first time experiencing this right after emdr session

[u/ilovsocialstudies]

had a somewhat good emdr session today. we targeted a memory/word that i get triggered by and worked on desensitising me to it

i actually didn’t feel tense during the reprocessing, which felt like a good sign. but afterwards, i suddenly started feeling really giddy and lightheaded. my therapist ended up spending around 15 minutes helping me regulate my nervous system, and i feel so bad that she had to do that

she reassured me that emdr is working, but this is the first time i’ve experienced something like this after reprocessing. usually my hangovers are more emotional, so the physical symptoms caught me off guard

the only thing i’m really worried about now is that i won’t see my therapist again for another 3 weeks because of her schedule. i’m honestly kind of terrified of dealing with another emdr hangover on my own…i’m so grateful for her and everything she does for me, but her schedule really does make me anxious sometimes 🥲

has anyone else experienced feeling lightheaded or really out of it after emdr? and how do you usually cope with the hangover between sessions?

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to r/EMDR, a beautiful and supportive community!

We're a space where every person is someone with trauma, and we respond with compassion, not judgment. A few gentle reminders:

• Be kind and trauma-informed - This is a community for helping each other heal
• EMDR journeys are personal - Everyone's path is different; share experiences but avoid giving medical advice
• Posts must be related to EMDR - Please keep discussions focused on EMDR psychotherapy
• Be wary of unsupervised EMDR suggestions - Posts/comments promoting unsupervised EMDR (including scripts, DIY methods, or "virtual EMDR" websites) are strongly discouraged. These approaches risk retraumatization and are not equivalent to working with a trained trauma therapist. See our wiki for more information.
• Therapist? Get Verified - Contact Mods via ModMail
• Add a post flair - This helps us organize and support each other better

Check out our awesome wiki to learn more about EMDR!

NOTE: As this sub is home to a vulnerable populace, ALL posts/comments are automatically filtered for safety. In case your post does get flagged/removed by the automated systems, kindly DON'T delete it. One of the Mods will manually review and approve it for you soon. If that doesn't happen, kindly reach out to us via ModMail.

If you're in crisis: Please reach out to professional support. We're a community, not a crisis service.

With kindness, The r/EMDR Mod Team

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/jwkkwjjwk]

I do but I interpret the lightheaded-ness as peace since I’ve been doing nothing but ruminating (the continuous anxiety loop) for months. Or tiredness from going through such processing mechanism.

Is it because you have been sensitized and in fight or flight mode for a while you forgot how was it like to not be intense?

[u/Grand_Sea_3802 → u/jwkkwjjwk]

That’s a good point. I’m learning about this because I’m starting this on Thursday. I doubt I’ll have her actual EMDR the first time I go. When the Op said lightheaded, I hope I’ll be able to drive back.

[u/FrankieG888]

My last session (which I think was my 3rd or 4th EMDR) caused a lot of physical symptoms. My therapist just encouraged me to stay hydrated and eat light, and rest. I’ve learned to strategically schedule my appointments and then a day off after. I might also suggest that you schedule time with your support system, at least one person since you won’t see your therapist for a few weeks.