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Experiences of EMDR for childhood trauma?

6 replies

Parsleyforme · 12/03/2026 12:27

Just wondering if anyone has had EMDR for several traumas, or a generally traumatic childhood?
I read about it in a book and the example given was a woman who’d had a lot of trauma over her childhood. But from reading threads on here it seems like it’s more for one or two significant events? So just hoping to hear some experiences 🙂

OP posts:
Greenbooksandtomatoes · 12/03/2026 13:10

I had it a couple of years ago. My traumas I was refered for were adulthood (two traumatic incidents ten years apart, and ten years before treatment). However very early on it was decided my reaction to the adult trauma was probably worsened by childhood trauma (physical and emotional abuse throughout).
I was warned it wasn't a cure and it is harder to treat multiple traumatic events. I had a year of emdr. It was really useful, I feel it has left me a little numb to my emotions at times but I am more able to cope when I'm in situations similar to my adult traumas (which has to continue because its my health and healthcare settings that caused it). Dealing with childhood trauma first helped me see why I reacted as I did in adult life. The weird thing is I had to imagine my childhood self, sitting in a room I frequented as an adult and now if I'm stressed this image comes back to me. As a child I never set foot in this room (it wasn't even built then). I think the first time I set foot in this room I was 23 but in my mind I'm 8. But it somehow feels comforting.
If you decide to do it you have to go with it, I was a little skeptical of tapping and grounding myself but it worked. I also felt it wasn't working at first but my therapist later said with multiple traumas it takes longer to see a difference. I started in the April and by beginning of September I was seeing noticeable changes (that others could notice too).

Parsleyforme · 13/03/2026 19:57

Greenbooksandtomatoes · 12/03/2026 13:10

I had it a couple of years ago. My traumas I was refered for were adulthood (two traumatic incidents ten years apart, and ten years before treatment). However very early on it was decided my reaction to the adult trauma was probably worsened by childhood trauma (physical and emotional abuse throughout).
I was warned it wasn't a cure and it is harder to treat multiple traumatic events. I had a year of emdr. It was really useful, I feel it has left me a little numb to my emotions at times but I am more able to cope when I'm in situations similar to my adult traumas (which has to continue because its my health and healthcare settings that caused it). Dealing with childhood trauma first helped me see why I reacted as I did in adult life. The weird thing is I had to imagine my childhood self, sitting in a room I frequented as an adult and now if I'm stressed this image comes back to me. As a child I never set foot in this room (it wasn't even built then). I think the first time I set foot in this room I was 23 but in my mind I'm 8. But it somehow feels comforting.
If you decide to do it you have to go with it, I was a little skeptical of tapping and grounding myself but it worked. I also felt it wasn't working at first but my therapist later said with multiple traumas it takes longer to see a difference. I started in the April and by beginning of September I was seeing noticeable changes (that others could notice too).

Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s really helpful to hear because I’d read of people having 4 or 8 sessions and being essentially cured - which it sounds like is quite rare or unrealistic! Did you have to speak out loud much or did you spend most of your time visualising?

OP posts:
Greenbooksandtomatoes · 13/03/2026 20:23

Parsleyforme · 13/03/2026 19:57

Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s really helpful to hear because I’d read of people having 4 or 8 sessions and being essentially cured - which it sounds like is quite rare or unrealistic! Did you have to speak out loud much or did you spend most of your time visualising?

A bit of both, sometimes I spoke lots, other times hardly any. It depended on how I felt, what I was processing and if I could verbalise it. Sometimes I went home wrote it down and spoke about the week after. There was no pressure either way.

Iamthemoom · 13/03/2026 20:28

I had around 8 sessions for childhood trauma with more time spent on one specific trauma but also encompassing the larger more general trauma of growing up in an abusive home. It worked brilliantly, my panic attacks and anxiety were totally cured and I have felt well and able to cope in situations that would previously have triggered me.

AnonSugar · 18/04/2026 21:21

I’ve had four sessions so far.

Not going to lie, it feels bonkers really. No idea if it works. Time will tell.

Doggodoggo · 18/04/2026 21:41

I had 3 x 3hr sessions. It was exhausting and awkward but helped my symptoms by about 80%. Nothing else has worked so well for me.

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