of it. It was kinda the same when I read the memory to my most recent former t, but again, I trusted her to get me through it.
Good luck either way.

[HazelGirl]

I have heard it can be effective for things other than PTSD.

[shabur]

When there is a trauma, our brain works to protect us. It remembers the event. but it doesn't do the same with the emotions so we have these unresolved emotions that we need to attach to the memory. It's my understanding the emotional part is on one side of the brain while the event is on the other. Because EMDR works on both sides of the brain at the same time it forces the event and the emotions to connect, thus resolving the trauma.

I have done many sessions of EMDR for both trauma as well as disassociation. It is scary, it is overwhelming, but it works. I do it in small bursts so I don't fall into an anxiety or depressed state.

[exclamationpoint]

Thank you all so much for your responses. It's really helpful to me to hear your experiences with emdr, and I appreciate you taking the time. Thanks!

[coolibrarian]

I have done EMDR for a specific phobia. It worked, but not completely.

[CalmingOcean]

Originally Posted by shabur

When there is a trauma, our brain works to protect us. It remembers the event. but it doesn't do the same with the emotions so we have these unresolved emotions that we need to attach to the memory. It's my understanding the emotional part is on one side of the brain while the event is on the other. Because EMDR works on both sides of the brain at the same time it forces the event and the emotions to connect, thus resolving the trauma.

I have done many sessions of EMDR for both trauma as well as disassociation. It is scary, it is overwhelming, but it works. I do it in small bursts so I don't fall into an anxiety or depressed state.

Hi Shabur,

I had what was suppose to be my first session of EMDR but T said it wasn't going to work today (which I kinda already felt) because I woke up in the everything's awesome mood not the frail little victim mood. She said she can't get past my wall today (this is only our second session together) and then she explained how we tend to develop two parts etc. how do you break your own wall down?? How do you let the one side come out that needs to do the talking and not the other that thinks everything is fine? She told me I still need to work on feeling my feelings..

Anyways. Maybe you can't answer but would help if you could sorry to post this on your thread Thiswayout, maybe my question will be helpful for you- you have to be open and honest and ready I think maybe to talk?