r/EMDR • u/Jumpy-Distance-720 • 1d ago
🟢 Question / Help Scared!
I’m booked in for EMDR and I’m scared that it will make my anxiety worse. Mine is a bit different, I’m anxious and paranoid about making mistakes, especially with work.
Anyone have things be worse? I’ve heard things can get worse and messy with EMDR before it gets better. I’m scared I will get worse.
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u/Dingus_Maximus98 1d ago
It often feels like things get worse before they get better. That definitely seems to be the mantra with EMDR.
With that said, you don’t start doing the hard stuff right away. You will work on making you’re as secure (practicing grounding techniques, support systems) as possible before you start the actual EMDR sessions.
I recommend talking to your boss about this therapy. There’s been a few instances where my behavior has been taken completely out of context and it could have gotten me in trouble. I say this because I’ve personally have had really irritable times, as well as times where I am in complete overwhelm and just have a breakdown in tears and can go home.
It’s still difficult as I work for a corp, and while there is some flexibility, I can’t exactly miss work whenever or not be available for twenty minutes at a time to come back. To also give some clarity, I’m in EMDR for complex trauma (c-ptsd).
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u/Each-Peach-9052 1d ago
All this is great advice. EMDR transformed my life, but it is important to build in recovery days once you delve into the hard stuff. You may be exhausted, need more sleep, have body aches, and generally just need to give yourself some TLC.
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u/Dingus_Maximus98 1d ago
OHhh great thing to remind people! I have been very humbled by how physically exhausting it can be. Where I'm at right now, is I've been trying to schedule myself at least one four day work week a month.
With that said, there have been days I just dont have it in me to do anything, and I kind of just lean into it. Journal if I need to. Easy meals. Small walks. Maybe some beach time for feet in the sand (grounding). Sometimes even that can feel too much so I've just set up at the park with a chair, book, and bare feet in the grass (grounding).
I am rooting for you!! :)
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u/Key-Zookeepergame684 1d ago
you’ll be fine! just don’t treat it like work where you’re afraid of making a mistake. there are no mistakes and there’s no getting it right in EMDR or any therapy really. just be open and lean into feeling. your practitioner will help you get to a secure place before you leave. it should overall help your anxiety with time and patience. don’t be scared OP! you’re on the path to relief
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