EMDR Therapy

[Eyessoblue]

Today, I had an appointment with a psychotherapist and she has convinced me to have EMDR Therapy, she truly believes it is the best positive result for someone suffering with Cptsd, I have got to go on a waiting list but it shouldn't be that long and it is free on the NHS. I am feeling slightly apprehensive but also quite excited that I may finally be able to get rid of all the horrible effects of cptsd, I have seen a few people on here who are also having EMDR and their results sound positive too, I have looked at you tube and some of the stories aren't so great but I'm trying to be positive and hope that it works for me. I will keep you informed of my progress once I start!

[Saule]

How exciting! I know not everyone has had positive experiences with EMDR, but mine have been really good. I think if you have the right T with training/experience using EMDR with CPTSD/dissociative clients then the chances are it could be really helpful. Is there any way to know who you will be referred to or the background/training of the EMDR therapists registered with the NHS? That might give you some insight into their level of experience working with complex trauma and dissociation. I'm in Australia so totally different system (little to no funding for mental health care) so I'm sorry if my suggestion is totally impossible! Either way, I hope you find EMDR helpful. 

[still I rise]

Hi,
I have had EMDR on and off during therapy for the last year. i find it very helpful.  Difficult  yes.  For me its like taking the body sensations, emotions, images and sounds and having the ones that connect start to move toward each other and come together.  And a lot of the coming together is after the EMDR, when the event I am working one comes out of the fog in a kind of larger piece that I can understand. Its not easy and I don't want to miss lead you.  Hope that helps

[Eyessoblue]

Thank you for your advice, I've at the moment decided against EMDR, not feeling comfortable with the idea of it for now, I'm now back on a waiting list for a specialist trauma therapist who specifically deals with ptsd, I have multiple traumas and for me this seems like the best way forward for now. Glad it's worked for you though.

[Candid]

Today, I had an appointment with a psychotherapist...

Was that the assessment interview? I'm still waiting for mine.

I've at the moment decided against EMDR, not feeling comfortable with the idea of it for now, I'm now back on a waiting list for a specialist trauma therapist who specifically deals with ptsd, I have multiple traumas and for me this seems like the best way forward for now.

I had EMDR for two years and it didn't shift a thing for me, although I think there were one or two issues with the therapist and how she did it.

Re. the multiple traumas, some of them life-threatening, I feel the need to have them acknowledged by someone who really knows how to take the pain away. Overarching all of this is the callous FOO who simply didn't care, led by the mother who set out to make everything as bad for me as she could. I feel a desperate need for an emotionally supportive family -- MIL and H just don't make it -- and that's a tall order for any therapist.

And so we wait, Eyessoblue.

ETA: I just called the trauma service and was told there's a long waiting list for the assessment, after which there's another wait for the appointment. I am feeling desperate.

[Eyessoblue]

Yes, everything seems to come with a long waiting list, I don't know what these people expect you to do whilst waiting, a handout with cbt excercises is what I get handed and that's supposed to sort me out until I get seen again. Just wish that these so called experts actually really understood what cptsd/ptsd is about and how it actually affects us rather then leaving us with a handout and nothing else. Here in the U.K. Everything is on a budget with the NHS, I'm more then greatful that I get seen and have had appointments but there are serious staffing issues with just not enough experience to actually be able to properly help people, I could go private but don't really have the funds to do so, certainly not long term anyway which is what I need. Hope you get sorted soon.

[Blueberry]

FWIW, Eyessoblue, my T decided against EMDR in my case. He tried something similar, Brainspotting, I think it was called. A bit less invasive I think. He then decided against that too. He's now been using screen technique (??) with something like IRT in addition for a while. These are direct translations, I don't live in an English-speaking country, and I'm not even sure if all methods in one country are used in all other countries. Probably not.

It is said that EMDR can be very effective, but it can be too effective i.e. brings up too much, too fast, that you can't deal with and integrate. So it backfires on you. I don't want to go back to backfiring therapy. Done enough of that with Ts who were apparently out of their depth with me. I feel very safe with my T and with the methods he's using. Good luck to you and I hope the waiting list miraculously disappears.

[Blueberry]

Candid, I hear you. Hang in there. You're worth it. I'd like to send you one of those long-arm hugs but I don't know how, so    instead.

I need to get back to my Inner Children. I want to too, at least sort of. yikes. A bit strenuous always.

[Candid]

I could go private but don't really have the funds to do so, certainly not long term anyway which is what I need.

Same here.

Ts who were apparently out of their depth with me.

I've had a whole long line of those!

I'd like to send you one of those long-arm hugs but I don't know how

It's just bighug between colons.  and

[Eyessoblue]

Thanks for the info blueberry, I have never heard of either but I will look into it! I have heard that EMDR can have negative experiences on some people with too much info to process etc, I really don't think it will work for me especially as I'm able to disaccociate quite a lot. Just got to wait to be seen and hope that it's a counsellor that I feel comfortable with and can relate to.