EMDR & Medications

Can someone help me? I am new to EMDR and therapy in general. I have always had some form of depression, mostly just as mild as feeling as if there was a cloud over my head. Some self-talk (and denial) usually helped get me through the day. My daughter’s birth was an emergency c-section and in the 1st year following, she was hospitalized 4 times. Both she and I had come very close to death with her birth. On top of all of this I discovered my husbands affair and we divorced. The depression I had then was thought to be post-partum and adult adjustment type stuff. Add in a large dose of abandonment. My MD prescribed meds and said that time to adjust to the stress over the past year was all that I needed. He was very supportive. All that was 6 years ago. My daughter is now a healthy loving sweet child, in the second grade. My life has settled down into a boring routines equal to that of any other single soccer mom who works full time.

My MD had tried me on many different types and combinations of medications. Some helped a little some not at all and some had side affects for me that were worse than the depression. For some reason I have not been able to figure out, about a year ago I began having nightmares and then day-time nightmares, that I now know as flashbacks. The symptoms of depression became overwhelming. My MD then suggested I see a therapist.

I have been working with this therapist for about a year now and she suggested we try EMDR. We had already been using guided imagery and safe place work, so both of us felt safe to move on to the EMDR. I was even looking forward to these sessions. The first session seemed to go well. As did the second. Then a day after the second session I, was unable to go to work (up to now I have never called in sick) because of this fear and depression. My MD wants to add more meds. some sort of anti-psychotic (seraqulee?) and begin the antidepressants (Zoloft this time) as well as a PRN of Xanax.

MY question is: These drugs tend to leave me feeling so foggy. Will they interfere with the processing of the EMDR? How effective are medications when used with EMDR and are their better ways to deal with the “turmoil” and after effects of an EMDR session. Are there any studies available on this question?

Medications never really helped in the long run. I can live with the depression; I have managed that most of my life. And I am thinking that I should just give up on the therapy, and let whatever this fear is work it’s self out on its own.

I know you can’t answer questions specific to my case, but if you could help shed some light on the use of medications and EMDR that would help. (or just re-direct me to other source to get this question answered)

Thanks,

Anne Marie

Replies:

Re:EMDR & Medications, by Robert P. O'Brien, Ph.D., 12/14/00 Re:EMDR & Medications, by Anne-Marie, 12/15/00

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