Emdr | Mumsnet

Everestisthebest · 2024-12-27T18:12:28+00:00

After thinking about doing it for a long time, i had my first proper session of emdr today where I was processing a memory around my mothers death when I was very young. The whole thing was so incredible I just wanted to share because i almost cant believe what happened. The memory that was distressing me was that of my mom lying on her bed at home when she was taking her last breaths. I went through it again and during it I asked her not to leave and she lifted off the bed and I pulled her back down. We then went downstairs where she took out a book that she got me when I was younger that had my name in it, she told me i was special and how much she loved me and we petted our family dog that she loved. Then my father and siblings entered the memory and he said how he didn't want her to leave and he would miss her so much. We all danced together in our kitchen and then went for a drive and listened to a singer that she loved. It was so surreal I feel like I just had a visit with her. Has anyone experience something similar?

Nikitaspearlearring · 27/12/2024 22:16

That sounds amazing! I did a very short session on my own after looking at a "how to" thing on YouTube. It did help me to reset the memory of a bad event and kind of make it more distant. But I have been thinking about doing it properly, with a practitioner, so thank you for posting. I had no idea it could do something like that.

Craftycorvid · 27/12/2024 22:17

Glad you had such an amazing experience with EMDR. 🙂

Frangywangywoowah · 27/12/2024 23:04

I didn't have this experience BUT EMDR saved my life....that's what I tell everyone. I had PTSD from work and for 2 years I was basically shut down. In 5 sessions my life was changed.

ChocolateTurtle · 27/12/2024 23:08

I want to do EMDR but have heard that you can feel 'worse before you feel better'. I don't have good support in my life right now and am going through a lot and can't cope with feeling worse

Butthechildrentheylovethebooks · 27/12/2024 23:12

Frangywangywoowah · 27/12/2024 23:04

I didn't have this experience BUT EMDR saved my life....that's what I tell everyone. I had PTSD from work and for 2 years I was basically shut down. In 5 sessions my life was changed.

5 sessions cured my DS of crippling anxiety brought on by a traumatic incident, it was like magic.

Bakedbeansandtoast · 27/12/2024 23:17

It's absolutely amazing. I had it a few years ago for PTSD and crippling emetophobia. I am still an emetophobe but it's not crippling any more.

BurrosTail · 27/12/2024 23:24

How would this work with memories around rape and abusive relationship?

nocoolnamesleft · 27/12/2024 23:28

I didn't have any similar experience, but EMDR was amazing for treating my work related PTSD.

Craftycorvid · 28/12/2024 07:32

I’m an EMDR therapist. I’m never less than bowled over by how effective EMDR can be for people. Yes, it can be an uncomfortable process as you work through disturbing memories, but it can take effect almost instantly - as someone up-thread said, five sessions can make a significant difference. As to how EMDR works for repeated traumas; if they have been of a similar nature ie what happens in an abusive relationship, the processing emerges somewhat differently and it can - in my experience - take a few sessions to clear one memory, and this is because our brains will link any related experiences together; the good news being that this can have a ‘domino rally’ effect so that related memories are processed simultaneously (hope that makes sense?)

Nogodsnomasters · 28/12/2024 08:06

Butthechildrentheylovethebooks · 27/12/2024 23:12

5 sessions cured my DS of crippling anxiety brought on by a traumatic incident, it was like magic.

Show quote history

Sorry to jump in but could I ask how old your ds was? My DS is 10 and has been referred for EMDR by CAHM's, his anxiety is awful after a traumatic year and they said they felt he had a number of signs of PTSD. He also has autism. I am really hopeful for the treatment but also very worried about how he'll cope with it at such a young age.

Traumainthepast · 28/12/2024 08:22

@Craftycorvid Does it work if you can't remember the exact details of the trauma?

I was continuously physically and emotionally abused by family members and it's now a very long time in the past but it still affects me even though I can't remember all the details.

Because of their neglect I was also groomed by a paedophile neighbour when very young - again, I don't have much memory of that, just fragments.

Butthechildrentheylovethebooks · 28/12/2024 09:05

Nogodsnomasters · 28/12/2024 08:06

Sorry to jump in but could I ask how old your ds was? My DS is 10 and has been referred for EMDR by CAHM's, his anxiety is awful after a traumatic year and they said they felt he had a number of signs of PTSD. He also has autism. I am really hopeful for the treatment but also very worried about how he'll cope with it at such a young age.

Show quote history

DS was 11. Honestly it was amazing. He's 16 now and if it ever comes up he says it felt like nothing much was happening in the actual sessions. We were never there after the initial one so I can't comment on what happens. The therapist went on to help my daughter too (not EMDR), she is know as a Saint in our family.
If you go for it I really hope it helps your DS

Nogodsnomasters · 28/12/2024 09:38

Butthechildrentheylovethebooks · 28/12/2024 09:05

DS was 11. Honestly it was amazing. He's 16 now and if it ever comes up he says it felt like nothing much was happening in the actual sessions. We were never there after the initial one so I can't comment on what happens. The therapist went on to help my daughter too (not EMDR), she is know as a Saint in our family.
If you go for it I really hope it helps your DS

Show quote history

Oh thank you very much! A part of my son's anxiety is separation anxiety so I'm sure I'll be there for a number of sessions but I really am holding out hope for it. So glad it worked for your son.

Harvestmoon49 · 28/12/2024 09:43

My dd had 6 sessions of this before moving to talking therapy.
It was expensive and hard for the first few sessions (she cried and was an emotional wreck initially) but it eventually proved to be life changing.
She went from being a virtually housebound 19 yr old, crippled with anxiety, to a young woman who returned to uni, lived her life and who is now unrecognisable ❤️

Craftycorvid · 28/12/2024 09:43

@Traumainthepast Yes, it works when you don’t have a narrative memory of what happened. As long as you can access feelings about what happened either mind or body, EMDR can help.

Shakeyourbaublesandsmile · 28/12/2024 09:45

You did that in the first session?

Harvestmoon49 · 28/12/2024 09:46

Traumainthepast · 28/12/2024 08:22

@Craftycorvid Does it work if you can't remember the exact details of the trauma?

I was continuously physically and emotionally abused by family members and it's now a very long time in the past but it still affects me even though I can't remember all the details.

Because of their neglect I was also groomed by a paedophile neighbour when very young - again, I don't have much memory of that, just fragments.

Dd had no recollection of the event that had triggered her crippling mental health issues. Edmr helped her with this and she now remembers it vividly and has complete context for why she struggled so much.
I also had no idea and although this was difficult for me (I felt immense guilt) the positives far outweigh any negatives!

Nobiggerthanyourhand · 28/12/2024 09:49

What is it?

buttonousmaximous · 28/12/2024 09:53

I had it for crippling anxiety. The only way I can describe it is that it shifts stuck thoughts so they get moved on and processed. It's a amazing treatment

Traumainthepast · 28/12/2024 09:53

Harvestmoon49 · 28/12/2024 09:46

Dd had no recollection of the event that had triggered her crippling mental health issues. Edmr helped her with this and she now remembers it vividly and has complete context for why she struggled so much.
I also had no idea and although this was difficult for me (I felt immense guilt) the positives far outweigh any negatives!

Show quote history

I hope your DD continues to recover well. 💐

Frangywangywoowah · 28/12/2024 09:54

Butthechildrentheylovethebooks · 27/12/2024 23:12

5 sessions cured my DS of crippling anxiety brought on by a traumatic incident, it was like magic.

Show quote history

I love this result for you x

Lovingtheglitter · 28/12/2024 10:01

I had EMDR years a go as I had really bad panic attacks and ptsd from a situation that I was in as a child. The sessions were difficult as I was reliving it but honestly afterwards it was so freeing as I could think about the situation but have no reaction to it. It was like it had happened to someone else and not me. I have been free from it for years now and it was the best thing I had ever done.

Butthechildrentheylovethebooks · 28/12/2024 10:26

Frangywangywoowah · 28/12/2024 09:54

I love this result for you x

Show quote history

Thank you. As I'm sure everyone will agree, when a child has anxiety, it has an enormous impact on the whole family. When they are suffering, as parents you suffer. We were so so lucky to be referred to the therapist that DS saw.

Incredibleaccuracy · 28/12/2024 10:27

Frangywangywoowah · 27/12/2024 23:04

I didn't have this experience BUT EMDR saved my life....that's what I tell everyone. I had PTSD from work and for 2 years I was basically shut down. In 5 sessions my life was changed.

I too had chronic ptsd from an abusive childhood and my job. I found emdr absolutely brilliant for putting things to bed and settling my mind.

researchers3 · 28/12/2024 10:32

Craftycorvid · 28/12/2024 09:43

@Traumainthepast Yes, it works when you don’t have a narrative memory of what happened. As long as you can access feelings about what happened either mind or body, EMDR can help.

What do you mean by narrative memory please?