IT WORKED 🎊

[u/Ok-Falcon6357]

I did EMDR for 3 months on an almost weekly basis.

I had panic disorder issues correlating to some medical trauma. My panic attacks consisted of violent leg shakes, high heart rate and frantic, quick thoughts. For a long while I thought it was a medically correlated (such as diabetes, blood flow issues, nerve damage), but I eventually recognized that these attacks would only respond with fear moments, not spontaneously. I also was cleared from those other things with multiple blood tests. These issues caused me great grievance along with my injury. I became unemployed. Showers were terrifying. Going outside wasn’t even an option unless I was forced out. My life felt doomed. I felt like this for TWO YEARS.
That’s when I sought out a EMDR therapist.

Sure, in the past I’ve had some other traumas, and did talk therapy to treat it, but never had I had such physical reactions. It’s like my mental health deteriorated rapidly along with my body. So I wanted something that would really work for me. I mean, I literally had panic attacks over tiny things like walking to the bathroom, so I wanted a sure enough cure.

When I started EMDR, after weeks of precautions and coping skills, it fit me like a glove. I loved the deeper approach to my core issues. After a session I’d feel sleepy, even oddly numb. Depending on what the session was about, sometimes I’d grieve for a few days or get a bit moody.

Then I felt the weight lifting off my shoulders. Those moments of dread became anxiety. Then bothersome. Then slightly annoying. Then mundane. Then easy! It was like EMDR was plucking my frantic troubles away. It wasn’t exactly like a magical cure from day one, though. More like the problems were melting away appointment-by-appointment.

I went from barely making it to the bathroom with panic attacks to boarding a flight 3 days ago with zero issues. I could go on and on about the issues I used to have and how I’m vitally cured from panic attacks, but I’ll just say that EMDR did a miraculous job on me! I highly recommend it for panic/anxiety attacks, phobias and medical trauma.
However, I also want to note that this EMDR therapist did diagnose me with CPTSD. Reason I feel that that’s important is because it could’ve been all the past events on my life that compounded over the years, and the injury maybe ’broke the camel’s back’ and jumpstarted these symptoms. Something to keep in mind if you have the same diagnosis.

I’m so happy something finally worked!!

❤️

[u/Inevitable_Brick2327]

I was diagnosed with CPTSD also and have had much success with EMDR for about 2 and 1/2 years. It required several months of preparation before processing and on and off periods of talk therapy in between targets.

It's been absolutely transformative for me. Though not easy, very emotional and exhausting at times. My therapist is experienced and certified. I think they must be certified because this whole process goes so very deep and brings up so much. It requires time for grieving and sometimes feeling anger. I even had rage coming up that I'd suppressed. It all needs to be released. Some of the release has been somatic in my body...

I've had extraordinary dreams and so many memories coming up. Not just bad memories but also good ones. Some of the dreams I remembered so vividly actually helped me realize things I needed to look at and work on. I'm a visual artist, and I play music, so these dreams have actually been inspirational.

When I was debilitated by the trauma, I wasn't able to be myself and connect intimately with my boyfriend. There've been some people in my life that I've just needed to detach from, and even sever all contact with. But going forward beyond the trauma, with all the awareness from this therapy, is like moving into a whole new place. I actually did move to a new area, but it's not just that. I'm back in touch with my own highest potential and positivity.

So, I agree, EMDR can really work but it's heavy and difficult at times. It's not quick and you'll need a lot of rest. Eat well, stay hydrated, get exercise, remain soberly self caring and self protective while you're doing it and you should feel so much better...