Emdr

[divinemistress36]

Has EMDR helped anyone at all with their ptsd?

 

[ebg]

I did one session of that on myself (15 min YouTube video) and I think it made emotions and memories resurface, I was really anxious the day after or I think maybe 2 days after. So there is that risk. But my statement isn't credible because I just did it by myself

 

[divinemistress36]

Yes, it does bring out trauma which is why its best to do it with a trained therapist

 

[lionetta12]

Has EMDR helped anyone at all with their ptsd?

My psychologist was a specialist on PTSD and childhood trauma. She had a lot of training and experience in EMDR as well. One day she suggested EMDR, and I thought I'd try anything if it helps. But all I did during those sessions was just laugh and look at the light and be like how is this supposed to do anything, like I just didn't feel any different and nothing was happening. I felt like someone was trying hard to hypnotize me, and all I could do was laugh and say it's not working and I don't really understand how or why this ever would work and it felt ridicilous. She then started tapping me with her hand instead and talking about beaches and how I need to visualize and imagine certain things with my eyes closed and I was like I can't, I just don't see anything. She then realised and wrote down in my journal that I had aphantasia and that EMDR is not working on me because I just can't imagine things.

 

[EvisceratedJester]

My psychologist was a specialist on PTSD and childhood trauma. She had a lot of training and experience in EMDR as well. One day she suggested EMDR, and I thought I'd try anything if it helps. But all I did during those sessions was just laugh and look at the light and be like how is this supposed to do anything, like I just didn't feel any different and nothing was happening. I felt like someone was trying hard to hypnotize me, and all I could do was laugh and say it's not working and I don't really understand how or why this ever would work and it felt ridicilous. She then started tapping me with her hand instead and talking about beaches and how I need to visualize and imagine certain things with my eyes closed and I was like I can't, I just don't see anything. She then realised and wrote down in my journal that I had aphantasia and that EMDR is not working on me because I just can't imagine things.

Tbh, it seems as though that type of therapy is controversial, with many psychologists questioning its effectiveness and some even labelling it as pseudoscience.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[divinemistress36]

Tbh, it seems as though that type of therapy is controversial, with many psychologists questioning its effectiveness and some even labelling it as pseudoscience.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Yes, I have heard this to and its really hard to find a properly trained therapist that knows what they are doing with it

 

[EvisceratedJester]

Yes, I have heard this to and its really hard to find a properly trained therapist that knows what they are doing with it

Honestly, I feel like it might be better to look into other treatment options.

 

[onthefence]

Has EMDR helped anyone at all with their ptsd?

It helps me. It allows me to actually open up a bit about my trauma, which I usually keep pretty locked up. It is also the only way I could cry (actually would only let myself shed a tear or 2) for about 3 years. I do have weird dreams afterwards but I feel more connected with the world. It is extremely important to find someone who has extensive training and experience as people with less training can retraumatize you and make everything much worse. When I did it with someone with less training I ended the sessions trapped in my trauma experiences and they just let me leave so my body/ mind was stuck there for days.