Is this just healing?

[Nikolas]

Okay, weird question. Since I began EMDR for grief, I'm more irritable, sleeping badly, and feeling every little thing. My sister thinks I should stop. I'm not sure if this is a bad sign or part of healing. Could someone point me to a decent resource on EMDR side effects and the "worse first" thing?

[Machettesss]

Grief work can stir up emotions you didn't even realise were still sitting beneath the surface. A friend of mine noticed she was unusually irritable and sleeping poorly after starting trauma therapy. She nearly quit, but after discussing it with her therapist, they adjusted the pace and worked on coping strategies between sessions. I found this article EMDR therapy vs cognitive behavioral therapy  useful for understanding possible EMDR side effects and safety. It might help clarify things, but definitely tell your therapist about the changes rather than assuming you have to push through them.