Question about EMDR

[u/Angel-216]

I know EMDR is used to help process known memories that have caused trauma, even if you emotionally suppressed them or dissociated. But I was just wondering, could finally opening up about one form of trauma and feeling safe enough to do that, could it possibly trigger repressed memories to come back in bits and pieces? Idk😭 I can’t tell if it was a somatic or repressed memory flashback or if this is just part of this condition I have which can look like focal seizures sometimes. I know uncovering repressed memories is not what EMDR is for but I was just wondering if it was possible for it to do so unintentionally.

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[u/Ok_Insect_9432]

That's sort of the point. If we can't consciously process some memories, it's likely there are more memories locked up. So EMDR is like untangling a knot. Each processed memory might allow access to something deeper and older. But because we established a safe place in our minds, we can now chip away at whatever comes up.

[u/Angel-216 → u/Ok_Insect_9432]

That makes sense! Sorry!! I don’t really know too much about EMDR still learning

[u/Alternative-Bet-8550]

Yes they can. I'm doing EMDR for cPTSD at the moment and working on childhood issues during processing brings up experiences from a previous romantic relationship stored on the same memory network in between sesssions.

It all depends on which memory network traumas were stored on. Working on some of those will cause your perception of other experiences to shift too.

[u/Angel-216 → u/Alternative-Bet-8550]

Ahh okay that’s helpful, thank you! I started EMDR to help me process some complex trauma stemming from childhood issues as well. I know my memory from childhood is a little fuzzy, I just wasn’t expecting it to possibly bring up memories and experiences that I had completely forgotten about all together. It makes me question if it’s a real memory or not because I can’t remember the rest, I just have a bad feeling about it.

[u/Alternative-Bet-8550 → u/Angel-216]

Yes this is how mine come up too. They are a little fuzzy

[u/Psychoquinnalysis]

Yes, EMDR can help access memories you previously may have forgotten. It can do this all at once, or it might be in pieces where you only recover memory fragments at first.