Tag: chronic itch

Today’s Term: Psychogenic Itching

My First Encounter with Psychogenic Itching

That’s a fun one, right? I first experienced psychogenic itching about three years ago. At the time, I was seeing a new therapist and starting EMDR (that’s a whole other post for another day). My goal was to get trained in EMDR, but I didn’t want to do that until I had experienced it myself. I needed to understand every aspect of the protocol before asking someone to trust me with it or be that vulnerable with me.

The Sessions Begin

Bless this young lady’s heart. She showed so much patience and skill in working with me. The first session felt pretty mild, but I noticed an overwhelming exhaustion afterward.

During the second session, the itching started as soon as I walked into the lobby (I’m actually itching as I write this, just remembering it). Since I have Psoriasis and allergies, I didn’t immediately suspect anything unusual. However, by the end of the session, the itching became unbearable. We chalked it up to nerves and vulnerability.

By the third (and final) session, the itching started the moment I got into my car to drive to the appointment. By the time I walked into the room, it felt like ants or bugs were crawling all over me. My therapist, just as perplexed as I was, had already consulted her supervisor.

The Breaking Point

We started the session, and within minutes, the flashes in my mind, the intense itching, and the exhaustion overwhelmed me. I dropped my tappers (the little tools used in EMDR) and told her I was done. I wouldn’t be coming back.

After that session, we finally figured out what was happening: psychogenic itching. It’s a chronic itch triggered by psychological factors. Weird, right? For me, it tends to happen when I’m triggered by something or even when I talk about this experience.

A Lesson in Discernment

Looking back, I believe that was God’s gentle way of saying, “This isn’t for you.” Wisdom and discernment play a huge role in counseling. I have friends and family who’ve had very successful EMDR sessions, and I’m genuinely thrilled for them. But for me? Not my thing. And that’s okay. This experience taught me something I had never heard of before, and now I’m passing it on to you!

💛 If you’re navigating life’s hard places and need a safe space to heal, grow, or just breathe—Circle of Hope Counseling Services is here for you.

We offer trauma-informed, faith-filled therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

📞 Reach out today to schedule your first session (KY residents only) or learn more: Circle of Hope Counseling Services.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone. Hope starts here.