EMDR anybody?

[PeriodBanana]

I've been having CBT for anxiety lately, and my therapist has suggested I might benefit from EMDR therapy. I don't really know much about it so I was wondering if anyone has any experience of this type of therapy and if it worked for you?

I did three sessions a few years ago when I was having counselling to work through a trauma. The trauma seemed huge at the time, I was very stressed. Now, while I can clearly remember how desperate I felt at the time, I have accepted the trauma as part of my life, it no longer affects me. I wish it hadn't happened but I can live with the fact that it has. I don't know if that's due to the EMDR treatment or if it would all have worked out in the end anyway, but the treatment definitely didn't do any harm. I would go for it if I were you.
The actual EMDR sessions can be stressful because you are reliving traumatic events, but tbh I didn't find it worse than an average counselling session.

Thank you @WomenAndVulvas for sharing your experience. I think I will probably give it a go if my therapist thinks it will be helpful.

Did you do it face to face or "online"? I'm a bit wary that doing it online may not work as well as it could, particularly because I only have my phone to use.

I've not had it but DD did when she developed a fear of vomiting that was stopping her going to school. It worked brilliantly- I think it works best when there is a specific trauma to work through. DD did it face to face so I can't say how well it would work on the phone

I'm an EMDR trained therapist. My experience has been that it can be incredible, but for some people it didn't seem to make a difference...like a lot of things really!

I would wonder how it could work logistically over the phone tbh. I think video calling would be a minimum for me

@IDontMindMarmite - how can EMDR be applied to an individual with aspergers/autism, pls?

@PeriodBanana - I hope whatever you choose is helpful and you get some peace.

I’ve had it.

It worked really well at the time. Less so as time has gone on.

I had it for PTSD and it was extremely extremely successful. Would definitely recommend.

@ExtraordinaryBananas of course it depends on the individual but I have had success using it with people with high functioning Autism.

Thank you @IDontMindMarmite

@ExtraordinaryBananas in fact, attachment disorders that can come about as a result of childhood trauma is sometimes misdiagnosed as ASD. It can be hard to differentiate for some.

I had it face to face, I can't imagine it working online especially if all you have is a phone. I think the setting, not being at home, having your therapist there physically, all make a difference.