Highly recommend EMDR. This form of therapy really accelerates desensitization and the brain connecting thoughts, memories, images, feelings, physical sensations from past to present. Once this happens it’s cathartic and no longer has the same intensity and gravity to re-trigger you. No CBT or DBT or any other form of talk therapy has ever had such a profound effect within a short amount of time as EMDR has. 😊

Reading “the body keeps the score” great book. He’s talking about how effective this is.

Didn't realise I had ptsd until a month ago. Had my first emdt session yesterday. Had some crazy ass dreams last night and woke up today feeling a bit down. But honestly I am positive about the future. Been subdued and controlled by my physical and mental health conditions since childhood and I already feel a weight lifting. Can't believe it's taken me 30 years to do this

I did 2 sessions of EDMR and it really helped me overcome PTSD

I am an EMDR therapist. This therapy is extremely effective for most people. It is not unusual to have an increase in disturbance when the therapy first starts but it is a much shorter therapy that often brings relief very quickly. For those having some disturbance, I recommend listening to "EMDR music" through ear phones or buds. These can be found on you tube as well. Listening to this type of music can be very calming but will not reprocess memories.

My therapist is about to start this with me and encouraged me to research it without going in depth with what happens during the sessions so I can’t prepare responses or overthink. I’m excited since no other therapist has ever tried to work through my issues in this way, the way I truly want.

i don’t have ptsd but right now my therapist has been doing this type of therapy to help me manage my anxiety and depression symptoms, it’s helped a lot and when i’m out under large amounts of stress i feel as if i can manage it better

Please consider redoing this video - there are some big pieces missing/misrepresented. The explanation of the "eye movement" piece is misleading - it might be calming or distracting...but that's not why the therapist is doing it, and it's not why the therapy works. Perhaps this video was made to try to explain the benefits of EMDR to laypeople; but without explaining the core reason why it works - trauma gets stuck in the right brain and you need to incorporate both hemispheres in order to fully process the trauma like we do with other experiences - you miss the entire point. If I'd seen this video and stopped there with my research, I doubt I ever would've tried EMDR because it sounds just like hypnotism or other forms of therapy. PTSD presents in many different ways, including the extremely common symptom of experiencing a sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) response due to triggers, and memory loss. Incorporating these into the video would provide a more complete picture as well. "When a person has PTSD, it usually means that painful memories become a problem in a person's life," while not inaccurate, there are many, many of us who experience the opposite. We have intense reactions, but can't figure out why. We have negative thought patterns, but haven't relived the memories from the initial trauma(s) that started that thought pattern in years, so we have no awareness of why we do things like drink alone or can't get out of bed in the morning, think we are worthless, are stuck in a job or relationship that is unhealthy, etc. This is at least as common as the "memories on a loop" presentation of PTSD, but arguably more important to call out because people often do not realize this could be PTSD and EMDR can help with that. I appreciate your efforts to present EMDR in an accessible way. I think with a few small tweaks this could be a great video.

I didn't realize how much trauma I hadn't processed until I began doing EMDR. Since starting, it's genuinely helped me overcome a lot of issues I've had in the past, especially with my anxiety towards going outside. Talking to a therapist is nice, and does help me somewhat, but EMDR is what's helped me the most and I highly recommend people who have issues with regular therapy try it out.

Been offered this treatment yesterday by my therapist, since I have some unsolved pieces of my life in childhood I need to address. Excited yet scared but also want to get things back to a bit more normal again.

4/24/21 - We met for four sessions. He said I did really well. After the second session he said we were finished but I really wanted more time. In that first session (I’m trying to be very precise here) we were able to take that memory of, what I have always called gang rape when I was 10, which always lived in the forefront of my brain - that I would relive over and over again - and move it far left of my mind. I no longer feel it in my forehead but way far to the left, which is the past for me. I physically feel it so far in the past (to the left) that it no longer effects me. He said that the memory has been forever changed in my mind and I will never remember it as I had. I have no understanding of how that happened BUT IT DID!! I no longer play it over and over. I can’t. I’ve tried but I can’t, nor do I want to. I hope this makes some sense to you. It is hard to take what I now physically feel (in my head) and put it into words. My experience of EMDR is that it is not the typical therapy where one talks on and on, week after week. Actually I did very little talking. I still don’t understand how it works but it did!

I highly recommend this type of therapy!

I have been having EMDR sessions off and on for a year to work on my grief that I repressed from losing my husband in July 2017. I hold a lot on because I feel like I'm a burden to my family and friends. My therapist is the only one I confide in. EMDR is very hard for me because I don't like to feel the emotions and thoughts that come up. Sometimes, I can get thru the 30 minutes of EMDR and other times, we have to quit because I can't handle it. It messes with my mind and heart for a few days, and I get very depressed, but after a few days, I feel so much better. I have years left of these sessions. Our main goal is helping me to process my grief. When I can handle my grief better and deal with my PTSD from watching my husband die tragically. I know I'll get there. I dread of moving on to my next traumas. My sexual assault in April 2000 and from being sexually abused as a child, but with my therapist's help, I'll continue to heal. Much love to those who have had trauma in your life and the courage to get help❤️

I was in therapy for three years and my psychotherapist performed EMDR on me. She also told me it didn't work for everyone. From my own experience, I can't stress enough how much the success depends on your willingness to go as deep as possible. Often during those sessions I had enough of thinking about traumas and my mind started wandering around, and that would make it much less effective.

EMDR Explanation starts at 1:41

I think I have PTSD now. I am a trauma ICU nurse and absolutely love what I do. I feel like an amazing nurse, I care for my patients, I’m capable of critically thinking about what I need done for my patient, and love seeing positive outcomes come to fruition. I am also capable of completely separating myself emotionally from my patients. However, I began to develop really disturbing thoughts. Before I would sleep I’d just stare blankly at the ceiling imagining myself getting into a really bad car accident. I’d imagine the car hitting me head on. Or I’d imagine myself getting stabbed or a person sneaking into my home and choking me to death. And it was terrifying because I’d imagine the persons face performing those terrible things to me. I’d imagine their facial expressions, the sounds they’d make as they took my life. And it didn’t only happen to me but also to my loved ones and friends. I’d walk around imagining people in their caskets. I could see a person who is totally alive and perfectly imagine them laying in their coffins, lifeless, pale, in their suits or dresses. The thoughts started becoming really intense and id remember snapping myself out of it but not after id really thought deeply about the heinous acts or tragic accidents that happened. I would snap out of it with a frown because I can’t believe id thought of such horrible things. I tried to rationalize these thoughts and think it’s normal to feel this way. I decided to make a post on the nursing subreddit today and asked how to make the thoughts stop. I then started getting lots of replies saying that what I’m stating sounds exactly like PTSD. After so many people are mentioning that what I’m experiencing is PTSD a lot of things started to make sense. I guess the idea of PTSD never popped up into my mind because I thought that in order for me to experience PTSD I had to be my patient experiencing the trauma, but now I realize that the traumas I witnessed seeped into my reality and has been messing with my mind unknowingly. I know I need a formal diagnosis but it has given me tons of hope that I may have something that I can treat. I honestly had no idea until today what these thoughts were. But I’m glad I made that post. I will seek professional help and hopefully get EMDR as it seems so effective.

I just started this with my therapist 💚

After reading so many articles, I finally understand it. Thank you Psych Hub ! ❤️

Oh!!! It shows you that you’re here in the now and not in the memories that’s so cool

I have an exam on Treatment methods and am finding all your videos explaining different therapies extremely useful!!

I've tried over 20 years of CBT and while it helped me thru difficult times to have a support person I'm not sure it helped heal my trauma. I finally found a therapist that can do this, starting soon and looking forward to the results.

EMDR immensely helped me

This is not entirely accurate. Eye movement is NOT about distracting (in fact you could also use buzzers, lights, and tapping). It's about causing bilateral stimulation in your brain to improve communication between your amygdala and hippocampus and essentially help your traumatic memory "move" to your cortex where it can be properly processed. Also, the person receiving EMDR does NOT have to talk in detail about their trauma. That's one of the best parts of it. You plan targets, identify themes, identify negative cognitions with the memory, and emotions, and process them. Once desensitization is complete then a new adaptive thought is introduced. So for example if that the original thought was "I am not good enough" during desensitization then repairing with an adaptive thought might be "I am enough". Then we do a body scan and move on to closure. We do use mindful practices and coping skills to make sure a person does not leave in an activated state as well.

helped a ton for PTSD and depersonailzaton

I taught myself this and i can not wait till im at 100% almost ther

I've had EMDR and can't wait to have it again.

Today was my first day of psychotherapy. The therapist got excited and said I would be their first patient to do EMDR. I'm skeptical about the benefits for me specifically because I'm more of a "special case" but I'm hopeful. I would like to live normally and without constantly running from my "triggers" as she called them.

This is amazing. I wish I knew about it before failing to process trauma for 3 years

It really works and basically life changing. I highly recommend it.

But what if I can't even remember the memories that are causing my PTSD?

You can also do EMDR and not have PTSD or CPTSD, just in case you wanted to try it and thought you couldn’t :)

This is very interesting. I use and teach IEMT which is similar to EMDR but very different at the same time. I have lots of videos about this on my channel.

Did Dr. Heidi Kraft do the voice over for this? I’ve had her twice at SDSU and the voice sounds so familiar! But this video was also so helpful in understanding this form of therapy!

Hope!

It truly works

Thank you

Peace. I'm gonna give this a go.

2/22/21 - I started EMDR therapy today. I hope it helps. It was very interesting today. 🤓

I have my first session this morning. Nervous but hopeful.

My therapist is currently making me use this for my mild anxiety. Supposedly he took 60 hours worth of classes on this and spent 40 hours trying to debunk it, but couldn't so I hope it works!! Edit 1: I’m happy to say i’m on medicine, and done with therapy! I’ll get to be off the medicine in a year. I still get anxious every now and then, but it’s all ok. For those people thinking that EMDR is scary, it really isn’t. Just make sure to focus!

I do it as well. It has a profound effect within minutes.

WELL EXPLANATION 👏👏

I’ve experienced profound healing from EMDR, and I highly recommend it. However, I don’t feel like this video did justice to the process.

Beautiful video ❣️...never realized the time went so fast

I'm starting this type of therapy myself. I really hope it works.

My therapist just recommended this form of therapy for my trauma from past relationship. I hope this helps

Am I supposed to actually feel the trauma as I recall it during emdr therapy? Because its very difficult recreate the anxiety, the panic, the phobia in an environment when there is actually no trigger to set it off.

I am about to start this therapy on July 20th 2022. I am so desperate at this point, I will try anything.

I can relate to the beginning and second guy 😔 but I have panic disorder. I'm starting to think it's PTSD. Not sure if people can suffer with PTSD without hallucinations or psychotic outbreak but if so then yes I definitely have PTSD but I'm getting stronger..

My therapist mentioned this to me today, unsure if want to do that. Some memories best left buried, my opinion

It's a shame that there is a 18 month waiting list for this treatment. Meanwhile people are suffering with mental health issues. If anyone out there is waiting. Hang in ,it does help

I’m starting to use this for my therapy! Since I’m only 16 I can’t do the eye movement, but everything else will be used. Hopefully it’s just as useful, and I hope this fixes my depression. Again I’m not even sure I have PTSD, since she never clarified..

My therapist tried something like that with me, but it didn't really work. I'm not sure maybe it's because i'm over rationalizing everything. I focus on what i'm supposed to be thinking/feeling/remembering rather than what i actually think/feel/remember.

My therapist says he wants to do this on me.i have trouble being around peolple i think because every since i was young i have been from one traumatic experience to the next and people seems to just treat me bad alot of the times and im highly sensitive so it really gets to me.learning to try not take offense on some smaller issues because i figure all i have is control over myself it would benefit me to not let people control me in that way.i feel better when im alone but after i go from being with most people even friends i feel so worn out

I am wondering if EMDR can be done as effectively virtually? Thank you in advance!

She said “Eye Movement Desensitization and Processing”

Is this like neuroplasticity where you learn to unplug from a painful socket in your brain, (like a traumatic moment in life) and learn to plug into a new socket in your brain that's healthy? I just don't understand how the eye movement helps you unplug from trauma... Is this like open eyed hypnosis? This has been recommended to me, and I just have to know everything before my next session next week. I'm so curious. Thanks, in advance for input.

What is the eye movement thing have to do it? Of course being with a counselor is cathartic, especially if they are inwardly evolved soulful, empathic people.

I've tried this but I don't feel any difference and I feel bad because I feel I'm lying to my therapist when I say it is working. Has anybody feel this way?

This was offered as a therapy at the treatment facility that I went to, but I didn't try it. :/ Sort of wish I did, just to see if it would be helpful. I just didn't like how it cut into other important group times if you chose to take it.

I wonder if EMDR can be used for general anxiety

Does anyone know if this method would be beneficial for BPD / EUPD at all please?

I wonder what the success rate is for EMDR. The video doesn't tell if the healing last long-term.

Does EMDR work on CPTSD caused by a toxic relationship?

i have been diagnosed with mdd w/ psychosis and used to experience memories about my childhood that i couldnt decipher have actually happened or not. i think i may have experienced S/A when i was a child, but i cant tell if ive made it up or not. when i was a child i experienced a lot of signs of CSA. would it be okay for me to get this therapy?

My doc wants me to do this, i have intrusive visuals from non existant memories. Does this really help.

My therapist wants me to do this... I have had sever trauma in childhood, my father attempted suicide in front of me, and repeatedly told me it was my fault while he shot himself in front of me, later on my mother physically abused me and and sister to the extent we were removed from the home... I don't have flashbacks or anything, and I believe this only affects my life in a subconscious way.... Think this will help?

Dr Bob..." follow my finger while I ask leading questions "

Does this work for infidelity? I want to recover from that, I don’t want it to affect future partners

Can someone recommend me to a good therapist, I want to try EDMR . Located in LA

Here after watching The Me You Can't See and Prince Harry was doing this. I'm wandering if this will help me.

Now, how would this work for CPTSD? There are just too many memories of neurotypicals bullying me (and it continues). We could never go through it all. That’s why I’m skeptical about this for eating disorders and other autistic related things like low self esteem. Another solution is society in general would be to teach neurotypicals to treat people nicely.

It works good for reprogramming your subconscious too

Does it work for complex ptsd?

can the brain and body recover and regenerate all the damage due to long-term stress, after a traumatic event? (PTSD) 

Does it work for addiction

Spell casting with a magic wand. What a time to be alive.

can this help with repressed memories?

What if you were just neglected so don't have any memories of a particularly traumatic event, or even know how your childhood SHOULD have been?

27 years after I last had any contact with him and I'm still having nightmares of my psycho stepdad trying to kill me. Might give EMDR a try after 36 years of on-and-off useless therapy from an army of mental health "professionals".

Therapy is so expensive 😭 my daughter died 4years ago I suffer with ptsd and much more

I've had somatization disorder now for 12 years being diagnosed only 6 years ago. After hundreds of doctors appointments and multiple tests like m.r.i.s, ct scans, ultrasounds over that 12 year span, nothing has been found from these symptoms that I go through. I've tried meds, cognitive behavior therapy, acupuncture and almost everything in the book these past 6 years yet I still suffer from this debilitating disease. I applied for social security disability and got it right away as I have just been crippled by this disease. Scary thing is that you don't know what's real and what's not. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year even though I felt no symptoms for that one particular thing. It was found as I had an m.r.i. for swelling under my jaw. My shrink said to stay away from doctors while my doctor said if i'm dealing with real symptoms, i must follow up with a doctor. I feel real painful and destressing symptoms....I've almost exhausted everything but this. Can it help?

does medication hinder progress with EMDR?

22 people dont have eyes or are legally blind so they disliked the video....BARELY

I am sick of anxiety mainly all morning feel like just letting go of life would this help I am so fed up on sick from work so no money and I love my job no o e seems to care no I dont felll sorry for myself I. Usually a strong person now I'm now worth anything just useless sorry x

1:50

Would this therapy be useful to someone who has agoraphobia or anxiety disorder?

lol this won't help me because I am the problem

Yeah but what about those with lifelong CPTSD ?????

I want to treat my panic attacks with a therapist إمدر But I fear that emotions will overwhelm me and the session will be disrupted 😢

can it work for anxiety as well?

Im in the middle of an emdr therapy process and I feel like I am getting a depression for reliving my trauma. Is this normal?

My therapist wants to do this with me but I'm not gonna do it because it's pointless and will never help me. Nothing will ever help me.

Would it help with social anxiety sweating ?

So like hypnosis?

This seems to be a subset of what NLP (Neuro linguistic Programming) has been offering for years. It's amazing that decades the psych profession craps all over NLP and "miraculously" every single new effective innovation is something NLP was doing the whole time.

I think i may be suffering with PTSD and depression

It sounds too easy and is it some sort hypnosis?

Is it effective?

You know what the sad thing about these good types of therapy is you mostly have to pay outta pocket and not everyone can afford these type of good therapies:(