Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

EMDR was it helpful or not?

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
els
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2005
Posts : 4033
Posted 7/22/2019 10:49 AM (GMT -7)
Hey all, its been a while since ive posted on here. I've recently started counseling again and she is suggesting EMDR to help with the extreme anxiety I've been having. I'm nervous about discussing my abuse and haven't really spoken in depth regarding it. If anyone is willing to share their experiences regarding EMDR I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!!
profile picture
Hibee
Forum Moderator
Joined : Oct 2008
Posts : 7931
Posted 7/22/2019 12:26 PM (GMT -7)
Hi

Welcome back to the forum.

I have never tried EMDR but know someone that has and they found it very helpful they also suffered abuse so I would say give it a go and see if it helps.

Keep us posted

Hibee
profile picture
MainerMikeBrown
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2011
Posts : 690
Posted 7/22/2019 1:18 PM (GMT -7)
Between 2001-2009, I was dealing with terrible anxieties.

During this time, I had my medications adjusted. And I also was put on new medications. But none of it was helping me to calm down.

In 2008, I started seeing an EMDR-trained therapist.

After a few months, and after a combination of the EMDR and more medication changes, I finally began to calm down. It felt great, as I was no longer living with excessive anxieties. By early 2009, I was much more calm.

I don't know if the calmness I was then feeling was because of the EMDR, the medication changes, or a combination. But either way, I was finally calm.
profile picture
wearyRAsufferer
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2010
Posts : 2954
Posted 7/22/2019 4:43 PM (GMT -7)
Is this used for grief as well
What’s the method
profile picture
Scaredy Cat
Forum Moderator
Joined : Sep 2006
Posts : 28868
Posted 7/22/2019 7:52 PM (GMT -7)
I don't have personal experience with EMDR...but have heard good things from those who have gone through the method.

The only thing is that it seems to be just temporary relief for some. However, revisiting the therapy with some booster sessions, or being able to take some of the tools you learned and continuing on with it as a self help as much as is possible are both ways to perhaps prolong the benefits.

I would say trust your therapist (EMDR *is* known for help and healing of trauma) and do your best to be open to trying it. Wishing you courage and progress! Let us know how you are doing when you can. smile

S.C.
profile picture
tela44
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2014
Posts : 257
Posted 7/23/2019 9:08 AM (GMT -7)
I did that with a therapist for a while and I'm still here trying to work on my anxiety, so no for me, it didn't work
profile picture
els
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2005
Posts : 4033
Posted 7/23/2019 1:49 PM (GMT -7)
I saw my therapist yesterday (2 appointment) and she asked me to wear a weird device on each wrist that pulsed back and forth the whole session. I was very aware of it but it defiantly didn't help with the anxiety I felt during the session. Ive been struggling the last several years, trying to keep it all together but it's getting really hard. I have another appointment this Monday to start the EMDR at this point in time I will do just about anything.

Thank you everyone for your kind words and helpful responses. I really appreciate all your help and am super happy to see this forum is as awesome as it always has been.
profile picture
MainerMikeBrown
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2011
Posts : 690
Posted 7/26/2019 10:23 AM (GMT -7)
EMDR is an eye movement therapy. And EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, just for those who didn't already know.
profile picture
searching1
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2014
Posts : 181
Posted 7/27/2019 8:25 PM (GMT -7)
I have done EMDR with 2 different therapists. It didn't work for me for quite some time, but about 2 months ago I did a session focusing on something that got me quite emotional (regarding expectations of me as a child that were beyond my age), I cried, which I normally don't do in therapy sessions. That night I had dreams of removing myself from harmful situations from my past. It was actually really great. I've noticed an improvement around some things that I am usually very anxious about.
I'm certainly not "cured" of anxiety, but I feel I had a good breakthrough in that particular session.
I will say that in some EMDR sessions, I became more upset afterwards and in others, I didn't feel anything either way.
I think the effectiveness of EMDR really depends on the practitioner and the memory you choose to focus/work on.
profile picture
MainerMikeBrown
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2011
Posts : 690
Posted 7/28/2019 8:22 AM (GMT -7)
My EMDR therapist didn't have much experience as an EMDR therapist at the time back in 2008-09. But I still thought she was good.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply


More On Anxiety Panic Disorders

Coping With Holiday Anxiety

Coping With Holiday Anxiety

How Social Media Affects Your Mental Health

How Social Media Affects Your Mental Health


HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn
© 1997-2022 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.