Does anyone here have any experience with EMDR therapy? My therapist is recommending it for me because of past abuse and also for my husband who was abused by his uncle. I have read a lot about it online but wanted to know if anyone had any personal experience.

Pufferfish is a mod here. He's had it. Do a search for EMDR and it will come up.

Here is a good starting point for information on EMDR:
(just click on the link below)

http://www.malesurvivor.org/board/ubbthr...true#Post397063

http://www.malesurvivor.org/board/ubbthr...true#Post388197

http://www.malesurvivor.org/board/ubbthr...true#Post384449

http://www.malesurvivor.org/board/ubbthr...true#Post367942

Puffer

I've been doing EMDR for the past year. Everything in my life prior to about age 15 did not exist. Since that time I've recovered pieces of the puzzle that has allowed me to put together what happened to me. How long it lasted. Who was the primary perpetrator....and triggers...lots of them. Also identified multiple coping mechanisms that I used to survive that today I can look at an marvel how damn well I've done all things considered.

I'm not perfect, still have alot of work ahead of me. Still have crap days when the gloom doesn't shake off....BUT....I am in a much better place today than I was one year ago when the only thing that occupied my mind was finality in existence.

I understand it isn't for everyone, but as a PTSD survivor, this work has improved my life and given me hope to live. Best of luck in your endeavors.

L2LM

I've enjoyed success with it myself. Very surprising how fast it is and the relative relief I gained from my situations.

Sorry to chime in late, and best in what u decide!

Hi LOST:
Did you proceed with EMDR therapy? My T is recommending it for me. Not sure about it. How was your exp?

Thanks,
joe

I start my first session of EMDR this week. We established a safe place last visit. We are starting with something no so traumatic then going into my CSA. I have heard several good things about it.

I'm thinking about EMDR.... The prospect makes me nervous. But... I think it's time.

My husband has been doing the EMDR for several months now. It has made a huge improvement in him. He said that the first session was really hard because his abuse slapped him in the face and truly became real to.him, but they have gotten easier over time. I also.had some EMDR therapy. I have.virtually no memories from the past, just vague ones here and there and it has helped a lot with that. It is.really.hard at first but it gets easier and is really worth it in the end.

Yep

It's good

Puffer

I had my first session and doing another this Friday. I love it so far. It really is a good way to get thru difficult issues without the emotions taking over

I've been doing EMDR for a few months now. I was Mr "Look-at-me-I overcame-everything-I'm-freaking-superman" until everything that could go wrong just suddenly started going wrong, one after the other, and after a downward spiral of about 2 and a half years, I found myself on the bathroom floor with a paring knife and a huge gash in my forearm.

Turns out I'm not superman after all.

So I called the therapist I used to see in my early twenties and it turned out that she had since become an EMDR specialist. I still have some way to go, but it has already made a huge difference in my life. Its not always easy, but for me it has been worth it several times over.

It's helping me to face things that I've never been willing/able to face before. I've gotten so used to living wounded, that I almost convinced myself that being in constant pain was normal, that is was simply how life is. Since starting EMDR, these wounds have started to heal and I am looking forward to a time when the pain might actually stop completely...

Country and Gecko,

EMDR has been a blessing to me. I did about 10 sessions earlier this year. It was really the first time after years of therapy work where I could actually cry and not numb (diss) out. It "broke through" my defenses...

I'm thinking about doing some more sessions.

Jim