This looks interesting :) I know people with PTSD who have benefited from EMDR ...

[210272]

... so hope it will be beneficial to p/w FND too

doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-202...

[SD_mama]

Looks interesting. Would love to hear about the results but my kiddo is too young to participate. He definitely suffers from PTSD related to injury and subsequent surgery. His doc thinks EMDR would be too much for him right now. I hope this is helpful to some of the FND sufferers out there.

[210272 in reply to SD_mama]

Hi SD_mama,

It looks like a really well designed trial so yes, it will be interesting to hear the results. I've also known EMDR help for people with medically induced PTSD (aka 'a sane response to an insane situation') which often occurs after 'disastrous' encounters with psychiatrists. I'm sorry your kiddo is suffering and hope his doc will be able to bring him to a point where EMDR might help. I don't know where you are (or what his symptoms are) but investigations about vestibular symptoms after head injuries are not done routinely in the UK so patients often get suboptimal treatment/symptom management here.

[Catz128]

Hi, thanks for bringing the topic of EMDR up. The research is slowly coming in and soon it will become more mainstream therapy. I have had experience with EMDR over the last 7 years, to address my PTSD. It works well for people with PTSD and Complex PTSD because it addresses trauma memories. It is less invasive and you tap in to the emotions and feelings of a particular memory you would like to process. For the most part, you don't call up the memory to relive it and everything attached to it. With an experienced therapist, you'll be able to establish a safe place that you can return to, after processing the trauma. It may take a few sessions to process one trauma memory or trigger, or just one session to feel an improvement. This is the beauty of EMDR, you'll be able to find relief almost immediately. Personally, it trained my brain to do the technique of EMDR for itself and fish out what is the core trigger to any given scenario. Go to the root cause in otherwords. I can then focus on how to process it with the help of a soothing exercise or watching a video on the topic. Tools in your toolbox. There are some videos on YouTube to see the actual technique of flickering the fingers by the therapist and the eye movements of the patient. To date, you have a tapping version of EMDR. The follow up to this is Brainspotting and the idea behind it is that where you look, has an effect on how you feel. So I alternate between the two. Other references: Drs Peter Levine and Bessel van der Kolk have different videos about it on YouTube. Bessel's book: The body keeps the score plays a key role in understanding trauma, the brain, neuroplasticity and therapy modalities. There is an international EMDR Association called EMDRIA, which may guide you. To answer the question then, Does EMDR work? Yes it does, and like any other therapy - find an experienced therapist to guide you. I hope this helps you on your healing journey.

[210272 in reply to Catz128]

Thanks, Catz128 I know it can work for trauma and PTSD/CPTSD but since p/w FND haven't always experienced trauma (either as children or adults) it'll be interesting to know if it works for this patient population. I used it for medically induced PTSD (aka 'a sane response to an insane situation') and it was helpful although the therapist wisely told me I would never be fully 'cured or fixed' since iatrogenic harm is still very common.

As you say, finding a good therapist is the key so I trust all those involved with this study will be formally trained and accredited.

[Catz128 in reply to 210272]

I hear you. On the other hand, trauma can be a medical intervention such as invasive surgery, constant illness, being judged by family, friends, medical staff, a motor vehicle accident etc. For many, there's an underlying anxiety and that is exacerbating FND symptoms. A therapist who have the skill to use EMDR in an "applied" or tailored manner may be prove vital.