Hi, I'm new here and have a question. I've heard that doing emdr is not good if you are DID. Is this true? If it is Why? I never had body memories before but had them during a session and there after for quite a long time. Then they came just like the flashbacks. I do not understand why or when they come and go. I currently have memory or feeling that pulses through me with extreem emotion somewhat like the flashbacks and body memory. Is this normal for complex, delayed onset ptsd? And what is the difference just between regular ptsd and complex? The onset of these emotional attacks or state attacks and depression are really a bear to deal with. They are unpredictable. Do you know of any good books on DID? The emdr seemed to help the body memories go away. So why do people say that you can't do emdr if you are DID? netty
Last Edited by on Oct 08, 2007 10:55 AM
EMDR can be used with DID, but only with someone who has extensive training and experience with using it that way. EMDR in the wrong hands can exacerbate the symptoms of DID. In the right hands, though, it can resolve the trauma. I have also heard, from a clinician who works with many DID clients that Lifespan Integration works well and is much gentler than EMDR.
PTSD refers to a set of symptoms resulting from a trauma, such as a rape, a car accident, a mugging, etc. Complex PTSD involves more symptoms, at a deeper level, and results from repeated traumas, such as on-going sexual assault, war, physical or emotional abuse that occurs as a pattern over time.
The body memories and flashbacks you describe are part of the syndrome of PTSD--they are one of the normal human responses to trauma. You may not know what is triggering the memories, but something that you see or experience in the present is similar to something about the trauma, and that connects in your brain and carries you to the flashback.
There's so much more I could say about all this, but don't want to be too wordy. Please let me know what other questions you have, so I can focus on them.
I don't know of a specific book that is great for clients about DID, but there are some--here's a link to Amazon, searching on Dissociative Identity Disorder: http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-6942338-7576958?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Dissociative+identity+disorder&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go I have heard from clients that there are good forums online, though, and sometimes the best information comes from others who identify as DID. Let me know if you find a great book, so I can recommend it to others.
Dealing with PTSD and DID takes lots of courage, and takes time. Try to be as gentle with yourself as you can, and always remember, you have already survived the trauma itself.
