EMDR Therapy

[BloominMisteltoeMarvellousWine]

I have just had my second session. At the moment I am learning about the process and doing some prep. I had to do a time line of bad memories which was eye opening. I've only just got into my secondary school years! That alone will take a few weeks!

I have PTSD because of a violent and abusive relationship and was emotionally abused as a child.

Can anyone tell me more about EMDR and what happens?

How did it benefit you?

[NanaNina]

Sorry I have no first hand experience, but there are a few MNs who have had this therapy for PTSD and claim that it has helped enormously, where other therapies have not helped at all. I'd be interested to know how you got this therapy - is it available on the NHS?

I think the benefit of this therapy is that you don't have to endlessly go over the traumas that you suffered as a child because as you probably know that can be very painful. Maybe someone will be along who has had first hand experience of this therapy.

However I think your GP (or whoever) has correctly diagnosed you as suffering from PTSD (so often people are diagnosed as depressed or even psychotic) and I think you are probably getting the best kind of therapy that you can have.

Be really interested to see how it goes for you............

[BloominMisteltoeMarvellousWine]

Thank you Nana

I am being treated through the NHS after being on the waiting list for 9 months. I had an assessment and they decided that this was more suitable than CBT.

I have suffered throughout my life as a result of my childhood but the diagnosis of PTSD was made after I was attacked.

I am relieved to be starting treatment and it is good to hear that it is effective.

I will keep this thread as an update each week.

[QueenofWhatever]

I had EMDR about two years ago for complex PTSD - abusive relationship with DD's Dad and for abuse and neglect in childhood. I paid privately, about £40 a session.

I rarely say things like this but it has transformed my life. It sounds like such a load of nonsense (waving their hand backwards and forwards across your eyes - seriously?) but it really works. Stick with it even if it gets tricky or you feel it's not working.

Good luck!

[BloominMisteltoeMarvellousWine]

Oh I am so pleased to hear it worked for you!!!

I am apprehensive about the unknown and what will happen but I am excited about recovery and the prospect of not suffering any more.

If anyone else has had any experience I'd love to hear it.

[ThwartedbyMum]

I had EMDR treatment about 3 1/2 years ago. It wasn't for PTSD I have endogenous depression and agoraphobia but I think the basis of the treatment would still be the same. My understanding of it was basically your eye movements can trigger past memories and experiences and so these eye movements need to be reprogrammed so it does not associate with them any longer. Your therapist would move an item rapidly in front of your eyes whilst you talk about these experiences and this should desentizise them. There are different ways of doing the treatment and i actually had one of the alternatives I wore headphones and would hear alternate beeps in each ear as I talked this has the same effect. After about 5 treatments I was able to go outdoors again and have not had a major depressive episode since. I say major as it hasnt been a total cure for me I still have the occasional bout of depression and agoraphobia but they only last a couple of days and are managable. I had CBT alongside the EMDR and both of them together have taught me coping mechanisms and I got my life back.
If you want any more information please feel free to PM me.

[BloominMisteltoeMarvellousWine]

I have done a search on MN and haven't found any bad accounts of EMDR which is promising.

I have been really anxious about it but I am completely reassured now