Our counselor does a lot of PTSD cases also. She is pretty enthusiastic for this procedure with some of her PTSD patients and says it might help me as well. It seems kinda wierd/gimmicky to me, anyone ever have any experiance with it?
-HI

What is it? Maybe I need it. [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] PTSD is Post-traumatic stress disorder, right?<p>[ April 10, 2002: Message edited by: Conqueror ]</p>

PTSD is post traumatic stress disorder yep.
The EMDR thing is supposedly a way to "reprocess" traumatic events in your head that makes them less traumatic to you. Seems kinda like hypnotherapy sorta, but not really. There are a lot of sites that endorse it.... Im pretty skeptical about these wierd things.

I never heard of it, but just figured I'd toss my hat in the ring. If it is something that you can find pro and con sites on the web I would read both carefully.<p>Is this a treatment that is "endorsed" by a medical association or something a bit new or radical? I would be very careful, tons of new experemental treatments or thought groups pop up all of the time. Friends of mine got caught up in some cult type thing that was rec. by their therapist.<p>If there is medical backing, studies, and insurance will pay for it then go for it. If it is a newer form of therapy then I would wait to see how the other folks turn out before I'd be the gunnea pig.<p>Good luck!<p>Elizabeth

My sister tried this, and it worked well for her. I was very skeptical, so asked two other pyschologists I know...neither had used it, but both said the studies on it are very encouraging.<p>Kathi

The therapist I just started going to mentioned it too, for me. Havent heard of anyone who used it tho. But it sort of makes sense to me as far as the brian patterning goes. Let me know if you do it.

I did EMDR. The doctor that did it is an MD, a psychiatrist affiliated with a well respected med center. It's a bit like hypnosis in a way. You focus on a disturbing memory and you move your eyes in a certain way (your doctor will guide you through this). I used it for the memory of some disturbing photos I found in my H's briefcase- OW naked, OW and H together, H on hotel room bed lounging. The EMDR did desensitize the memories somewhat. I didn't see the images in my mind as much after that. I'm less obsessed with those particular images. It might be worth doing.

I found more than a few sites that really tout great results and outcomes.. but they were all sies of people who perform the procedure. I found an article written in 1998 by aetna healthcare saying they done cover it and it is not backed by longterm tests and large sample sizes. But again thats a long time ago.
I would feel better if I saw a site that gave true life testimonials. I DID see one site that said EMDR was BAD it had a 2 testimonials that itgave them seizures.. But I guess if you look hard enough you cna find somehting bad about anything or anyone.<p>Our therapist said she would be willing to do it with either or both of us. But I cant help feel like a guinea pig.<p>hmm Anyone else?<p>-HI

dear hangin-havent heard anything about it but am real interested. ill check into it with some people i know. your right though-if you look hard enough anything will have drawbacks. i would be concerned if the seizures were long term or did they just happen during the therapy?<p>i wish i could find a therapist with any ideas-gotta love livin in the sticks.

HI, I don't really know anything about it either, but the MC my H and I went to recommended it for my WH because he is hung up on blaming me for all marital problems because of things I did in my past. She said she's gotten really good results with it. H had planned to do it, but when she found out he had lost his sobriety, she told him that he needed to be sober first so he never followed through.

I started EMDR and was very excited with what results we did get. In order to continue it I would have needed to be able to go to sessions atleast weekly, but my counselor was moved back to the main office which is 90 miles away. Things got put on the back burner and as of yet we haven't gotten back to it.<p>It's a real therapy that's been around a while. They've changed the methods of administration from the way it was originally done. I've heard from many people that it has indeed worked for. I was EXTREMEMLY skeptical...but was willing to keep an open mind. I'm wondering now how much of the change in my "nature" is due to the small amount that we did accomplish? I am more self confident, and much less of a "reactor". Very little really gets me upset or fuming like it once did. I chalked it up to the new feeling of control I have that I never did before...but the EMDR certainly could have aided in that.<p>Anything is worth a try when you're dealing with horrifying images or feelings. It's worth a shot!

Nikko,
The wierd website that wrote bad things about it say seizures started during the sessions and have been happening ever since. the guy was trying to sue the dr. who invented the procedure or something. I dont know about that site though.. like you and I said look hard enough you can find anything on the internet. <p>Letstry and Hope4, thanks much for your imput!

Dear Hanging In,
I am a registered nurse, and having done EMDR myself I would be very surprised if it triggered seizures in any normal people who have no history of seizures. It's not that strange a technique- you simply look in a certain direction and focus, do some deep breathing, and your doctor takes you through certain memories. At points you have your eyes closed. The doctor has you bring up the memory, and works with you to understand the feelings it brings up, and helps you desensitize to those feelings. I could imagine the technique could be ineffective for some people, but I find it hard to imagine that it would cause any harm.

I have done two EMDR sessions. I found it quite helpful. Both were PTSD things which were totally different. <p>We wanted to work on some more issues with it but counselor left the center and moved out of town to a new position. I cried when she left. She was awesome.<p>One of the situations we dealt with was a hot-air balloon crash in which I was injured. I used to not care for elevators - could do it but sometimes they made me queezy. I ride one almost everyday now and it's much better. And I just realized that tonight. <p>Thanks, I really owe that counselor a lot of thanks. She was wonderful - lucky are the people she's working with now.