Anyone tried EMDR?

[LetsDoItNow]

I've been having counselling for a range of things - abusive relationship, suicide of a significant person (who left a note to say it was my fault). I've been finding counselling really helpful and my therapist has suggested EMDR as a next step. I don't know a lot about it and am interested in hearing anyone who's had experience.

I tried it, twice. The first time, I did the first 2-3 sessions then my therapist had a car accident and couldn’t continue. Not he fault of course but it left me utterly cast adrift - we had opened the can of worms, and just left it open to fester. There was no resolution.

I then found another therapist. Started all over again. Did 2-3 sessions, then felt I needed to give it a break for a couple of months as I had other things going on. When I was ready to go back to it, I discovered my therapist had retired!

So that’s twice it’s gone completely wrong for me.

I do have faith in it as a therapeutic tool, but be careful to ensure you can complete the “course” (I think you normally need about 5-6 sessions); you don’t want it interrupted mid-way. That was very harmful for me.

There aren't enough therapists around, IMO. I'd like to try, but not easy to find someone.

Is that the therapy where ypu tap your face ? If it, DH had it on the NHS and it cured him of a trauma based issue.

I've not but a friend has and found it hugely helpful, she's previously had other therapy CBT etc, EMDR has been by far the most helpful.

One session with a trusted therapist completely changed my outlook on a traumatic event. I was no longer trapped in it but watching it. It has made a remarkable difference to me and I was sceptical beforehand. I hope it works as well for you if you try it.

I'm on the NHS waiting list for this but it is a long wait - pre covid they said expect to get treatment in January 2021 - so who knows now. I did a bit of research and it looks promising. I'm hoping for the miracle cure that some get but don't want to get my hopes up.

I paid for it. It made quite a dramatic difference

Thanks everyone for your responses - very positive to hear! My therapist also practices EDMR so she already knows the background. I'll report back once I've started.

I’ve had EMDR and I thought it was brilliant.

Yes, I had PTSD and it absolutely changed my life

Yes, it was a total game changer for me - after years of person centred counselling and CBT.

My therapist was an NHS practitioner who ran a private clinic one day per week. I paid as a private patient as the NHS waiting list was 18mos. I had 6 sessions in total and it was really helpful.

My DH is trained to do it, he says its very effective.

My DH did it after a car accident and it was v helpful.

EMDR the WHO best practice gold standard for PTSD and trauma.

Can bring permanent resolution of a traumatic incident or experiences in very few sessions without the “homework” needed in talk therapy for upkeep.

Good luck

Ive been having it and I've found that is extremely useful for processing trauma rather than just talking about it. I had cbt for my anxiety but it didn't help much with depression, with the emdr I'm finding very quickly that i am getting to the root of what the problems are and it's helping the depression. It's not easy though, i find the sessions are mentally draining but i know it's got to be done if I'm ever going to get better.

Ive been having it and I've found that is extremely useful for processing trauma rather than just talking about it

Yes, this was what I liked about it as well. It got to the stage where therapy wasn't helping anymore because constantly talking and picking over things was making me feel completely helpless, and that I was always going to be a hostage to these memories.

I had this (about 7 monthly sessions privately) for crippling postnatal anxiety brought on by a traumatic birth and postnatal experience. It was incredibly positive for me, I had been having panic attacks and all sorts and it really helped me process what I went though.
I remember after the first session thinking it was all a bit hokey (you had to set yourself up with an ‘inner safe space’ and identify a ‘negative self belief’ you wanted to work on) and being ready to cancel it going into my second session, then it absolutely blew me away. It seems like nothing when you are doing it, but it somehow really does shift everything around in your head - I came out the other side with a set of memories, instead of a set of triggers.