Difficulty Moving And Speaking?

[7Cs]

I posted the other day about being "stuck in my head" meaning unable or difficulty moving or speaking. Sometimes everything looks relatively normal just a touch different and other times it's definitely got the foggy tunnel vision where everything looks weird. For at least 10 minutes (no idea how much time actually passed) I was unable to do either. I wanted to and was telling myself, asking myself and willing myself to do so but simply couldn't. After a while I was able to get up and walk around but couldn't speak for a little longer. I've had this happen a few times before. A few times in therapy I've had the inability to speak but was able to move very slowly, kind of choppy.

Since then I've read a bit about this and found out that it's not uncommon for this to happen while dissociating.

I'm curious of others experience with this and wonder if it's more common with derealization/ depersonlization or dissociative disorders with "states".

If you have experienced it would you mind saying if you've been dx'd with a dissociative disorder and which one. Also, how do you break out of it? Is it even possible?

 

[shimmerz]

Yeah, this happened to me just yesterday. I used to actually not be able to move at all. I have worked my way out of that now.

Taking yesterday as an example, if I could get up (which was a big if) I was holding onto walls, my feet didn't work properly, I was walking, literally like someone with a severe muscular issue.

I take Ativan for it (although it doesn't help a ton), I keep trying, I eat hot spicy things (or sour things) to try to bring myself back to my body. I try to engage my mind by researching stuff. Really that is about the best I can do.

For myself, the nonverbal and the slow movement thing is not always hand in hand. I believe these are different things for me.

I was diagnosed with DDNOS about 10 years ago. Complex Chronic PTSD. I subscribe to the 'parts' theory of Structural Dissociation.

Not certain if this is helpful to you or not, but what you are describing was, at one time, my normal - sometimes 20 times a day.

 

[Friday]

Do I have problems zoning out, past & present blurring (or colliding), getting stuck in my head, various forms of dissociation / flashbacks, etc.? Yes.

Have I been dx'd with a dissociative disorder (on top of PTSD)? No.

How I break out of various forms of disassociation/ derealization/ depersonalization s highly dependent on what's causing it.

 

[Abstract]

Hi! Yes it is a form of depersonalisation which is a type of dissociation. It fits under changes to levels of consciousness. If you are looking at dsm then this can either come very comfortably (ha!!) along with PTSD or it can fall alongside the dissociate sub-type of PTSD. It could also fall into a dissociative disorder like depersonalisation disorder (on top of your PTSD diagnoses) or others (you don't mention symptoms of these so shant mention them here) if the level and amount of daily symptoms exceed what one would expect.

Totally with you by the way. From very early on. I wasn't formally diagnosed (have terrible trouble telling people things) but have no doubt I had a depersonalisation disorder decades before I offically fitted PTSD. At times I consider I may have had more. My 4 year old niece was diagnosed a couple of years ago which was educational as at the time for me I was apparently more affected. I am doing really well at present.

 

[BuckarooBanzai]

When your body isn't cooperating - feels strange - that's depersonalization. When everything around you seems unreal or far away, that's derealization.

Both are forms of dissociation.

I was diagnosed with both DID and PTSD in 2002, but I did heal. Now I no longer have either diagnosis.

 

[7Cs]

When your body isn't cooperating - feels strange - that's depersonalization. When everything aro...

That's amazing!

#PTSDGoals ;)

 

[7Cs]

I always get confused by the differences between derealization - depersonalization. Sounds like the 2 can happen together or separately.

I don't have either as a disorder... the episodes are not daily and usually not weekly. But they have become more often with therapy (with this therapist).

The not moving not talking is the only kind of dissociation that I can't break from and I don't like that. Not that I always like the other times (though sometimes they're comfy and cozy) but I like the fact that I know how to ground myself from them if I want or need to.

I am happy with the pace of the therapy I'm doing right now and don't want to have to slow down because of this so I need to find a way to get control of it.

 

[7Cs]

When your body isn't cooperating - feels strange - that's depersonalization. When everything aro...

What kind of therapy did you do? Did you work with a specialist?

 

[Megyn]

This happens to me in therapy. I will literally not be able to open my mouth, move my lips. I can hear "commands" in my head, like, "say it, just say it!", and I WANT to speak, but I cant move. Sometimes I also hear myself saying, "please help me!", or just full on screaming :/

In reflecting on this, I can recall it happening outside of therapy. The only times I can think of right now is it has happened with my mother.

 

[Abstract]

Hi!
Its very normal to hate the feeling. One thing that can help some people is to use your reaction as a way of monitoring how much something effects you. If you are depersonalised to the extent that you can't move then something you have thought, seen, smelled, heard, experienced or felt has caused you very intense emotions. Its a hot spot in a sense. Sometimes you can continue in t if you need or you and your t can decide to slow things down at that point. Or come at it more gradually.

the other thing that can help is to do grounding all the time. In other words do work on generally staying present. You get better at sensing the beginning and heading things off. Keeping moving just a little and not allowing your eyes to fix can too. I sometimes play with something in my hand (look up grounding pebbles) and sip water. You can bang your feet on the ground. Peppermint can help or any strong smelling fragrance. It sounds like you are doing really well and finding out more all the time.

 

[BuckarooBanzai]

I always get confused by the differences between derealization - depersonalization.

Derealization has to do with not feeling connected to your environment. Depersonalization is about not feeling connected to oneself.

the episodes are not daily and usually not weekly. But they have become more often with therapy (with this therapist).

Not to worry. The episodes just mean you are feeling stressed.

What kind of therapy did you do? Did you work with a specialist?

I did intensive work with an older, highly experienced clinical psychologist. He had experience working with multiples.

We only did one formal session per week, but I was in contact with him daily via email. Also, once a week he read a story to my child alter over the phone. We were very close.

In addition to the above, I read every DID article available from a professional DID journal. I did everything I could to understand my disorder. And, most importantly, I worked hard to develop excellent internal communication and coping skills.

 

[7Cs]

This happens to me in therapy. I will literally not be able to open my mouth, move my lips. I can hear "c...

That's what happens to me too.