EMDR , is it different for those with DID?

DX'd 10 yearas ago and just now beginning to use EMDR. I think three sessions some of my others went thru a sesson. I, the host ,also went thru a session. What is EMDR like for DID clients? there is so much material and so many others involved, I don't see how it can be successful. When it was me(host), the memories merged and morphed with other memories. Also , there is so very much still out of my awareness or that I don't associate with. What has come out from my others does not bring much emotion if any. That has been normal for me, but I can't beleive most issues still are not met with emotions or emotional others.

I can't really say that much about EMDR, except my therapist wants to use it when we reach the point of bringing up memories in our later appointments (which will be a while away, I've just had my first appointment). I just wanted to comment that if it's not bringing forth emotions...I don't see how it could be that helpful as emotions are part of the process as I understand it.

I look forward to other people's opinion on this.

Emotions being part of the process is how I understand it too. However, my T did say that different things may be processed individually or however they surface and are stuck. For example, only body memories and an internal visual film strip were focused on with me.And as for my other parts, I understand from my T that they replayed a couple "movies" inside and not ony gathered more memory, but also did have mini emotions...meaning quick, very bearable and on to the next scene. So the I dea that I (host) and anyone else involved still has to process those same memories and bring the emotional ones in as well ,sounds like this would take a lifetime to do. So far T says EMDR will only be for things i get stuck on. HE has been telling me for a few months ow that he is going to bring EMDR into th epicture...kina gently remeinding me it will probably be used adn how. BUt I would like to hear about it here from people with DID. Thank you and I wish a healthy journey for you .

Yes and no!

I'm a therapist who uses EMDR as my primary method very successfully with PTSD, trauma, DID, and many other problems. It's a very gentle method with no "down-side" so that in the hands of a professional EMDR therapist, there should be no freak-outs or worsening of day-to-day functioning. *mod edit- advertising for book removed*

There is a ton of great research proving EMDR's efficacy and it is considered a first-line treatment for PTSD by organizations such as ISTSS (International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation), American Psychiatric Assoc, Amer. Psychological Assoc, Dept of Veteran Affairs, Dept of Defense, Departments of Health in Northern Ireland, UK, Israel, the Netherlands, France, and other countries and organizations.

During EMDR you learn a lot of great coping strategies and self-soothing techniques which you can use during EMDR processing or anytime you feel the need. You learn how to access a “Safe or Calm Place” which you can use at ANY TIME during EMDR processing (or on your own) if it feels too intense. One of the initial phases in EMDR involves preparing the client for memory processing or desensitization (the 4th phase in the 8 phases of EMDR therapy). Resources are "front-loaded" so that you have a "floor" or "container" to help with processing the really hard stuff. One of the key assets of EMDR is that YOU, the client, are in control NOW, even though you probably weren’t in past traumatic events. You NEVER need re-live an experience or go into great detail. You NEVER need to go through the entire memory. YOU can decide to keep the lights (or the alternating sounds and/or tactile pulsars, or the waving hand) going, or stop them, whichever helps titrate – measure and adjust the balance or “dose“ of the processing. During EMDR processing there are regular “breaks” and you can control when and how many but the therapist should be stopping the bilateral stimulation every 25-50 passes of the lights to ask you to take a deep breath and ask you to say just a bit of what you’re noticing. This helps keep a “foot in the present” while you’re processing the past. Again, and I can’t say this enough, YOU ARE IN CHARGE so YOU can make the process tolerable. And your therapist should be experienced in the EMDR techniques that help make it the gentlest and safest way to detoxify bad life experiences.

Do for DID, as with any complex PTSD/trauma, the "front-loading" of resources, and a phased treatment plan is essential. Please read the 2011 revision of International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) guidelines for treating adults with dissociative disorders (available for free public download) at the ISSTD website: http://isst-d.org/jtd/GUIDELINES_REVISED2011.pdf

The ISSTD treatment guidelines recommend extra precautions before and during EMDR treatment of clients who have DID. They also recommend that trauma therapy clients who have many symptoms of dissociation be evaluated for dissociative disorders before starting EMDR.

ISSTD.org: Treatment Guidelines

I wrote a very long post and just had it erased, so I'll just add this for now. There is a good post that goes into EMDR in some length here:

dissociative-identity/topic71943.html

Thank you all for your input. I will check out the sites. LittleRedDogToo, I appreciate that you had information to share...isn't that frustrating when your work somehow gets erased like that.

Here is how the ISSTD treatment guidelines introduce the topic of EMDR:

EMDR was developed in 1989 and became known for facilitating the rapid resolution of traumatic memories in uncomplicated PTSD, among other uses. However, early use of standard EMDR for patients with unrecognized DID resulted in serious clinical problems, including unintended breaches of dissociative barriers, flooding, abrupt emergence of undiagnosed alternate identities, and rapid destabilization. Current expert consensus is that the original EMDR protocols must be modified for safe and effective use with DID patients.

I checked the sites from above, thank you. I see I have already read these peices of work. MY T is a fully trained EMDR adn DID T. He doesn't ask me to think of a situation or memory etc...since I have so many flashbacks sometimes they are stopped right in front of our face and we cannot get past it and reliving some of the feelings such as feeling cold,wet, scared, extra hyperarousal( if that i s possible ), etc... I had huge triggers last year and instead of the usual resulting long term amnesia, I have been switching rather often and also more co awreness. I started with my current T at that time. My T did say that he uses cousins of EMDR that are more apporpriate for us and DID. ALso he started with using his fingers back and forth. I actually "feel " the warmth and care that he is using his hands. This has been very calming and safe especially for younger ones.
Anywy, I came here for input as this is rather new to me. IT jsut seems there will never be an end since we dont all go thru it at the same time. The tiny bit of EMDR we have had switching during the reps and my T has been doing reps with all parts individually involved that come forward in the processing of an event.Some of the others involved in the event did not join in the EMDR at this point yet. SO, I feel they will have to "go there " too if they get stuck. The emotions are definately mild and bearable. I jsut feel I have a long way to go so how could this be quicker than not using EMDR. I don't know , I think I jsut feel anxious and my T knows that.