Emotionally overwhelmed
I am going through Emdr for PTSD. Tonight, I am very overwhelmed with very strong emotions, especially very sad. All I want to do is cry. Every pain I have is associated with a memory. My stomach is sick, the pain in my heart extends down my arms, as it did during the time of my abusive situation. I don't know what to do to help my body calm down. I do not know how to soothe myself or feel safe. Can you help me?
@straightforwardPerson8853 I can feel your situation, having a sense of what it means going through vivid emotional memories felt in the body. I would try to remind myself as frequently as needed that they are just body memories passing through in the healing process, triggered and released by the EMDR therapy session in order to allow the space to free from them... You are safe now... You are supported now, someone is at your side to help, you are not alone in this... it might be helpful to write down the sensations, feelings, associations you are having to tell your therapist about them... and when they get too overwhelming, immagine to close the feelings and sensations that are difficult to bear in the notebook that will be handed to the therapist, to allow you some space and time to breath slowlier and not too much at a time.. take time for yourself patiently, gently, with compassion, yet with acceptance of whatever is there to be released, knowing it will pass... emotions and feelings per nature do not last forever... and maybe try to refocus with very mindful presence to some task that can engage your body and mind... something relaxing, pleasant, or a work that has to be done with concentration and all the 5 senses.... you may want to read about emotional regulation here on 7cups guides too... keep going, you are strong enough to thrive
@straightforwardPerson8853
@straightforwardPerson8853 The person you have started to see for the EMDR did they not go through phase one of EMDR around stabilisation and help you to learn some soothing exercises and techniques that you could put into place before proceeding to phase two which is processing of trauma? It may be useful for you to learn some grounding techniques and safe place imagery exercises so that as you proceed in therapy, if memories happen, you can draw on some useful methods for coping with the emotions that may surface.
You may find this link helpful which is all about grounding techniques and in the trauma community recovery resources section of the forums, there is also a post about using safe place imagery that may prove useful for you. It may be useful to discuss with your therapist what happened for you since the session and work with them on building in some methods you can use when things feel overwhelming for you
@straightforwardPerson8853 I am a therapist trained in EMDR & I agree with what dancingRainbow45 had to say. Part of the EMDR process is doing a lot of work before the bilateral stimulation around stabilization & giving you coping tools to deal with the stuff that comes up with EMDR.
@DrNatalieFeinblatt Hey Natalie thanks for responding and it was good to hear that you too agreed that some stabilisation should have been covered and time spend on building on this prior to processing trauma. I have a question around EMDR and as your a therapist who specialises in this, if you could message me I would appreciate it. I cant PM therapists until they make contact. Thanks :)
