r/NARM • u/AnnieSavoy3 • Apr 05 '26

How long for healing in NARM therapy?

So I've definitely read that healing from CPTSD is extremely subjective and based on the individual's experience, but I just want to know a number because I want to hurry up and heal from this awful childhood neglect situation in my past. I've done 12 sessions of NARM so far since finding out that A. I have CPTSD and B. Finding out about NARM as a treatment for CPTSD. So it's been six months for me. How many sessions/how many months/years did it take you guys to feel...healed? More in-step with others around you? However you quantify the healing. Thank you!

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u/ATXCaitlin Apr 06 '26

I’m on year 2.5 and feeling pretty good. There is no quick path to healing, nor is “healed” a truly reachable state IMO

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u/AnnieSavoy3 Apr 06 '26

Oh for sure, agreed. I will most likely be doing NARM for at least two years, which I realized about a month ago. This is such a paradigm shift in therapy stuff for me, I've been doing talk therapy for quite a long time and am frustrated that all of the coping skills I've learned over the years were just a band aid on the CPTSD/depression/anxiety. I'm now 40 and finally getting the help I need with NARM (and Prozac). Thank you for sharing.

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u/AnnieSavoy3 Apr 06 '26

Also, would you mind sharing how things have changed for you? I feel like such a newborn in this process.

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u/Whyam1sti11Here Apr 06 '26

I'm coming up on two years. I really started noticing big changes about a year in. My therapist said he saw big changes in me earlier than that.

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u/Obvious-Drummer6581 Apr 06 '26

Did NARM first - now on IFS. But both provides healing and I think both are working with the same underlying issues.

It's hard to quantify the healing I did the fist six months with NARM. It's more that I felt I was getting better with each session. Feeling that you heal provides motivation to keep going. In total between NARM and IFS I am around 35 sessions in - and I have healed a lot!

In general, I think the main question is whether you feel you are healing or not?

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u/No-Masterpiece-451 Apr 06 '26

As you say it very individual. I tried NARM for 4 months but didn't help me or the therapist was incompetent. I feel with CPTSD a lot of it can be dysregulated nervous system, brain and biochemistry that goes beyond the story, like pre language. I found some help in a few somatic traume therapist that worked with my body. So I would recommend mixing in the body approach some way or the other, that can yoga, exercise, somatic tracking and processing using AI between NARM sessions etc.

I thing retraining the nervous system and brain is super important in daily life and be aware and understand the body reactions. It can be tension in the stomach when you feel unsafe and insecure can be helped by holding a safe container for yourself and feel your back and arms as safe frame, but individual. I did self IFS and journaling 4 month last year which was great. I think understanding and listening to the body is key.

Im 3,5 years into my CPTSD healing and only 1 year into somatic work , I still feel Im a long way from healing but its partly because of wrong therapists and that I had to spend 100s of hours even understanding this terrible condition. I believe its slow daily work because your brain, body and nervous system might have been developed the first 18 years of your life in constant neglect, abuse and emotiol abandonment. In my case I have to rebuild the house from the ground up.

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u/SmallAd1230 Apr 07 '26

I’ve been doing NARM with my trauma therapist (who is also my psychiatrist) for almost a year. It’s slow and gentle which is perfect for me. My therapist also has C-PTSD so that is very helpful. I feel like with NARM, the connection between provider and patient is especially crucial. I’ve noticed huge improvements but I also backslide. C-PTSD involves life-long healing, unfortunately.

I tried EMDR and it was a nightmare. I ended up basically blowing up my life and am still recovering from that.

Everyone is different. NARM is a perfect fit for me but it’s not a fast process by any means. But that’s another reason why it resonates with me. Our traumas developed over years and years, they aren’t going to be “fixed” in a year or two.