Ive done it. It helped but I had to back off bc it did increase my anxiety. I want to try it again. It did help me realize that memories I thought were innocuous were actually traumatic and I could visualize my adult self stepping in to do what the other adults should have done at the time.

Before Francine Shapiro performed her formal study in 1988, several of my shrinks had noted that I was doing it instinctively during my amnesia therapy and worked with me on using the technique deliberately. It works for me. By the time EMDR was a formal and respected therapy in its own right, complete with specialists, my psychotherapy was moving into its current self-maintenance phase, so I have not tried the currently available program. If you decided to give it a whirl, I will be taking notes of your updates.

For what it's worth
My trauma tales are still not my favorite trips down memory lane, but it is nice to be able to live through the inevitable reminders without triggering off to La La Land. The improvement in my overall memory functions has made my here and now far more manageable.

I've heard good things. There's no one size fits all fix for us with PTSD, but I'm holding EMDR in reserve for some day down the line if I need it, Tashio2x.

In my own PTSD recovery I'm very much a practical "whatever works" kind of patient. I didn't open up my trauma memories for 12 whole years of weekly talk therapy. I totally get being reluctant to go there, because I practically won a trophy prize for that.

But I finally did get a therapist I did open up to. We did CBT and it worked, so I'm more trusting than I was. If EMDR comes up next, I'll give it a whirl, too. Don't feel pressured, though, take your time. I sure did.

Okay thanks. I'll look into it a bit more before deciding but i tend to be slow with decisions. I just had never heard of it before but I like that it doesn't involve much talking so we will see.

I like the recovery slogan that, "Your time is on time every time." The healing mysteries work on a strictly personal level and the strictly personals are different for each of us.

Meanwhile, we are here for you if you care to speculate further or just feel a need for a bit of emotional support, Tashio.

For what it's worth
I, too, hate telling my trauma tales. After 40 plus years of psychotherapy, I still only tell them far enough to purge the repression toxins and keep them from eating holes in my soul. I don't get to rewrite the past, but I am a deep believer in preventative medicine.

It has helped my daughter, as well as myself.

I was quite skeptical at first, but knowing they use it for some armed forces members, I decided to try it.

The eye movement gets the brain connections to cross over the midline.... and as you go through the traumatic memory, it will help the memory feel not so overwhelmingly powerful. You can process through it easier.

You are awake, thinking/talking about the trauma, yet somewhat distracted from the pain of the memory because you are also focused on moving your eyes.

I can think about the memories now and it's 'lighter.' I would encourage others not to be afraid to try it.

While working with my daughter (preteen at the time), they used "buzzies" on each foot.... so rather than doing the eye movements, they would vibrate each foot/ankle intermittently. It did the same thing of crossing the brain's midline while processing the memory.

I was pleasantly surprised how much it helped me, and am quite grateful it helped my daughter.

I wouldn't hesitate to try it.

From what a therapist explained to me many years ago, it’s mimicking an eye movement that is supposed to happen naturally to help us process memories but in some of us it doesn’t. It’s a signal to the brain to store the memories. Not sure what the current theory is. It helped at the time. Funny story, if I am driving in the rain with the windshield wipers going and reliving trauma, it seems to help.

Thanks bluejay, it is reassuring to hear it worked for both you and your daughter. Positive personal experiences is what I was hoping for so thanks.

Shaky, I find watching the ticking of clocks calming. It's not exactly back and forth movement but still is a consistent movement haha.

Tried it once on a very early memory. Although an experienced practitioner, it was a disaster. Switched to DNMS, which was a softer and gentler path with effective results. EMDR may work better with adult traumas.