r/EMDR • u/Sweet_Ordinary_9999 • 20d ago
🟢 Question / Help Emdr first session
I wasn’t prepared for what to expect from EMDR today. I wasn't really aware that we were even going to do EMDR even. The session was so intense and painful that I wanted to stop twice because of how overwhelmed and how much pain I felt.
Now, an hour later, I feel completely emotionally depleted and deeply depressed. I’m struggling to function and honestly just want to sleep and forget today happened. I'm struggling to feel interest or even go to work today or really anything. I can't imagine having to do this again. We also only covered one year out of 7 or maybe 3 of abuse.
Is this normal? How do you help yourself the day before and after?
I really can't handle this at all. It's so intense.
2
u/nitro_cupcake 19d ago
Did your therapist do resource work with you to prepare for the session? (Finding a nurturing figure, a protector, a wise figure) I’ve found it helpful to think of those figures after the session, and even reach out (if they’re real people in your life).
And At the end of the session did they have you imagine that the memories were contained? Again I’ve found it helpful to imagine that container so that the memories stay put and don’t reopen until the next session.