EMDR

Hello- I just wanted to share my experience with EMDR. I started therapy in early January and have since had 2 EMDR sessions with regular talk therapy. I think I had 3-4 talk sessions before any EMDR took place, probably to both prepare me for it as well as for her to gain a background on me.

The therapist described EMDR as if you are sitting on train watching the events of your life. To me, it is much like a stream-of-consciousness session. The therapist gave me earphones to wear as well as tiny vibrating eggs, one for each hand. The earphones alternate a beep into each ear along with the tiny eggs which also alternate in vibration in each of your hands. You sit in silence for about 5-10 minutes thinking about events in your life with the beeping and vibrating on each side of your body, and then the therapist stops the beeping and asks about what you are experiencing, so you talk for 3-5 minutes and then return to your stream of thoughts.

The first session seemed like it was going very well but then towards the end of the session, I was becoming too self-conscious of the talking breaks (i.e. I felt like I had to say something profound about what I was going through). We talked about this issue before my second EMDR session (I had 2 talk sessions before my second EMDR session), and she clarified that I could say anything that bubbles up. I could say, "I want Krispy Kreme donuts!" and that would be fine.

My second EMDR session was much more successful in that I was able to speak to my inner child by the end of the session. I've NEVER been able to do this before. Frankly, I was feeling much more emotional before I started my second session which I think may have prevented me from intellectualizing the whole process, so I think that helped.

After both EMDR sessions, the therapist told me to really take care of myself afterwards (go to bed early, feed yourself well, etc). She said I may have very vivid dreams as well. After both sessions I did feel very tired the next day and my eyes felt like they had been through REM on overdrive. Particularly after my second session, I felt very peaceful. I did feel a decrease in my anxiety levels. Actually, I slept very well after EMDR and did not recall any particularly vivid dreams. Unfortunately, soon after my second session I did have a trigger regarding my POA come up at work, but I think perhaps I was able to deal with it a bit better than usual.