EMDR advice

[MouseandChops1]

Evening, any advice or experience greatly welcome please. I've booked in for EMDR session this week for resurfacing anxiety.
I know what my triggers are, I have managed well for the past 3 years on 10mg citalopram every other day. Had a blip this past week however with horrible anxiety and in my panic to avoid spiralling further booked a session for EMDR, worried now though that I've made a rash decision.

I've had EMDR for past trauma and found it very helpful. At the very least you learn techniques for managing anxiety, which can't but be helpful for life.

I would definitely recommend it. If you want to pm me about it at any point, please do. X

Thank you mittens, that's very kind of you.
Dr google has scared me with stories of how your anxiety can be magnified afterwards irreparably! Clearly I need to step away from google

You need to feel comfortable with the therapist, and make sure they're properly qualified as a psychologist, too. I would think that if you go to someone who is not properly qualified then it could be damaging.

If at any point you're not comfortable with the therapist or what's happening then pull out. Go with your gut.

I can tell you that my flashbacks have completely stopped since therapy.

I had IEMT (which is similar to EMDR) from an NLP therapist and it was amazing. I only needed 2 sessions but felt a lot better after the first. I now have no flashbacks, pannic attacks or anxiety.

That's really impressive nolonger. So pleased for you.
I'll see why tomorrow brings. I'm a bit dubious to be honest but also desperate to try anything x

Really wonderful that your flashbacks have stopped also mittens. Must be such a huge mental relief!

Yes, it was, MouseandChops1, definitely. I was disassociating though through the flashbacks. Since then I've felt the pain of it all. So it's not entirely straightforward. But at least I understand it now.

You will only know whether you want to go through with this once you've spoken to a therapist who can actually answer your questions. Good luck.

I'm so confused! I've had the session. He took with through the process, got me to write what I felt needed addressing in circles.
The circles were connected were I felt there was a link etc.
The session lasted an hour and 10 minutes. He was super confident I only need the one session.
I've no idea really what just happened, sounds ridiculous but I don't know if I've done it right!!

I just rang my husband to explain but couldn't really describe it either.
Apparently over the coming hours/days I'll feel the benefits more and more??

Does this sound about right? The therapist was really lovely, efficient with a relaxing manner.
Guess I'll have to wait and see, just feel emotionally tired at the moment
X

EMDR stands for eye movement desensitisation reprograming, as far as I understand it this is generally by following the therapists finger or a light with your eyes. I had IEMT rather than EMDR and most of my sessions were following the therapists finger with my eyes whilst recalling certain memories associated with the emotions/feelings I was having.

I felt somewhat better straight away and things continued to improve over the next few days, weeks and months. Initially the therapist was confident that I would only need the 1 session, however I had new memories emmergeand then flashbacks with relation to these, so I went back for a second session a few months later and have been fine ever since.

It definately was an absolutely exhausting process though.

I found it exhausting too, and mine went on a lot longer. But it was certainly worth it.