First EMDR Session - Before and After

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It's a form of therapy helpful for trauma, PTSD, depression, and more.
Greg was diagnosed with PTSD nearly 4 years ago. In this video, he records his feelings just moments before his first session as well as his reactions immediately after.
We share this video primarily for others who have experienced trauma and are concerned about what to expect with EMDR therapy.
A longer discussion can be heard on episode 389 of Adventures in Imperfect Living at www.GregandJennifer.com/389 .
Podcast - www.gregandjennifer.com
Store - www.willitsworks.com
#PTSD #EMDR #MentalHealth

[@wendytuck4381]

Your eyes before and after are totally different. Before, your eyes shift a lot, they’re squinted shut, you don’t make good eye contact. After, your eyes are open, full, you look directly at us. You seem opened up, present, less edgy. Thank you for sharing this.

[@miker2585]

Blessings brother. EMDR changed my brain function. The beginning of a long journey, now 20 years later. I am ever grateful for it, and the therapist who worked with me. All the best.

[@kayraalvarez4013]

I did my first session today I literally came home and crashed for 2 hours. It is so much but I felt good after at first I was crying hard and then I slowly stopped crying and started to have the image fade it was crazy.

[@Shimmantha]

I’ve done two sessions now and another later this week. And like you, both times, I’ve just come home and crashed out for a couple of hours. But to go back and face your biggest fears and demons, to cry and feel like you’re back in the original moment. From going down and feeling that coming up, the tears start to stop and I even found myself smiling and thinking that “I did my best, I did all I could, I’m not medically trained, and I had my own things going, but mainly I did all I could. To go from crying my eyes out and then feeling a smile creep upon my face (that I felt a little guilty for - which is quite common) in about an hour or so is nothing short of incredible. I could not deny the remarkable difference I had felt already. I’d carried that particular pain around with me for 15 years. It’s gone now. The pain that’s attached to that memory, not the memory. I’ll admit this, it’s (in my experience) so hard, because the deeper you go, the better it is, when I get home, it’s like I’ve run a marathon. I’ve found that I’m touchy and a bit snappy or short with people for a couple days until I start to settle properly again. I’m pretty sure it would be diffident for everyone. Im very glad to have a psychologist who knows what they’re doing and that I trust fully. Michael

[@undyingvisage58]

Thank you for sharing your experience, Greg. Tomorrows the first session I'll be actually working on my past. I got PTSD when I was 6 and am 39 now. I don't know of any other way to live other than what you just described. Failed several grades because I couldn't concentrate. Could never really make any friends. Lost touch with my family. The ex and kiddo left. I'm pretty much alone now. Imagine that; 33 years of struggling only to come to this point. This point where I learn that my 33 years of struggling was not because I was a bad/shitty/stupid person, but because I couldn't function like a normal human being. Something that can and will be fixed. I will get all of my loved ones back. I will be the person I am supposed to be.

[@Kountupwitkay]

How did it go?

[@mel-tp5hi]

@Michelle Wright Hello, what symptoms took you to the Mayo clinic?

[@keyonakleva]

@Michelle Wright have you ever heard of NAET therapy? Your symptoms and story sound very similar to mine. I am about 1/2 through NAET treatments & have already noticed a difference with allergies. I start EMDR therapy today. Keeping my fingers crossed that these two combinations will help me keep moving forward.

[@undyingvisage58]

It was a success! Took about 13 sessions. The first few were to get to know each other and practice a bit. After the first session, my old memories started to come back. Including what my favorite movie was, and that I had memorized the whole movie, Iremembered it all right then and there. It was fun rewatching the movie, btw. Talk about long lost feelings and nostalgia... The next session brought even more memories back, including the memory that caused all my problems. I guess I had been lieing to myself my entire life. Once I admitted this lie I broke down. Hard. I then realized all I ever wanted was for someone to hold me and tell me everything was going to be ok. I broke down a little more but after that, the magic really started happening. Something in my head clicked. All of my anxiety just disappeared right then and there in the snap of a finger. I started to feel blood flowing through my brain around the left premotor cortex. Then even more feelings and memories started to come out. There's just too much to explain. All I have to say is, if you're thinking about it, even for regular daily stresses or addictions, go for it. I'm sure it will have benefits for everybody. There's a book out there called "the body keeps the score." I've only read about 55 pages but so far it's dead accurate. My therpist says the book is the reason why she learned EMDR. Everyone who wants to understand more about their PTSD will most likely want to read this book. It will help you understand yourself and help you get theough all of this. Also, check out "TRE." It's a set of excercises that are supposed to target a special muscle that is supposed to turn off any trauma or something. Here's a link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJa4mqJ6qq-dfKs Good luck, there is hope!

[@jesslazz1061]

​@@undyingvisage58 Congratulations !! You did it. So nice to read your experience. Hopefully it will inspire others...❤

[@twylabryant7197]

Something that helped me after EMDR therapy was to go home and lay down and get comfy. I wanted to watch Hallmark movies for some reason. I knew and felt that my mind was open and replacing something negative and I wanted to put positive in. I also noticed that I needed to be alone for the rest of the day. My pups nails on the hardwood floor sounded like an elephant was walking. So going to my bedroom, laying down, getting cozy and watching something positive or taking a nap really helped me a lot.

[@AndrewFinnegan-hd6kg]

How do you feel after Emdr thearpy now?

[@user-el9pv8ig1r]

Had first emdr session couple weeks ago. Was for sure a experience and took me back 62 years ago. Mine continued for a while after I left to go home. The memories seemed so close to the surface and you could sure relate to that time and experience. The hunger for candy over took me for candy and eating were a big coping strategy for me after being sexually abused at 5 years old. Before I got home I stopped and got 4 boxes of milk duds and ate all of it before bed that day.😢

[@TheBakingGirlShow]

It was only your 1st- sometimes it takes 10-12 sessions to get over the trauma. Good luck to u🌱

[@user-el9pv8ig1r]

Follow up so far I only had that one e.m.d.r. session I'm still having appointments one visit a month. Been doing well I had 3 episodes since the first of year and able to stop it before It got control of my emotions. Can't say I won't need more e.m.d.r. sessions. I'm schulded for gastric sleeve surgery the 29th of April. Going to start new phase in my life and have been addressing the trauma and c.p.t.s.d from my child years. During this time I also had to deal with my 16 year old grand son having forced sex on a 13 year old girl. He is in juvenile jail serving his sentence.

[@user-hj2tb9qh5r]

Thank you for sharing this. It’s so clear how much preparation, thought and prayer you have put into getting to this point. I’m a Christian and I’ve just trained in EMDR therapy- i will use your short video to share with others to encourage them on their journey. Thank you

[@DoreaneRenee]

Thanks for being here, finally at 50 I have an extensive diagnosis and will meet an EMDR therapist on the 5th. Your "after" I see heaviness lifted and your eyes seem "light"

[@julesarg6634]

I've recently started emdr. I love it but I want to talk about it more but I don't want to mess with my progress

[@martymarv2870]

His skin glows different afterwards

[@nataliacortzable]

Yes, I noticed that too. His eyes as well

[@alanhoxie6950]

I have done a lot of tapping and that accomplishes much the same thing where you identify the teams watch it go away because you no longer own it and instill positive affirmations toward yourself

[@paulastella8268]

The intensity doesn't get less for a long while. I have been doing EMDR for 3 yrs. Emdr actually works in-between sessions. It's exhausting. Yes,it's interesting to say the least

[@mel-tp5hi]

Hello Paula, do you have PTSD or Complex PTSD?

[@sierrafoxtrotgolf3638]

Sounds like we have similar stories. EMDR helped me considerably. The Christian church (my experiences) discounts mental health as something that prayer should cure. As believers we tell cancer patients (as an example) to get the best care possible and we pray for them. Collectively as Christians we approach mental health differently than physical health. My first actual EMDR session with the tappers was very difficult. I shed way more tears than I was comfortable with in front of my female therapist as a 66 year old man, vet, EMS, etc. When she said we'd repeat the process the following week I almost didn't show up. The next week went very well. No tears and almost immediate relief. I still have my days, and I'm not fully well, but I am miles ahead of where we started. This is othe first of your videos I've seen, but I've subscribed and I'll check out more. Thanks for sharing. Godd bless!

[@debidoo7270]

Keep going It has flushed years of debilitating traumatic stress for me best of luck love n light ❤

[@notsecure6855]

Thanks for sharing.

[@papa-kt6cc]

Thank you soooo much for sharing this❤

[@mariab.gonzalez6130]

Thank you!

[@TamingDemons]

Thank you

[@dontendit1704]

Thank you for sharing

[@MaxRiley]

love from Italy, brother.

[@SergioFelix]

Thanks for sharing your experience with this man, I'm literally just discovering about this new kind of therapy and looking for more information about it and this was very helpful. I wish you're feeling way better now though! 🙏

[@juliefreeling2658]

❤ I just started first session today thank u for your video when I was remembering a trauma and it kept repeating the same bad part and got fainter and fainter

[@ConcreteZen]

Any updates ? Would love to know your process. Showing love and support from afar! ❤

[@meatpuddles4093]

This video meant a lot to me and for the first time in years I feel like a therapy may help. Thank you for sharing.

[@Luke-Emmanuel]

thank u

[@ReeCrowsFray]

Oh my gosh thank you for this video! I’ve been going through my own sessions since January and did the same as you. Searched and searched for personal experiences. I love and actually need to learn as much as I can about anything new so I read “No Bad Parts” and it definitely helped to understand the process. However, the only person I’ve seen speak on this is prince harry 😑 which isn’t someone I wholly find comfort in. My sessions are different but, my god it is intense but also so relieving. I’ve found that after each session I’ve had a very grotesque dream with the same person (who I don’t know or recognize) and it’s not surprising but the immediacy of the memories is bizarre. I’ve really considered logging mine so others can hopefully get a feel for it and thankfully I’ve found y’all! Because now I am definitely going to record mine. It’s always scary feeling like you are very lonely in doing things like this so your video is fantastic! I’m searching for the podcast now 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@spaztic1]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am currently in EDMR therapy, and its been a month, the memory is in a mental safe at the bottom of the ocean for now. My therapist is now taking small bits of the memory and guiding me through my feelings and helping me keeping grounded and not loosing control. My gf of 10 years, whom was a meth addicted, decided on killing herself with meth, it failed badly, I reacted badly and felt guilty with self blame for almost 1 year and 9 months till I found out it was suicide vs a stroke. It gave me slight releif, but in the end I had about 4 nightmares of the incident a week, for 3 years. She actually did not die, but is paralyzed left side, knows I exist only 4% of the time, has poor memory problems. I am her durable power of attorney for medical, she has no one. I moved to florida 1 year ago to help my sis with our aging parents, my ex-gf as I consider her that way, does not know I am now in florida. I can't hurt her that way, why would I do that? My dad died 3 weeks after I arrived there. I nearly passed out when I found him, dead on the bed. I look happily forward to more of my treatments and hope one day all of this will be only be a hole in the road vs the monster its been. God bless.

[@jeanlanz2344]

God bless and heal you, your Mom, and former girlfriend. God loves you all.

[@a_fellow_human]

Hey, thank you for sharing. I had my initial appointment for emdr today. I too have some thoughts of "what if this does not work for me." After meeting with the therapist, I'm feeling more hopeful. I really like how you as the client have quite a lot of control over the process, like what to work on, what form of bilateral stimulation to use, what to share, when to stop, etc.

[@Julie-hf7mo]

Thanks so much for sharing your journey. I'm about embark on mine. I'm scared and tearful worrying about the first session. You've made me feel a bit more at ease with this now. I might even blog my own experience. Best wishes xxx

[@teganwebster488]

Hey, I’m not sure if you will see this but if you do, could you let me know how the start of your journey has been, I’m about to start in a couple weeks and I’m absolutely terrified to say the least xx

[@cellardoor6016]

Thank you for sharing..I am kind of scared..because Idk will come up

[@juliefreeling2658]

I love what u said about God I believe he led me to emdr

[@vincentmiller.2558]

Howdy. I too have started e.m.d.r it's been a game changer. So much so I'm training to become a e.md.r. therapist for a homeless. Outreach we are building. Are there more videos of your progression thru e.md.r. it's heavy duty therapy and it's takes time to process. Did e.m.d.r help you?

[@Eden-lv5ou]

Any update?

[@mariepoling6769]

I am interested to know how things went with EMDR after this. I have been doing it for two years now. It can be destabilizing sometimes, but amazing too.

[@maggieturnbull7313]

I tried to find the longer episode but could not. Maybe a direct link?

[@shannonthomsen7446]

God is leading me to emdr therapy

[@quirky6334]

Would you happen to have any updates? I am doing emdr therapy now and I've been having bizarre and vivid dreams, which is not unusual for me to begin with, but they are now more frequent and the pace seems more rapid as well. I used to only remember 1 or 2 dreams on occasion but now Im remembering up to 5 to 6 different dreams per night. My dreams seem to be displaying as me walking through an endless maze of rooms with different scenarios and people, and moving very quickly through the dreams. Did you have any experience with changes in your sleep state or significant dream patterns?

[@heatherjohnson806]

Id be terrified to relive all my traumas it would end up ending me

[@tradslnd9872]

Hi, how's it going now?

[@lauraherold320]

Glad to see some exposure to EMDR. My therapist believes in it but I was too anxious to try it. She consequently let me go. I felt terrible. Once you are in the thick of the memories how to you release it so it doesn't become a part of your thought process. Does desensitizing the memory work? I was afraid of where we could go...still am. Still don't think its for everyone.

[@DivineLightPaladin]

Maybe not for everyone until the right time. Think it might be one of those that you come to when you're ready. I feel ready after doing many many other types of work first and am starting soon. Perhaps you may have better luck trying other therapies first? There are many types from conventional talk therapy and drugs to psychedelics and spiritual avenues like the EFT tapping method, meditation and more

[@DivineLightPaladin]

It's normal to be afraid of what you might face, you don't have to judge yourself for not feeling ready! I would love to share an insight that helped me however, is that even of the things we are afraid to face that may be overwhelming, we have already been through it, proving we were strong enough to handle it. The body and mind have already made it through and stored it, and you've made it to a point where the event is no longer active, you may feel safer to move forward after processing it in this new safe place (whenever ready, it's up to you entirely!)

[@DivineLightPaladin]

Best of luck on your healing journey, love and light! ❤️

[@AdamGbl95]

The only way out of a traumatic experience that is holding you back in life is to become as aware of it as you can and correctly process and reconceptualize it. Dr Caroline Leaf mentions thoughts are like trees. Positive is a healthy thought tree and negative grows a dead, ugly thought tree. Our tendency is to try and avoid the negative, toxic thought and experience and run from it or suppress it, but the problem is it will keep growing in your subconscious mind and your brain keeps sending warning signals through emotions (anxiety, tenseness etc) because your brain naturally tries to fight off negative thoughts. So embracing and becoming more aware of that toxic thought (tree) begins weakening the branches and causes healthy changes in the brain (thought uncomfortable) it takes about 63 days for a thought or habit to fully go from your subconscious to nonconscious part of your mind. If the negative thought made it past that point from trying to suppress it all that time, then it goes into your nonconscious mind so it will keep coming up and causing the signals to go crazy(though you're trying to ignore or suppress it). It also takes 63 days (21 weaken the thought tree branches through awareness, reflection, and reconceptualizing it), and 42 days after to build that new healthy thought into a strong and healthy thought tree. Basically you have to deconstruct this toxic thought from the emotions to its roots and rewire it so that the healthy thought is in your nonconscious mind and can dominate Amy negativity surrounding it. Anyways, check out Dr Caroline Leaf's podcasts and videos or books. Basically, you can put it off long enough but eventually it will explode and bring you to a breaking point or express itself through unhealthy behaviors and feelings. This isn't medical advice, but I suggest dealing with it sooner rather than later! Yeah it's scary sometimes and unfortunately for me it brought me to the darkest place in my life, but the only way from bottom is up! It depends on the person as well. Working with a therapist to decide and help prepare and understand as well as research is the best solution to decide

[@user-qu8zs7vs1x]

How are you doing now? How did the whole EMDR process go?

[@mariab.gonzalez6130]

Did you continue this treatment ? I would like to know if it worked. I remember seing this video some time ago.

[@GregandJennifer]

I have indeed continued. It's been over 2 years now and has been night and day. Check out our @RosaryArmy channel where we've given longer updates.

[@LoriDonnelly-bd3ch]

I am curious how are you now?

[@mollywatson0512]

It's not magnetic or ekectric to your brain is it? Dangerous at all? I love this and was just sucgested to do this. Thank you for sharing!

[@seanacai]

Hi Molly, that might be ECT you are thinking of. No, EMDR is nothing like that for sure.

[@gwenmaggard9793]

What type of doctor do you see? My 10 year old grandson has trauma. Please

[@pizzahutbreadsticksauce]

look for a licensed therapist/counselor who is certified in EMDR and trauma therapies, and specializes in children. Psychology Today is a great resource for mental health professionals in your area!

[@danielbrowne9089]

Heard God, switched off

[@anthonyharmon9265]

Someday you wont. God can wait....

[@SuperSwagBr0]

Lots of guilty in your eyes.. you can be full and you are not responsible for others shortcomings.. your brothers or anyone’s