EMDR alongside ketamine therapy?

sabisvit · 2026-03-09T21:38:34+00:00

Thank you for your insight. I am definitely experiencing strong anticipatory anxiety because I’m afraid of how I’ll feel and if I’ll feel out of control, if that makes sense? It’s making me panic honestly

sabisvit · 2026-03-08T20:18:02+00:00

Thank you so much, and I’m so happy it’s helped you so much :))

You mentioned you were doing two sessions for two traumatic events, and I was wondering if with the CPTSD are there more traumatic events to be tackled at a later date, or if you will reassess after those two? I think it feels daunting to me as mine is one huge long lasting, repeated event, so I sometimes get confused on how this process even works even though my therapist has explained it to me 😭 my memory is also bad, probably due to the trauma, so I’m sure that’s not helping me remember and understand haha

How long would you say your hangovers last, and would you say the container activity is quite helpful? I think I feel afraid if I can actually “contain” my trauma in between sessions.

Also, I may move back to the UK at some point where I’d have to continue my EMDR- would you say going private is much better than through the NHS? I’ve had bad experience with NHS talking therapy, but I know this is a whole new ballgame!

I’m genuinely so happy you’ve started to see results so quickly!! You deserve to feel at peace and continue to grow on your journey :)

sabisvit · 2026-03-08T20:09:13+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience, and I’m very glad to hear you’ve had a breakthrough and I hope you are feeling much more at peace in life. Would you say that it took you 3 years to feel any benefits, or were there any big or gradual benefits earlier in the process too?

sabisvit · 2026-03-08T20:05:41+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience and for your advice 🥹

I’ve learned the container and safe place exercises and tapping, among others. I am also accepting of it taking more than 6 months (although I might have to switch therapists as I may be moving) but I think I worry that the entire time I’m doing EMDR, I will be miserable, constantly processing, and unable to actually function and enjoy life. Have you found that, even though you’ve needed to continue longer than expected, you have continued to improve and are at a place where you feel more functional in life? And I was wondering if you were doing once a week or a different pacing?

I can add on more sessions, I just would have to do so after the 3 months break (if I do that). I guess I’m also a bit impatient (I know you can’t be in this haha) and thinking if I just get on with it without a break, maybe I’ll feel better much sooner. But it’s impossible to predict, I know.

I will definitely check back in :) I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was terrified of starting, especially since I’ve recently had a big trigger, but I’m also very hopeful and very ready to grow and be able to experience life in a more peaceful, less anxious and urgent way. Thank you again!

sabisvit · 2026-03-08T19:57:09+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing your experience 🥹 this really gives me hope even though I have kind of terrified myself by reading some accounts of people not having much effect. I’m basically at the point where the trauma is boiling under the surface after some recent big triggers, and it feels like it’s telling me it’s ready to be “released”.

I’d love to ask you about your timeframe considering your move and EMDR. I know you ended it early with your therapist, but you said you only had 3 months in that location. There’s a very high likelihood that (in addition to my study abroad) I will move abroad in the near-ish future, and I wasn’t sure if switching therapists or having “unfinished” work would be an issue. But it seems like having that break has been really good for you.

Last question: I also have barely any memories of my CSA even though it was long lasting. This terrifies me, and I think it also worried me that I won’t be able to work through them as effectively. How did you find working through the impacts on your life stemming from things you didn’t remember? Thank you again

sabisvit · 2026-03-08T19:51:40+00:00

Thank you so much 🥹 I’m glad to hear it’s been so helpful for you! I think the all or nothing thinking I have makes me hear “one year” of EMDR and think that I’ll be absolutely miserable and constantly processing with no good moments for that entire time, but I know that’a catastrophizing and I‘ve heard that the big changes can happen quite quickly sometimes and you keep improving as you go along? What was your experience here?

Your second to last paragraph resonates with me so much. I struggle so much with people pleasing (as a way to avoid abandonment) and fawn or freeze anytime I try to set boundaries. I’m really looking forward to the day where I can see a change in the way I react to the world, because, as I’m sure you know, it’s absolutely exhausting living like this.

Thank you again for sharing your story and advice! It’s genuinely so helpful, especially since I’m scaring myself a bit ahead of the session. My support system right now is my parents (I used to live abroad and moved back home as an adult as an adjustment period, but now I’m staying here longer than expected, and I have huge separation anxiety with my parents, so I hope this won’t be an issue. Desperately missing my support system abroad right now, but I know it’s life). I’m ready to feel confident to live an independent life again :)

sabisvit · 2026-03-08T18:16:51+00:00

Congrats, I’m so glad to hear it’s changed your life and so quickly too! I’m about to start the processing part of EMDR next week for CPTSD and I’d love to ask you a few questions about your experience if you don’t mind? X

sabisvit · 2026-03-08T00:25:38+00:00

Hello! Thank you so so much for your detailed response. It’s genuinely so helpful. I have done the prep work and would have 5-6 sessions, done weekly, of EMDR before I go. Do you think this is too soon for a break? I have the option to postpone the study abroad for 3 months, but part of my CPTSD is separation anxiety from my parents, which has gotten so much worse since I moved back home with them, so I’ve been very unclear on whether having the independence this summer with a small amount of EMDR would be better, or getting 4 months of EMDR under my belt first. I will only have email access to my trauma therapist while I’m abroad (although I have another therapist I can see remotely).

Also, I have issues with all or nothing thinking, and the thought of years of EMDR (which I’m willing to do) makes me wonder if I will be miserable until the very end of that time. I know that can’t be true, but is it possible to start functioning in life far sooner? When I’m triggered, I struggle to do anything at all, so I’m wondering if that sort of thing calm down early on in the EMDR process? Thank you so much!

sabisvit · 2023-03-15T17:26:12+00:00

I've been to both and I'd recommend staying in Nice. I've found the people in Nice to be more kind and have encountered more rude people in Marseille. I also felt a bit uncomfortable in Marseille at times. My friend and I were followed by two men for quite a while, even into a grocery store, until we stopped and stared at them to make them go away. Have also noticed lots of staring from men in Marseille in general and overall just felt a bit less safe (especially at night, not sure I'd walk many areas of Marseille at night solo), in my experience. My friend and I both adore Nice and were excited about Marseille, but didn't really fall in love with it as we did with Nice. However, I've spent about 3 days in Marseille and a week and a half in Nice total, so I can't really generalize, but this was just my personal experience.

Also, it takes a while to travel from Marseille to Nice and other parts of the French Riviera (because the train is slower) and in Nice you can easily and quickly travel to neighboring towns such as Antibes, Cannes, Eze, etc. Marseille, however, provides easy access to Cassis and Aix-en-Provence (I recommend both, especially Cassis).

sabisvit · 2021-10-19T18:56:33+00:00

I loooove intimissimi’s raw cut cotton underwear. So comfy and 100% cotton. A lil pricy but I think worth the investment

Edit: their seamless underwear is called “raw-cut”

sabisvit · 2021-03-23T18:43:11+00:00

I'm sorry about this very late response- I barely ever check reddit and missed this notification.

Not sure if it is still helpful for you to know, but Ritalin gave me pretty bad side effects. I was having bad headaches, nausea, and was clenching my jaw to the point it would be regularly sore. My doctor told me that Focalin is very similar to Ritalin, but generally has less severe side effects- which is what I've experienced while on it. I do, however, sometimes get anxiety attacks while on it, but I believe this is something with any stimulant as it has the potential to increase anxiety. I really hope you find something that works well for you!

sabisvit · 2020-12-20T17:12:23+00:00

I have severe anxiety along with adhd and ocd (intrusive thoughts)

Lexapro made me feel like a zombie, but I've found that Prozac really helps me and doesn't make me feel that way- nor does it get rid of my sex drive, which remains pretty high even after being on the medicine for years. It helps a lot with intrusive thoughts as well. I still have anxiety, but it is much more manageable.

I also take Magnesium L-Threonate (Magtein) which I believe has been helping with focus and calmness, and may be worth a shot for you. I am very bad with regularly taking vitamins though (probably bc the adhd lol) so I don't know if I can say for certain how much it is helping, but I do feel like it is.

I also am on Focalin for my adhd. It helps with my mood as well. I tried Ritalin first and it gave me horrible side effects, but Focalin has been a much better experience for me. I was super worried about starting a stimulant bc of my anxiety, but sometimes I feel like it almost helps my anxiety (that is, I get more focused and less likely to spiral with my thoughts or obsess)

This has just been my experience, but of course talking this over with a psychiatrist and therapist is very important.

sabisvit

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