What to expect from EMDR?

[StrongBlackExpresso]

I've booked a session and although I have overview provided by the therapist I would really appreciate experiences of what happened in the first session of EMDR and how you felt afterwards, how many sessions you ultimately had, and how valuable you found it? Thanks in advance

It almost entirely cured my emetophobia and anxiety. It was amazing. I had 8 session. It starts off fairly gentle and you might think 'what was the point of that' but as time gets on you'll get deeper and deeper into it. I've noticed some of my OCD behaviours creeping back though so might need to get a few top up sessions but ultimately it was amazing.

That's really helpful to know, thanks. So pleased it worked for you.

I had a few session via the nhs. Changed my life. Reached parts that traditional counselling hadn’t been able to do. I will always live with cPTSD but it isn’t sending me off a cliff anymore.

That's wonderful to hear!

EDMR is hard going but amazing. I found the evening after I would sleep well and feel tired next day and then have bit of an emotional day 4 days after. It gets tough in parts but stick with it. It totally changed my life after ptsd and its great and tapping into thoughts and feelings you didn't know you had or how to express them. I had mine for a year and then again 4 years later for 6 months. With the right therapist it's a life changer.

I had about 6 sessions maybe 5 years ago now. For me it was life changing.. I am able to control my anxiety and one intrusive thought will not make me spiral into a complete panic. My level of anxiety was so bad I’d convinced myself I was going mad! Was worth every penny. X

Definitely life changing. I was so angry towards my abusive ex before i started. Afterwards I could not give two figs and it cleared the path for my wonderful dh.

Thanks so much all.

CharlieBoo could I ask if you needed to identify specific incidents which caused the anxiety for the EMDR to focus on? Or episodes of anxiety themselves if that makes sense?

@StrongBlackExpresso so sorry for late reply, I’ve just seen this.

I had intrusive thoughts which was a symptom of anxiety but also exasperated it. They sent me into full on panic attack and I thought I was going mad. So we focused on some of the worst thoughts which were even difficult to say out loud and also some of the things I worried about as a repercussion to the thoughts (I was going to be sectioned, my children would be taken away from me, my husband would leave me etc). It was life changing. I was no longer sensitive to any thought that came into my mind. Just brushed them off like most people and got on with my day. Intrusive thoughts get worse the more they scare you, hence I was so worried what was happening wasn’t normal.

I had to pay privately, but my therapist was amazing and it was worth every penny. Xxx

Really helpful thanks again. I had my first prep session. It was tough going and got to the heart of some issues quickly. I'm feeling it this week but understand that's normal until we start treatment.

I just wanted to add that it is really helping me heal from anxiety and overthinking panic that stems from childhood. I’m in my mid 60’s now and it’s taken nearly a year but life changing. It’s sometimes really upsetting but worth sticking with. My advice is to be really gentle with yourself after sessions as I often feel quite raw.

I found it very painful but it definitely helped. I had to keep going over the events directly before and during dd’s death. Now I can think about it without feeling like I’m going to collapse and can talk about it.

Really appreciated thank you both. I've booked leave for the appointments so I'm not juggling work before and immediately after.