Tag: Psychogenic Itching

End the Stigma, Faith Journey

Let’s Learn About Psychogenic Itching

Brandi C

Let’s Learn About Psychogenic Itching

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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.

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Psychogenic Itching

Brandi C

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Psychogenic Itching: What It Is and How It Affects Us

Yes, Psychogenic itching is a real thing, and I didn’t even realize that was what was happening to me until recently. As a therapist, I am constantly learning—whether through trainings, observing other therapists, from clients, or personal experiences.

A few years ago, I tried EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. I wanted to experience it before getting trained myself, so I could fully understand what I was asking of my clients. However, my experience with EMDR was not great. I had some things I couldn’t remember, and EMDR was recommended to help with that.

EMDR Session One

I had already completed the initial screening, so I skipped that part and moved straight to the tappers. There are several different methods of EMDR, but the tappers resonated with me the most. For the first session, I was instructed to go to my first and worst memory. I did so in a dark room, guided by a therapist, with my eyes closed and the tappers in hand. However, my mind didn’t go to the memory I expected. Instead, it went to something completely different, and I began randomly itching during the process.

The session was mentally and emotionally exhausting. Afterward, I went home and slept for 12 straight hours. This is not unusual for me after intense therapy, but the itching continued once I got home.

EMDR Session Two

In my second session, I started itching as soon as I pulled into the parking lot. I didn’t think much of it at first—after all, I have allergies. However, when the session started, I noticed the itching became more frequent and intense. Even the therapist noticed. My mind was fighting the memories, the exhaustion was setting in, and the itching continued to worsen. At one point, feeling overwhelmed, I threw the tappers to the floor and told the therapist I was done. This was less than five minutes after we began.

The therapist was shocked by my reaction and just as confused as I was. She was young, new to EMDR, and I wasn’t an easy client. It wasn’t an ideal situation for either of us.

EMDR Session Three

By the third session, the itching had escalated. I was already breaking out in hives by the time I arrived at the session. I told my therapist that we would not be doing EMDR but instead needed to address the issue of my itching. She said she had never encountered anything like this and would need to consult with her supervisor before proceeding.

We spent the rest of the session processing and talking things through. At the end of the day, her supervisor didn’t have any answers either. My case was beyond her scope, so she referred me to someone with more experience. And that marked the end of my EMDR experience. While it works for some people, it wasn’t the right fit for me, and I decided it’s not something I will pursue or train in.

Itching

Psychogenic itching is rare and not often diagnosed. It is also poorly understood by the medical community. This type of itching is brought on by psychological distress such as anxiety, stress, depression, or OCD. The sensation of itching is triggered by mental and emotional strain, and it tends to subside once you calm down.

For me, the itching became more intense when I was under a lot of stress. There were times when I experienced hives or welps on my skin as a physical reaction to anxiety, but my hives didn’t itch. However, when I am completely overwhelmed, my whole body itches, I feel heat in my chest and face, and hives start to appear. I also experience stomach issues and sometimes even feel nauseous. My psoriasis flares up as well, and I currently have patches on my face and legs.

You Are Not Crazy

If you experience something similar, you are not crazy. You are simply going through a tough time. Remember that there are things you can do to calm yourself down and manage the symptoms:

  • Take a cool shower

  • Take a nap

  • Drink cold water

  • Eat a protein snack

  • Get some exercise

  • Stand in the sun

  • Do something relaxing

  • Take your medication as prescribed

  • Talk to your counselor, therapist, or medical professional

You are not alone, and you are not abnormal. We all face difficult situations, and while we can’t control the actions of others, we can control our own reactions. Imagine yourself with a hula hoop around you. Whatever you can fit inside the hula hoop is within your control. If something is outside of your hula hoop, walk away. It’s not your circus, and they are not your monkeys.

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