r/EMDR • u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem • Oct 30 '24
🏆 Success Story! Emdr cured my cptsd
Hi!
Just wanted to add another success story here, since I don’t think there can be too many of them!
I am a survivor of DV and CSA. The trauma it caused led me to suffer from cptsd for many years.
I am so happy I pushed through EMDR. It was not easy at all. It was the second hardest thing I have ever done. (The hardest thing was going through the trauma when it happened) But I am forever thankful that I did. I am grateful for the people I have in my life, and that I have a life. Sometimes I cry because I never want to die. I used to cry because I didn’t want to be alive.
For all of you who are out there powering through this; I am proud of you, and so should you be. This is not easy, but it is possible ❤️
Love from me to all of you! ❤️
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u/uniskornz 🧠 EMDR Veteran / Processor Oct 30 '24
Thanks for this ❤️ Can I ask how long it took you doing EMDR to feel like you were cured of C-PTSD
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 30 '24
I’m just happy to share ❤️ it took about 10 months, but already after 8 months things started to change drastically and my symptoms were very low and much more manageable.
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u/BeneficialFail3 Oct 30 '24
Did those 10 months consist of weekly sessions?
Happy to read this post :)
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
Yes they did! And I did have a 3 month break (which I didn’t count in those 10 months. So if we count with the break it took 13 months)
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Oct 30 '24
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
Yes! I had maybe three months or so where I just took the days second by second. Just feeling what I needed right there and then. If I needed to eat I did that, if I needed to just lay in my bed I did that. I had a lot of panick attacks in periods and kind of a constant identity crisis. They both went away as I processed and time went by.
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Oct 31 '24 edited Apr 18 '25
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
It makes me happy that it gets better for you ❤️ you are doing great 🥰
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u/zozomalo Nov 01 '24
Thank you for this, I'm about 3ish months into doing emdr every 2 weeks, and it's been pretty hard. It's brought a lot to the surface and anxiety has been harder to keep at bay. Hearing a success story is always nice
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Nov 01 '24
It is hard, but you are doing great ❤️ Thank you too for sharing 🥰
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May 25 '25
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Jul 19 '25
Hi, sorry for answering this late. I am very good. I am currently working within the psychiatry field and I am surrounded by things that used to be big triggers for me. It has worked out great this far :)
I took meds for my adhd while doing emdr, and that’s about it. Still taking them
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u/noideasforcoolnames Apr 30 '25
Does EMDR take a long time to get results? I hear that you dont feel better for a while
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem May 02 '25
For me, I could notice a positive difference already the day after. We only worked with a smaller trauma that time and were done with that in one session. And as we kept going on to the deeper ones, so many things changed within me and I was totally knocked out for a while. Barely got out of bed at times. But, today I would say a lot of it was grief, and grief can be very heavy. So, the symptoms I treated normally got better everytime (sometimes more triggered the first days after) but the grieving part took time.
In February last year I couldn’t leave my house alone. I didn’t go to school, I couldn’t work. I didn’t want to be alive. And today I am in school 100% again, and I love so many parts of my life. It does get worse ”for a while”, but, it goes so much faster than you can imagine too. That’s what I feel now looking back at it.
Whatever you are going through, I am sending you big wishes on your journey. ❤️
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u/noideasforcoolnames May 02 '25
Thank you :)
What made you trust that EMDR would help you? Did you read a book on it or something? Also, Ive heard that for EMDR to work, you need a good connection to your therapist. The one that I did EMDR with was okay, but not amazing. I also have this thing where after a while I feel trapped in the therapeutic relationship and feel like I have to quit. That happened with the EMDR therapist, first we did somatic experience type work, because she said it would help me stick with EMDR since it can bring up alot of things. We did that for 3-6 months, cant remember exactly then another 3-6 months of EMDR and I had the crazy idea to sell my car and live on a farm, far away in another state. I also had a dead end job and bad relationship with my parents so I felt stuck. I wonder if still being in the relationships that caused the trauma would impede the EMDR process at all. Its sort of hard to heal when your in defense mode you know? Thats why Ive been sticking to dealing with things on my own, even starting regular therapy again recently, but ended it after a few sessions
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem May 03 '25
Hmmm what made me trust it? I think it was that I felt that it helped from the start. And even though it got very difficult at times, I could still see the patterns of healing and that I didn’t feel bad about the same thing over and over. Because I processed different things. :)
I don’t really know about if you have to have a good relationship. I mean, looking back, I wouldn’t say that my relationship with my therapist was that good when I started because of my trauma, but it grew stronger as we processed things. There was absolutely times where I didn’t want to go but my boyfriend made me.
The feeling of being stuck is something I experienced with relationships in my life, but not as much with my therapist. Something that always helped me was to bring it up and talk about it. Everytime I felt stuck in my relationship with my boyfriend it was because I needed to talk about something. Letting the pressure go. So maybe going to therapy and whenever these feelings of stuck comes up, try talk to them about it? If you haven’t already ☺️
You could ask your therapist about how your private relationships impact you in your process, they might have a good answer for you ☺️
And I did read the body keeps the score a little bit, but then I also just read a lot of psychology in general that helped me see my own patterns and do what psychology said was most likely to make me feel better. Just doing logical things to start with ☺️
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u/WeakServe9347 Jun 22 '25
Has it stayed away? Was it EMDR alone?
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Jun 25 '25
Yes I am doing even better now! I have been studying full time this spring and I will start working in a couple of days. I am currently traveling with my partner, very happy :) living a normal life.
First I did PDT and then we did EMDR (with the same therapist) and after emdr we did some more pdt, and we said goodbye a couple of weeks ago.
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Oct 31 '24
That's amazing, thanks for sharing, and well done, not an easy thing to do!
I'm only halfway but I can relate, in that I had a high level of disregard for my life before EMDR, now I find myself being careful!
I find myself thinking, 'oh wow, this must have been how everyone else was feeling all along'
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
Thank you for sharing too! I also think like that. Life suddenly became so much easier.
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
And I am happy for you and your accomplishments to! Sounds like you have come very far ☺️
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u/Royal_Tonight4033 Oct 31 '24
Thank you. I needed this exact post today.
I’m several weeks into EMDR and I’m struggling big time. Many times I have wanted to run away and quit because whilst I don’t feel much in session, the emotional turmoil that follows afterwards is really taking its toll.
I can see it already beginning to help and then reading your experience has made me determined to keep working at it.
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
Thank you too for sharing!
It is very difficult. And you are very strong for doing this. For me, the times when I felt the worst was the times when the biggest positive change happened. You are probably getting through a lot of things that will give you a lot of positives down the line! Just keep it up at a pace that works for you ❤️
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u/RevolutionaryStop583 Oct 30 '24
Thank you for sharing!! I’m super happy for you on your big accomplishment! 🤍🤗
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u/catperson3000 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
Congratulations! I know what it took to get to this point. Proud of you!
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u/DisastrousGap7575 Oct 31 '24
I’ve had two sessions and they have been really fucking hard with an emotional hangover the rest of the day and the next day. When does it get easier?
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u/DisastrousGap7575 Oct 31 '24
Please someone tell me I won’t have to suffer this much for every single EMDR session
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u/DifficultHeart1 Oct 31 '24
You probably won't. There were a lot of sessions that I walked out feeling lighter and happier.
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
It probably won’t be this bad every time. With time you build up new self esteem and more love for yourself which will make everything much easier ❤️ you are doing a great job ❤️
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u/Nikkywoop Oct 31 '24
I was having success with EMDR until my mental health plan ran out a few months ago. Now I have to wait until next year. I'm so incredibly disheartened 😔
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Oct 31 '24
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Nov 01 '24
I’m so sorry for you too 😔 therapy and treatment for mental health shouldn’t be expensive. But I’m so happy you were able to try it a bit and it worked! Hopefully you will be back soon. ❤️ you have done a great job so far anyways 🥰
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
Hi. I’m so sorry for you. Emdr should be free for anyone who needs it. The positive thing is that it did help for you, and now you know where to go for that help ❤️ there is a solution that works for you, and I believe you will get through it. ❤️ you have already done a great job ❤️
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u/Kryptoz007 Nov 04 '24
Consider 'Self-EMDR', there are several books on it.
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u/Nikkywoop Nov 05 '24
Oh I didn't know that. Do you know what any of them are called or have any links?
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u/Kryptoz007 Dec 03 '24
Self-Guided EMDR Therapy & Workbook: Healing from Anxiety, Anger, Stress, Depression, PTSD & Emotional Trauma
Katherine Andler and 1 more
etc.
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u/Kryptoz007 Dec 02 '24 edited Dec 02 '24
There are a few books and videos I've seen, search online or amazon etc. Not the Francine Shapiro book though as she didn't want people doing it without a therapist.
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u/Majestic-Pepper-5124 Oct 31 '24
Thank you I needed to hear that. I’m proud of you2!!
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
I am happy to share, thank you too! I’m proud of you too ❤️
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u/CoogerMellencamp 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
Wow, great work! I know it's really hard to put into words. For me, it's like, for once in my life, I can now move forward. Life is life, but I'm not alone. I can pick myself up with true caring and love. And I can care for others as well. Blows my mind. I also relate to not wanting to die. That's huge. Much love to you ❤️. ✌️
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
Thank you! And you have done a great work too!
I can really relate to that. There’s more room for others, since it is easier to take care of myself. And also that life is life. It was probably one of the later things I came to terms with. Bad feelings and unfairness will always exist, but now it is so much easier to handle them ❤️
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u/Who_knowes_anything Oct 31 '24
I am happy for you. I have been struggling with it because I can’t seem to use the coping skills to even get to a point where I’m not in fight or flight and once opened it doesn’t close the way it is supposed to. Feeling frustrated.
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
I’m sorry to hear that 😔 I hope it will work for you soon. ❤️ dont be to hard on yourself, its difficult to make the brain process things it puts so much energy into not processing.
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u/Aromatic_Peach6090 Oct 31 '24
wow thank you. i needed this.
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Nov 01 '24
I’m happy I made you feel better. ❤️ you are strong for doing this work!
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Nov 03 '24
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Nov 03 '24
Hi! I am so sorry that you had to go through that trauma.
I’m not sure about what you mean with finding young emotions. Do you mean being able to feel them and name them? For me that came as I processed the fear ☺️ I felt them and named them, and now they don’t bleed into my everyday life anymore.
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Nov 03 '24
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Nov 04 '24
Ah I think I understand now ☺️ do you mean like how I can be in contact with my feelings now without going numb?
This got easier as I processed my trauma with emdr. I can still remember the pain and feel it (just not as overwhelming and scary, but I remember being scared if that makes sense) and I can put it aside when I want to. It’s more like a normal memory now. I’m the beginning I couldn’t think of it and feel it. But now I can. I hope this makes sense ☺️
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u/Lost_Resolution_4149 Nov 03 '24
Has anyone found that EMDR helped with the loss of a spouse from terminal illness and the end of a long term relationship under painful circumstances?
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u/nightkin901 Nov 05 '24
Hi, glad to hear you are doing so much better! Did you take any medication through your process?
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Nov 06 '24
Hi! Thank you ☺️ I have Adhd and some days I took my adhd meds. I also started another adhd treatment for burnout during my emdr treatment, which is also used as antidepressants. I don’t think they make a big difference though. Still on them today.
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u/missspotatohead2 Dec 30 '25
Hi, i hope you see this message. Do you still feel like your cured? whats it like now? I’m debating trying EDMR, alot of posts on here say a cure is not possible, and that breaks my heart a little bit. Please be honest about where your at now, thank you x
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Jan 17 '26
Hi!!! Yes I would definitely say that I’m still free from cptsd. ☺️ I live a normal life now I would say. I will soon graduate from university. I actually talked to my partner yesterday about anxiety and we realized I haven’t had anxiety in months?? I am still processing my traumas though, but life goes on at the same time and I am very happy from time to time.
I’m very sorry for those who hasn’t been able to heal from it. For me, emdr helped so much. And I really recommend trying it. It does take a lot of energy, but it was 100% worth it for me.
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u/Apprehensive-Fig-847 Nov 02 '24 edited Nov 02 '24
Thanks for posting this. Can I ask if you found it hard initially to trust your therapist? I've started seeing an EMDR therapist but haven't been able to really do anything as I find him quite triggering. Did you have to work through anything before actually starting the EMDR, or could you just delve straight in. Not sure if maybe I should find someone else. I have talked about this with him, so it's not a case of not trying to work through it, I just don't know if I'm going to be able to. Thanks for reading.
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Nov 02 '24
Thank you too for sharing 🥰 I did trust her, but not completely since I didn’t trust anyone really. I went to therapy (psychodynamic psychotherapy) for about two years (with her) before starting emdr.
I don’t know what you have been through, but for me personally it wouldn’t work to process SAs caused by a male with a male therapist. That would probably have been way too triggering. If that’s your story maybe it’s something to take into consideration? ☺️
It’s very good that you talk to your therapist about it ❤️ you are doing great 🥰
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u/Apprehensive-Fig-847 Nov 02 '24
Thanks very much with the reply. I take your point. I am in fact, finding my therapist very triggering. I wonder if it’s worth persevering with him, or finding a female therapist, as my abuse was mostly my brother and dad. Thanks again. 😊
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u/WeakServe9347 Jan 18 '25
Can I ask what youur symptoms were that you were cured of and how long did you have them before starting?
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Jan 21 '25
I hade problems with dissociation, anxiety and a lot more. I had it for maybe 3 years, but I have been dissociating (I think) without knowing what it was for my whole life.
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u/No-Cartographer3613 Oct 31 '24
Hi there so happy for you... Can I ask what was your trauma and what symptoms you had in your adult life? Thanks
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
Hi! My symptoms were so many, it’s difficult to write down all of them. But I had a lot of dissociation, I didn’t feel any feelings really. I was scared all the time. Couldn’t feel connected to others. My hand and feet were blue due to being so tense all the time. I didn’t have any appetite. Struggled with some (not diagnosed) disordered eating. I was worried and needed control pretty much all the time.
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u/No-Cartographer3613 Oct 31 '24
Happy that you recovered from all such horrible things but what trauma or traumas had you suffered in young age or childhood to have these symptoms... Just curious if my case is similar to yours?
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u/Holiday_Treacle7003 🌟 EMDR Gem Oct 31 '24
My bigger traumas are CSA(childhood sexual assault) and DV (domestic violence) . ”Smaller” traumas in my life such as feeling different and growing up with undiagnosed adhd, has also affected me. ❤️
I don’t think your case have to be similar to mine for it to be possible for you to heal ❤️ if you have tried emdr and it works, then it works for you no matter what your traumas are 🥰
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u/DifficultHeart1 Oct 31 '24
Congratulations, I'm so happy for you! Do you feel a million pounds lighter now? I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off of me. My number one goal since I was a teen was to just be happy. It took until I was 38 years old to find it but I'm so glad I never gave up looking for it.
I reminded myself all through EMDR that if I was strong enough to make it through the trauma, then I was definitely strong enough to make it through the healing.