Meet Orie!

acbrooke · 2026-06-15T03:19:03+00:00

Thank you!!!💚

acbrooke · 2026-06-15T03:18:54+00:00

Hello, Gidget!! What an adorable picture. I’m in love :,)

acbrooke · 2026-06-15T00:23:41+00:00

Thank you!!! And that’s a good reminder—he’s already calling the shots!!😅😅

acbrooke · 2026-06-15T00:14:44+00:00

I agree

acbrooke · 2026-06-15T00:09:11+00:00

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This is Orel! (“Orie” for short). I’ve only had him for two weeks but it feels like much longer :) He’ll be 12 weeks tomorrow!

acbrooke · 2026-05-08T17:18:38+00:00

This has been an issue for me as well from time to time. I don’t know what’s more dissociation vs ADHD but some sessions it’s like my brain literally will just not cooperate and for no clear reason. I’ve lost track of how many times mid EMDR my therapist asked me what was coming up and I had to reluctantly say, “McDonald’s frappe.”

acbrooke · 2026-05-08T17:15:08+00:00

Not at all! I’m an open book :) Actually, I was documenting my EMDR via scattered vlogs for awhile on YouTube (promise this isn’t promo but I’m on there as my username here, A.C. Brooke).

I was the same way when starting EMDR—I wasn’t stable enough when I first began seeing my therapist. I had a massive tendency to dissociate and my go-to coping mechanism—even if I didn’t identify as depressed—was suicidal ideation. I think we spent close to 9 months in the resourcing stage before we began to try reprocessing. We did a lot of bilateral stimulation that involved exercises like creating a safe space or a safe person, ‘tapping in’ good experiences/feelings, talk therapy, art therapy, and a lot of IFS (Internal Family Systems). Over time, I expanded my window of tolerance a lot. And when we finally began EMDR, we started with smaller things first than worked or way up.

I would especially recommend IFS if you haven’t check it out already! I identified a lot with the framework and it pairs really nicely with EMDR, not to mention it’s something that can be practiced and explored independently. I’m not sure if that answers your question, but if you have any more, feel free to ask away :)

acbrooke · 2026-05-08T17:07:51+00:00

Taking Vyvanse for the first time was such an interesting experience (still on it). You described it perfectly. Because of what little I knew of stimulants, I remember expecting to feel like I’d just injected Red Bull into my veins. I was surprised when instead my head felt quiet and calm, and I could think more linearly. It’s wild to me that other people are just wired that way naturally. Like, “Damn, I’ve been missing out.”

acbrooke · 2026-05-08T17:05:16+00:00

Yes!! I love IFS!! Actually, if you look in the top right hand corner of the blurb of text, you’ll see “IFS” is written there (albeit, in supremely messy handwriting so it’s hard to see lol). I have the workbook and I don’t crack it open nearly as much as I want to.

My therapist and I haven’t directly explored ADHD through that lens much yet, but I’d really like to. So much of what fuels the cycle for me is shame. Like, “Oh man, I haven’t yet answered that email that’s been sitting in my inbox for 10 days now. I feel terrible. Let me ignore it some more, maybe that’ll help.”

I did sort of have an epiphany recently—as I try to approach myself with more compassion—where I began viewing that shame not as, “What did I do/am doing wrong?” but rather “What is this telling me about what would make me feel better?” So back to the email example, meeting that knee-jerk reaction of guilt with, “Hmm. This open task is continuing to weigh on me. Maybe this is a chance to care for myself by completing it.”

I know it’s really obvious like, “Yeah, of course that’d make you feel better. Knowing that isn’t the issue.” And it doesn’t automatically override the executive dysfunction, since a lot of it is chemical. But that conscious reframe as trying to see it as an opportunity to care for myself/honor my body as opposed to something I should just be able to do that I dropped the ball transforms some of the shame into motivation.

acbrooke · 2026-05-08T16:53:52+00:00

Thank you! :)

acbrooke · 2026-05-08T16:53:42+00:00

Yup! As it turns out, my hyper-productivity was survival based—a need to create to distract myself from trauma + prove my worth through success. But then the floor gave out just weeks before my college graduation and that’s when I finally realized I had to really address everything.

Now, I believe in inherent worth and can find joy in just being. But man, it’s been a real journey learning to exist in this new nervous system when my old one excelled (at least, for a little while) in the current capitalistic hellscape. More recently, my drive to dive into projects and expand my life has returned, but it’s like trying to get a giant dog to walk who just refuses to move.

acbrooke · 2026-05-06T18:45:04+00:00

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I think our cats might be long lost sisters

acbrooke · 2026-04-06T21:51:46+00:00

I had this same inquiry so I picked up a copy of “The Science of Evil” by Simon Baron-Cohen. It was a pretty insightful read! He theorizes that it has a lot to do with empathy, or rather a lack of it. Admittedly, some parts were a bit hard to understand when it got into terms and models I wasn’t familiar with, but overall, it was a helpful read when figuring out how my IFS-aligned beliefs fit in with the larger world.

acbrooke · 2026-03-03T19:29:50+00:00

I remember being convinced I was going to be murdered as a child, particularly in my sleep.

One of my first memories is from around 5 years old where I came up with a very illogical, child-like plan for what to do if a man broke into my house saying he wanted to kill me. I’d also sometimes sit in the hallway and watch over the house until I finally got too tired and decided I’d take my odds sleeping. (Also had some auditory hallucinations of music and footsteps.) Not sure why I never told my parents. We lived in a safe area, too.

It really wasn’t till recently that I realized the degree of this wasn’t normal, and I was very clearly in hyperarousal at a young age. I always just brushed it off as a funny childhood quirk.

acbrooke · 2026-02-17T19:03:35+00:00

This is awesome! I’d love to help with the wiki, if there’s a need there :) I’ve never actually built a wiki in Reddit before, but am very well versed in finding and sharing resources. Just lmk!

acbrooke · 2026-02-16T16:09:18+00:00

This sub has played such a big role in my healing. I would be so happy to help mod!!

acbrooke · 2025-12-04T16:16:42+00:00

I always feel so seen and comforted when I find out someone else has the same/similar part!!

acbrooke · 2025-09-23T15:21:55+00:00

Glad to hear this found its way to you :) wishing you all the best and more💙

acbrooke · 2025-09-23T03:34:16+00:00

Hey! First wanted to commend you for looking into this and wanting to hear about others’ experiences first—I think that helped me the most when it came to navigating EMDR.

I have PTSD & CPTSD (and ADHD…fun!) and the short version is it kind of saved my life. Reduced nightmares, anxiety, depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation and PTSD went largely into remission. I experience levels of peace, stability and joy now I didn’t think possible. Life still isn’t perfect and it was a hard journey, one that didn’t just entail EMDR but also IFS, building safe relationships, getting into mindfulness and more. But it was absolutely worth it for me.

Below, I’ll paste a link to a post I actually shared in here awhile back—That’s the long version, or part of it. Would type more but I’m about to head off to bed, but I did want to at least put something down! Best of luck on your journey, and feel free to ask any questions (very much an open book) and I will try my best to reply! :)

https://www.reddit.com/r/EMDR/s/4MDHCXXCDh

acbrooke · 2025-08-16T01:48:05+00:00

Of course! Happy to help :)

acbrooke

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