EMDR was it helpful or not?

Hey all, its been a while since ive posted on here. I've recently started counseling again and she is suggesting EMDR to help with the extreme anxiety I've been having. I'm nervous about discussing my abuse and haven't really spoken in depth regarding it. If anyone is willing to share their experiences regarding EMDR I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!!

Between 2001-2009, I was dealing with terrible anxieties.

During this time, I had my medications adjusted. And I also was put on new medications. But none of it was helping me to calm down.

In 2008, I started seeing an EMDR-trained therapist.

After a few months, and after a combination of the EMDR and more medication changes, I finally began to calm down. It felt great, as I was no longer living with excessive anxieties. By early 2009, I was much more calm.

I don't know if the calmness I was then feeling was because of the EMDR, the medication changes, or a combination. But either way, I was finally calm.

I don't have personal experience with EMDR...but have heard good things from those who have gone through the method.

The only thing is that it seems to be just temporary relief for some. However, revisiting the therapy with some booster sessions, or being able to take some of the tools you learned and continuing on with it as a self help as much as is possible are both ways to perhaps prolong the benefits.

I would say trust your therapist (EMDR *is* known for help and healing of trauma) and do your best to be open to trying it. Wishing you courage and progress! Let us know how you are doing when you can.

S.C.

I saw my therapist yesterday (2 appointment) and she asked me to wear a weird device on each wrist that pulsed back and forth the whole session. I was very aware of it but it defiantly didn't help with the anxiety I felt during the session. Ive been struggling the last several years, trying to keep it all together but it's getting really hard. I have another appointment this Monday to start the EMDR at this point in time I will do just about anything.

Thank you everyone for your kind words and helpful responses. I really appreciate all your help and am super happy to see this forum is as awesome as it always has been.

I have done EMDR with 2 different therapists. It didn't work for me for quite some time, but about 2 months ago I did a session focusing on something that got me quite emotional (regarding expectations of me as a child that were beyond my age), I cried, which I normally don't do in therapy sessions. That night I had dreams of removing myself from harmful situations from my past. It was actually really great. I've noticed an improvement around some things that I am usually very anxious about.
I'm certainly not "cured" of anxiety, but I feel I had a good breakthrough in that particular session.
I will say that in some EMDR sessions, I became more upset afterwards and in others, I didn't feel anything either way.
I think the effectiveness of EMDR really depends on the practitioner and the memory you choose to focus/work on.