EMDR Therapy for PND/Trauma - So hopeful it will work. Any experience?

[RainbowMamaThree]

I have just started EMDR for PND linked to trauma of stillbirth and a subsequent traumatic birth during the first lockdown. I feel like I’ve exhausted every other Avenue for recovery. I had my first proper EMDR yesterday after the prep work and I don’t know if I actually experienced anything, or if I was just forcing the memories into my mind and just actively thinking about it?
Basically, after reading that some people literally get instant relief, I wonder if anyone felt it took a little longer to work/get used to?
I didn’t have the images flashing up and I didn’t feel like any thoughts were involuntary.
I suffer from intrusive OCD thoughts and depression as a result of this trauma and I just need to get a bit better! Thank you!

Emdr felt like that to me with the first session but I stayed with it and by the second session it started to take mental and physical effects on me.

I did it as an inpatient and was it was described that the session is just the start of the work and to imagine my brain as a big filing cabinet and the trauma is misfiled files and so imagine it going thro a series of imaginary tubes in your brain trying to get to where it needs to be properly filed and it can take 36-48 hours to process, then in my case I was then due the next session. Before doing another session to help with the filing system, after the second session I cried solidly for about 30 minutes for the rest of my sessions. I had 20 in all. I still need more but it's a funding issue.

DD has been having EMDR for complex mental health reasons, after years of not much helping we’ve seen a real difference in her, she’s lighter and brighter and her glass is at least half empty instead of only having dregs in it, she finally sees a future at last and is even looking at university

Used to work as a frontline worker with people who had suffered past trauma. Good reports about EMDR overall from those who had had it.

@Tomnooktoldmeto yes, oh god yes, the lighter brighter feeling. Since I was discharged friend's have said I'm a lot more like the person I used to be pre trauma. It's like a weight has been lifted ... As some things are now filed correctly whereas when misfiled they were messing around the brain sequence. Sorry I know that analogy might not make sense to some people but it does for me

I had it two years ago for PTSD and related emetophobia. I had a total of 12 sessions, the first couple I didn't feel anything but after that I relaxed more and the memories came more easily. Two years on, definitely don't have PTSD any more. Still have elements of emetophobia but not in a life defining, debilitating way.

It worked for my PTSD, and only took 4 sessions.

Honestly EMDR saved my life. The analogy up thread of having a whole cabinet of files to sort through is good, it doesn’t work over night. Really wishing you good luck with it

I've recently started too - as part of mixed therapy so I'm not doing it all the time. The first time I did it I don't think it felt the 'safe place' properly... the second time I just started crying because I couldn't feel it. The therapist said if you've suffered trauma you might not know how to feel safe, because you never have. I got it after that... I think... she said she could see I'd absorbed it from my eye movements. I went away feeling better and really light like others have said for a couple of days. However I was doing it partly to prep for a difficult situation and that didn't go well - I was so stressed I couldn't really access the safe place in my head. I do feel slightly cynical about the reprogramming - can it be that easy? I think I need more sessions. Really interested to read about other experiences - maybe we can keep this updated @RainbowMamaThree if you don't mind? Good luck to you

Oh, I'm interested in this so following this thread.

I had childhood trauma issues that I couldn't shake off, and had EMDR. I also suffered from bad intrusive thoughts for a decade, which I didn't really connect with the childhood trauma. The EMDR completely cured the intrusive thoughts, they just stopped immediately. I still have some of the other trauma issues though.

@RainbowMamaThree I had EMDR after the traumatic death of my young daughter. I hated it but 2.5 years since her death now and the images of the hours before, and as it was happening don’t flash up in my head very often, and I can deal with them when they do.
I had therapy along with EMDR and am in a better place. Happy to answer any specific questions.

A close friend had EMDR in similar circumstances to you OP. I can’t really answer your specific question but I do know it was life changing for her. It was the key to unlocking a more ‘normal’ life for her after being unable to be near pregnant people or babies for the longest time. She had quite a few sessions over many months and found it mentally gruelling but she wouldn’t be the person she is today without it. It saved her.

I've had emdr and it's largely cured my ptsd. I've had a lot of cbt as well before i had the emdr but emdr is totally different. Stick with it op, don't try and force yourself to think of things to say. When i started i felt like i was guessing what the therapist wanted to say but once i let go of that i found it much easier. Although i did a lot of crying during and after sessions!

First I am so sorry for your loss, and your trauma. I hope your lockdown baby is well now.

I was taught grounding techniques, including looking around and naming what I see, as part of treatment for PTSD. It stops me staring at the movie screen in my mind, so that I can tell it is a memory. It doesn't stop thoughts that it might happen again. I am obsessive about preventing the same situation, but I can function okay.

Hope you feel better soon.

I had EMDR alongside some CBT for PTSD (how many acronyms in one sentence??).

It really worked for me in that it allowed me to move on and function properly which I hadn't been able to do.

I did find it incredibly difficult and cried so much afterwards. It didn't cure my PTSD as I needed help with that later (successful) but it got me to a point where I seeemd more "normal".

@NotanotherboxofFrogs I did a course on PTSD and they explained it using your filing cabinet analogy. It really helped me to understand why I was reacting in certain ways and it wasn't just that I was "crazy". I'd really recommend looking into how your brain works and processes trauma. Once I learned it was all about protecting myself I felt a little more sympathetic to myself.

I'm so sorry to hear about the experiences you have all had, I hope you all have or do find some.peace. Aw

Sorry about the aw, my thumb slipped.

Oh I remember as well, my therapist helped me to establish a "safe place" in my head before starting. I chose a beach. I listened to beach sounds to help me "get there". It meant if it all got too much I was able to mentally go to my safe place to regroup.

I used the sound effects at night to help me sleep sometimes.

It took me back to the happy, healthy young adult I was before the PTSD inducing events. It felt miraculous!
I hope you get some relief from your pain

Oh thank you SO so much for all of these responses. I’m so sorry that you have all experienced PTSD or similar, but it’s so reassuring to know that you have managed to get back to some sort of normal. That’s exactly what I’m craving. To have good days and bad days that are ‘normal’ rather than stuck thoughts and panic constantly.
I’ve felt this way for a year now, and tried CBT and I have medication. Still can’t shake it which is why I’m so so hopeful that the EMDR will make a difference.
I guess I was expecting some sort of ‘experience’ during the first session which I didn’t get. I was just trying so hard to focus on the memories of trauma and definitely think saying what my therapist wanted me to hear. I think I had some physical sensations linked to my lost pregnancy but again, can’t be sure.
I will update on my progress every week if that would be helpful to others, and hopefully, I’ll have a positive outcome to talk about. So much respect for anyone who has battled/is battling severe mental health problems. It’s exhausting and shocking and just horrid.

My husband had this for complex PTSD. It only took 4 sessions and removed his intrusive thoughts and flashbacks completely. I'm pretty sure it didn't work straight away but by the time he was in the 4th session, he had no intrusive thoughts left at all. That was at least a couple of years ago now and no issues since. It's magic.

I am an emdr therapist. I've had emdr myself as part of the training. It worked for me, and I believe it works for my patients, though it is not instant for everyone.

Choice of therapy is a very personal thing. Emdr is not the only therapy for trauma (trauma focused cbt is the other main one). A decent therapist will talk you through your options and help you weigh what approach you'd like to try.

I had EMDR a couple of times. It definitely helped me. Part of it involved setting up a safe space in my mind which was massively helpful.

I’ve had EMDR and I’m a clinical psychologist, I use EMDR as part of my practice. It’s important not to feel you have to try and please your therapist. If you aren’t getting much it might be because you need a bit of time to get into the swing of things or maybe you need to switch modalities. What I mean by that is, some people find it easier to close their eyes imagine the image and use tapping or buzzers whilst some people need to use light bar and keep their eyes open or they start to dissociate. If you don’t notice much don’t feel like you need to make it up, your therapist will be able to explore any blocks with you.

For what it’s worth, I had 16 sessions and it has been transformative for me. It no longer have PTSD and I feel amazing. Whilst I have brilliant results with loads of people, it doesn’t work for everyone. Good luck though.

I worked as a therapist in a prison for a while. One of my colleagues trained in EMDR while I was there and the results with some of the very troubled patients were amazing.

This thread is so interesting and hopeful. I'm interested in trying it at some point, I've had blank looks when I mention it where I currently live, I'm moving, so if anyone here knows a good therapist in Liverpool, please let me know. @DancesWithFelines, can I ask you more about the intrusive thoughts and the connection with trauma. It makes sense that there would be a link. I have OCD but have had a lot of trauma too, in childhood and since then, and have wondered if that had anything to do with it.I believe everything comes from somewhere. @Stompythedinosaur I've had CBT, I had no idea there was a trauma one too. That would have been better, but no one mentioned it. How is it different please?