Posted by antigua on December 17, 2003, at 16:22:05
In reply to EMDR experiences?, posted by CraigD on December 17, 2003, at 15:30:39
I've been doing EMDR for two months now and I feel a bit like you. It was recommended to me by my dr. and therapist for PTSD. I always thought I was in touch w/my emotions but once I tried this I realized how much I had shut myself away from the 6 yr.-old-girl who had been abused by her father. EMDR has put me directly in touch w/these feelings--I actually "feel" them and not just remember them. I have remembered a couple of specific instances of abuse but I'm not convinced these memories are absolutely reliable. What's really important to me is that I can remember what I actually felt like. I tend to disassociate and this is the first time I've been able to link the feelings to me.
That said, it's not really known how this therapy works. All I do know is that it is helping me right now. I can see that it may have its limitations on how far it can take me, but right now it's worth the time and expense.
Like you, I am left w/the wounded child feelings and I don't know what to do w/them. My therapist constantly reminds me that I'm an adult now and will be able to deal with the deepest and most hurtful feelings whenever (and if) they ever surface, but I'm not trusting enough to believe that yet. I still feel like that little girl who was betrayed by the man she trusted most in the world.
As to drinking, I quit about 5 months ago for these very reasons. Working on these issues in therapy was too much to handle and I found myself drinking more and more to hide from them. This led to trouble that I decided I was better off w/o.
I feel for you. It's no fun.
Good luck,
antigua
poster:antigua
thread:291016
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031213/msgs/291036.html