SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

I can't find my original post (cuz I'm not a premium member...YET!) but if you recall, I shared a recent struggle involving my history of DV with my exH and how sharing those details with DS left me wrecked.

Well, I returned to IC about a month ago and in this last session we started talking about it and, as usual, I was a mess. As soon as I opened my mouth, I started sobbing. In talking with her, I realized that I'm still severely traumatized by those events. She even mentioned PTSD. Long story short, we are going to do EDMR at my next session. She really believes this will help me get passed the trauma so that when I discuss it, I stay present and I'm not an emotional clusterfuck afterwards. She does this with her clients that are veterans, so I trust her.

Has anyone gone through this? If so, how was that experience? Did it help? Hurt? Neither?

Helped. I did some sessions a few years ago to process the trauma surrounding having an abortion when I was a teenager. It did not fix everything. There was still a lot to work through afterward but what it did was remove the physical heat, if you will, of the trauma. Afterward I could approach the memory without the flashes of just...visceral ickyness is the only way I can describe it. I lived with that for a long time and relief from that feeling has allowed me to actually work through the emotional pieces of the trauma. The EMDR just let me get close enough to work with it.

Just keep an open mind. I have no idea how or why it works and the process itself seems very strange but then again acupuncture is pretty strange and that seems to work for me too.

The EMDR just let me get close enough to work with it

Thanks for your feedback. This is what I'm looking for. At present, I can't get close enough because it's all too much.

yes but for my trauma as a BS but also for FOO issues.

It worked but left me utterly exhausted. I don't know what made me think I could workout or go back to work after these. I usually needed a nap. We used the electronic tappers.

I'm doing it on a Saturday and plan on getting a massage afterwards, so hopefully I'll be able to drive home once it's all said and done. IC usually leaves me exhausted so I'm prepared for more of that. I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm tired of running from the trauma. I need to actually DO something about it.

this is a good plan!

it's like an onion being peeled. And I was always so surprised at what was revealed - things you don't even think of. deep things you think you've forgotten or swear have no immediate impact on your life as it stands now.

hugs and good luck!!

My wh is currently doing emdr for foo issues. It seems to be working really well. We've both been much happier, I can't really put my finger on why but something seems to have changed. Good luck.

thanks ladies. rachel - I do feel like an onion - layers upon layers.

As a DV/SA survivor, it helped me a ton. It was emotionally painful, but at the end of each session, I could already tell a dramatic reduction in flashbacky reactions. I went on about my day normally, feeling both heavier and lighter, if you can imagine.

I can definitely imagine. Thanks for your feedback.

I've gotten nothing but extraordinarily good things from EMDR.

EMDR saved me! Good luck.