u/Impressive-Gate-2946

Just started a new therapist who can do EMDR and I’ve been struggling with a really traumatic and drawn out betrayal breakup from over a year ago and was wondering if EMDR is a viable therapy for me. I know there are worse traumas but I was really hoping to try it since im still triggered pretty regularly and would like to fully accept it and move on. I still have symptoms of distress such as losing sleep and numbing behaviors. However my therapist is skeptical of me needing it (we’ve only done one 1-hour intake though so he doesn’t know the story yet). Is EMDR a viable solution for coping with a traumatic breakup?

Had my first therapy appointment and history intake today with a Dr. who offers EMDR, CBT, and other therapies. I reached out specifically for the possibility of EMDR treatment because I struggle greatly with trauma from a breakup over a year ago that still triggers me and causes me to spiral, or self destruct, lose sleep, turn to numbing, etc. At the end of the intake he said he’s not sure if the trauma is great enough for me to need it, and was overall more concerned with my childhood (which I think is great and would love to unpack but I still worry because the breakup is what’s making me currently lose sleep). He suggested another therapy I’ve never heard of which im open to. But I can’t help but feel skeptical and shut down too quickly. I know how much I struggle and how much the memory of the betrayal affects me over a year later. Maybe im just too desperate and eager to get rid of that feeling. My question is if I should push for the treatment and emphasize my struggles, which I now think I didn’t talk about enough, or trust him to decide, or get a second opinion?

I went through a very traumatic and sudden breakup over a year ago, which continued to be drawn out and messy until Dec 2025. He was my whole world and he cheated on me. I still get triggered sometimes and get those gut punch feelings, losing sleep, have eating problems, self image issues, crying, ruminating, obsessive thoughts, helplessness. I suspect these wounds tie back to my childhood and anxious attachment style. I finally reached out to an EMDR therapist and we have our first meeting on Tuesday. I’m really hoping I’m eligible for the treatment. Has EMDR helped you with getting over an ex? How do your thoughts about the situation differ afterwards? What about physical symptoms (like the gut punch or dreadful sensation)? How have your relationships afterwards differed? Did past traumas from childhood get uncovered and healed as well?