EMDR anyone?

[hollow]

Hello fellow anxious people. I'm due to start a course of therapy called Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, EMDR, and was wondering if anyone had any experience of it? I'm hoping it is going to be the beginning of the end to my anxious ways as those that be believe my anxiety is PTSD. Anyone??

[Paw52]

Hi, my sister had EMDR for PTSD after a particularly bad car accident five years ago. It worked very well for her and she has had no return of symptoms since. Good luck with your treatment, keep us updated on how it impacts on your anxiety.

[Holisticstress]

I have had heard some very good reports of EMDR it can work quicker than CBT

[Trez]

Hi I had this treatment earlier this year and it is very very good. I have been so much better. Its a simple treatment but it really is the best I have had. I attended 11 sessions and after the first one I could feel a little bit of the real me coming back to life and have gone on to smile I wish you all the best Tx

[horses]

Hi, I had a taste of this with people who qualified in the hospice where I worked, and must admit it does reprograme the brain, I think it is a dissraction and we all want to stop intrusiive thoughts! if we assimilate internal thoughts they can overcome external ones,it is better to be more aware of what is going on around us, and thik about others,familly,freinds,how many people in the queue in front of us feel the same? perhaps some of it is self aware way too much?

love to all xxx

[hollow]

Thank you all for taking the time to comment, needless to say I'm beginning to feel anxious about starting this treatment but I want 'me' back so I'm willing to try almost anything.

[Trez]

Please dont be anxious it is a simple therapy and I hope you get the results I had Please let me know how you get on Take care and smile Tx

[hollow in reply to Trez]

Thank you and I will do. Glad it worked for you, gives me hope.

[milo1]

HI ALL how do you get refered for this treatment HOLLOW i hope it works for you x

[hollow]

Thank you. Unfortunately I had bit of bad accident that wasn't dealt with in the best of ways by emergency services and then at A&E, soon after discharge from hospital I started having panic/anxiety attacks. My GP asked 'what dyou want me to do then' when I asked for help but not medication so I demanded some psychological therapies, six assessments later and a short course of CBT (that didn't really work for me as I was already using coping strategies I'd put in place myself as it took a year to get some CBT) I again demanded something else, I was essentially looking for counselling as I know how affected I am by my accident so after another assessment it was picked up that I may be suffering from PTSD. EMDR is aimed primarily at those who have suffered some major trauma so I was offered treatment, again I've had to wait weeks for tomorrow's appointment. Sorry for the long winded reply when the answer really is through my GP but also through not taking no for an answer and being assertive with my GP.

[Hidden]

Sounds interesting. Let us know how it goes. Karen

[hollow]

Will do.

[milo1]

THANKS for reply all the very best on the road to recovery x

[hollow in reply to milo1]

Thank you. Certainly puts life in perspective does anxiety!

[Trez]

Hi Hollow

How did it go I was away with my sister for the day yesterday Tx

[hollow]

Hi Trez, I only met my therapist yesterday we had an hour and half history taking session. I clearly had more to say than I thought!! Was worn out just offloading. I have another talking session in two weeks then start with the EMDR. Therapist seems a nice enough person who kept laughing at my colourful history but it made me laugh so has to be a good sign. Hope you are well and had a good day with your sister yesterday.

[Trez in reply to hollow]

Hi Hollow Well thats a good start What amazed me was how much I needed to talk about what was in my head My therapist just sat and listened It seems to me talking, to a therapist in a safe environment is easier than trying to talk to my family members (which I love and adore to bits) I some how felt ashamed and embarrassed of being anxious and depressed. I did not want them to see how scared I was. I can see now that bottling up emotions is not a good move. I am doing my own bit of therapy by working out what I can make better and what I cant and its a good feeling. Take care and keep in touch Tx

[grahampb]

Hi Hollow, I had EMDR earlier in the year! Its an interesting therapy! I was shocked by the effect it had on me. I had about 10 sessions and it really opened me up. However at the time I was really struggling with my anxiety and a recent event in my life. It all became too much and I discontinued the treatment. The therapist at the time agreed that it was maybe no the right time. Im due to start a course of CBT in november and they are also going to throw some more EMDR in! Good luck with your treatment! Just try and be open to it and you will be fine!

[Trez]

Hi Hollow How have you been after your EMDR All good I hope. Tx

[hollow in reply to Trez]

Hi Trez, still a lot of talking going on. I feel really upbeat afterwards but the next day I seem to have a bad day, go into a real downer....

[Trez]

Hi there Hollow. Hang in there and just take small steps. It is difficult, but do a day at a time and just try remember all the good times you have had. We have not been suffering with this beast for all our lives and we will beat it but not overnight. Talking is the best thing you can do and it makes you remember a lot of the good things you have done. Pick one and write it down, pick something which made you smile. Take care Tx

[pattijane]

I'm a psychologist who uses 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 role as a facilitator who trains 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. EMDR therapy has a ton of excellent research behind it validating its efficacy.

One of the initial phases (Phase 2) in EMDR therapy involves preparing for memory processing or desensitization (memory processing or desensitization - phases 3-6 - is often what is referred to as "EMDR" which is actually an 8-phase method of psychotherapy). In this phase resources are "front-loaded" so that you have a "floor" or "container" to help with processing the really hard stuff, as well as creating strategies if you're triggered in everyday life. In Phase 2 you learn a lot of great coping strategies and self-soothing techniques which you can use during EMDR processing or anytime you feel the need.

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. 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) 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 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.

It's not a cure-all therapy, however, it really is an extraordinary psychotherapy and its results last. In the hands of a really experienced EMDR therapist, it's the most gentle way of working through disturbing experiences.

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. “…EMDR…treatment involves standardized procedures that include focusing simultaneously on (a) spontaneous associations of traumatic images, thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations and (b) bilateral stimulation that is most commonly in the form of repeated eye movements. Like CBT with a trauma focus, EMDR aims to reduce subjective distress and strengthen adaptive beliefs 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.”