Hello. I am trying to come to grips with the effects of PTSD and associated anxiety. I have had this for 19 years now, but have only this year sought treatment for it. I completed a block of 10 lengthy and highly distressing sessions of Exposure Therapy (together with CBT) over a 3 month period around mid year. I think finally talking to someone about my long-ago traumatic experience has helped in some ways. A problem shared is a problem halved? Not sure I agree with that, but there could be something to it.
Anyway getting to my reason for this post. Is there anybody out there who has any experience with EMDR therapy? My psychologist is not very happy with the results from our other therapy so far and believes more needs to be done. Her words were: "I think we can get more habituation to your memory, and so I would like to try a treatment approach called EMDR to see if we can get a bit more traction and ramp it down a bit more". Sounds like psych speak to me!
I was left feeling very much 'up in the air' or 'in limbo' after completing the other therapy. I feel like it finished way too soon, and I wasnt ready to finish up. I felt almost let down and abandoned when she told me we were finished! The triggers, nightmares and anxiety are all still there, if perhaps slightly reduced in intensity. Although I do have an anniversary coming up in Feb, and everything is always worse then. So when I get an additional 10 sessions next year under my mental health plan I want to know everything I can on therapy options.
Therefore I would appreciate hearing about your experience with EMDR. Is it a natural progression to move from Exposure Therapy and/or CBT to EMDR? For what purpose was it recommended for you? What actually is it? How many sessions are required? What was it like for you? Do you think it helped? I believe there are several different methods of how it can be conducted, what method was used on you?
If you have any other relevant information or tips, please pass that on too, as I'd appreciate knowing all I can about it. For example, how best to prepare for the treatment and to make it work for you. I have all this stuff churning through my head, and I'm trying to sort it all out. Your advice would help.
Sherie xx
