Re:emdr & anti-depressants

Some general comments, and I can't comment on your specific situation, but you can discuss the following with your therapist.

A BIG part of EMDR training is for therapists to understand that "abreactions" are normal in EMDR for some people, and are not a sign to stop processing. Abreactions often including weeping or sobbing, or twitching or otherwise emitting behaviors that aren't usual for that client. The therapist is supposed to keep sailing through it, only stopping if the client uses the prearranged stop signal. If the client can handle the intensity of the experience, the therapist can too.

Some clients need ego strengthening procedures before EMDR however, as the intensity is too much for them.

Medications have variable effects on emotional experience and processing, depending on the medication and the client. In general, the rule of thumb is that we need to be able to get at the emotion to process it. If the emotion is resolved or masked by the medication, we can't get at it. Sometimes people process okay on meds and then have to reprocess some material when they get off meds, as another level of emotion becomes available.

Replies:

Re:emdr & anti-depressants, by client, 10/17/01 Re:emdr & anti-depressants, by Sandra Paulsen Inobe, PhD, 10/17/01

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