Giving up on therapy as being helpful

According to my understanding, EMDR can be quick and successful when there is a concrete and isolated trauma, some particular traumatic event that stems out. I would be really surprised if it worked well with complex PTSD which by definitions is, well, complex and where it is really difficult to figure and recall what kind of incidents the trauma is really made up of. It could be that the whole childhood background was inherently traumatic, although it looked completely normal then because it was the only thing that the child knew.

I've had emotional backslashes that don't associate with really anything. No memory, no narrative, just a horrible intolerable feeling that comes from somewhere and then vanishes into somewhere, without me being able to make any sense of it. I doubt EMDR would be of much help here.

Well, my counselor says I don't have to have a specific, traumatic memory. I can work with a feeling. That can lead to memories. For me, I'm willing to try anything that might help.

Sure, why not!

I personally don't have much belief that for instance preverbal memories can be recalled by feeling. Especially when what caused these intense intolerable feelings was not some concrete particular trauma event but most probably just plain ordinary everyday emotional neglect.

I don't know about pre-verbal memories, but I have enough memories of being upset in childhood to work with, at least for now. Every little bit helps.

According to my understanding, EMDR can be quick and successful when there is a concrete and isolated trauma, some particular traumatic event that stems out. I would be really surprised if it worked well with complex PTSD which by definitions is, well, complex and where it is really difficult to figure and recall what kind of incidents the trauma is really made up of. It could be that the whole childhood background was inherently traumatic, although it looked completely normal then because it was the only thing that the child knew.

Have any of you checked into EMDR? It seems to be the preferred therapy for PTSD, and can help very quickly.

According to my understanding, EMDR can be quick and successful when there is a concrete and isolated trauma, some particular traumatic event that stems out. I would be really surprised if it worked well with complex PTSD which by definitions is, well, complex and where it is really difficult to figure and recall what kind of incidents the trauma is really made up of. It could be that the whole childhood background was inherently traumatic, although it looked completely normal then because it was the only thing that the child knew.

I've had emotional backslashes that don't associate with really anything. No memory, no narrative, just a horrible intolerable feeling that comes from somewhere and then vanishes into somewhere, without me being able to make any sense of it. I doubt EMDR would be of much help here.

You mention that there are lots of therapist in your area. You might want to consider emailing the ones that you are interested in explaining your situation, and if they would consider signing up with your VA program. I would include the VA contact info for therapist to sign up or have it at the ready when they respond to you.

Good luck.

(((((((( Trace ))))))))