Question

I know this may get moved but no one is responding in the other forum. Sometimes I get these flashes of color followed by feelings of panic but no pictures. Has anyone experienced this? It started happening after EMDR.

I haven't, but it seems like something to mention to your T.

I have she hasnt said much about it. I was just curious if anyone else has experienced it.

Dissociation maybe?

Do you recall experiencing the same or similar during the actual EMDR session or only after? Might be a flashback akin to those people get after doing something that alters ordinary brain activity, but the flashbacks are often not clear images or memories, more feelings. EMDR is meant to tap into actual brain processes.

No only after. at night mainly when I am trying to fall asleep.

Do they scare you when you see them? In and of themselves, flashes of color don't have any significance IMO. I often have flash visions not only of color but all kinds of pictures when I close my eyes and disconnect from thinking. It's not disturbing to me at all. Actually, I rather enjoy it because images are kind of pretty..To me it's no different from a dream.

But if your mind connects those color flashes to some disturbing thoughts or memories, then it's worth to look into.

They are always accompanied with feelings of panic. Like my brain says oh s*** this isnt good. I fight not to see anything further. My T told me just to ride it out instead of fighting telling myself I am safe now and go to my safe place. I have no time for all of that. They come out of the blue and they are over in seconds.

I get these. I always figured it was just a migraine starting.

I dont get headaches often. Mainly just when I have a head cold.

If it is close to falling asleep, there is a thing called hypnagogic hallucinations. They are not necessarily complex hallucinations, can be flashes of colors, lights, sounds, weird tactile sensations... You can look it up online, those are completely normal. They can intensify though with chronic lack of sleep and also unusually severe stress. I get them often and they indeed tend to be more intense when I am especially anxious and/or exhausted but can't rest well.

Please try not to think there is something wrong with you all the time if possible! You can keep discovering stuff endlessly.

I dont think somethings wrong with me just curious. I went a very long time being sleep deprived and never had these. They started when me and my therapisr started trauma work. I wasnt really so concerned about the flashes more so the panic I have associated with them. I had my first and only flashback about 8 months ago. It was of my father forcefully kissing me. That was all I saw. Dont know my age etc. It happened after seeing this new T but I know this flashback was real because I wasnt even thinking about anything other than walking out the door then bam it comes out of nowhere. Then these little flashes of color and panic started happening at night. Also the relaxation and grounding techniques my T uses sometimes puts me in a panic. She has to be careful which ones she uses.

If they come together with panic/anxiety, you can do some grounding exercises when they come. It could be as simple as just observing the room slowly, naming every object you see around either silently or out loud, then describing each object also either silently or out loud. By the time you are done, you should be feeling calmer. If you are still anxious, continue the same exercise with sounds, physical sensations and so forth until you feel completely grounded in the here and now.