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How do i control my dissociation at work?

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f*k this is bad. It's to the point sometimes I can't even remember the second word to a sentence. And I'm really iffy on taking meds for my lack of focus when I need to focus. I don't want to lose an other job over this shit. Any advice?
 
Evening Charleh,

It will be my first day back at work after a two week breakdown and I have only scratched the surface of my PTSD. I have drugs but they make my drowsy and my position in the company is one of importance.
So my train of thought is to go for a walk or workout before work and not just a light one. Then create a playlist of songs to keep me claim. The other thing I am doing once I return is to see HR and explain what is going on, so if I lose my sh8 at least they know why.
 
I'd suggest regularly checking in with yourself to ensure you are fully present. Set an alarm for every hour (or even every half hour) and check - can I feel my body, is my head fully present etc. Maybe do a quick body scan each time if they work for you.

And, if you discover you're not fully present, have some grounding tools/activities to hand so that you can get yourself back in your body/get your head back in the room.

You could have a box of grounding tools in your bag/on your desk. Anything that works for you - mine would have a strong essential oil to sniff, handcream, some strong menthol liquorice sweets (I don't like them much and they blow my head off a bit so they are ideal when I get spacey), a little textured ball that I can roll around in my hands or under my feet...

I'd also suggest standing up and going for a wander regularly. And getting some fresh air when you can.

Basically, don't sit down for long enough without consciously checking in with yourself, otherwise your head could be long gone before you realise!

Depends a little on what kind of work you do/your work environment. If you're at a desk in an office, it's quite easy to make these sorts of adjustments and monitor yourself.
 
May I ask what you are dealing with?
I work at a pizza parlour. Real routine work. When there's little thinking involved with my work my mind goes everywhere while my body is on autopilot. Damnit even today some kids were screaming up front. High pitched screaming is a big trigger for me. So I was sorta spaced out when I wasn't being spoken to. I'm just glad it was fast paced enough today that I was at least present when a coworker asks me to grab something from the fridge or cut some veggies. But seriously today I had a song stuck in my head, I went into the back room, not recalling what I was doing but I guess I did it, but when I came to I'm back in the kitchen and I'm still hearing that song in my head in perfect timing. As if the song was muted in my head, not paused. And normally I can't remember the day of the week it is. It's pretty bad.
 
So you get lost in your own mind and find yourself drifting away. Are they dark thoughts? or just simply your not there?
 
Ah, ok, so you're not in an office environment or similar. I still think regularly checking in with yourself and finding some grounding tools (if you haven't already got them) to help you stay present and in your body would be really helpful and I think you could make them work in your environment.

One of the most effective grounding tools for me is running my hands under cold water - if that's one that works for you, that's easily done in a kitchen :-)

How do you usually try to ground yourself if you start dissociating or get triggered (at work or elsewhere?)

I guess another sort of related tip could be to practise some mindfulness i.e. do things in a conscious, mindful way. E.g. if you're handling food, be really aware of what you're doing and tune in to whichever senses you can. So, if you're chopping peppers, for instance, you could really concentrate on: how the pepper skin feels against your skin (its temperature and texture etc); the weight of the knife; the smell of the peppers as you slice into them etc.

It doesn't mean you have to spend ages doing every little task - just that you purposefully put your attention there while you're doing it so that your head doesn't drift off into either dissociation or rumination.

Other people may have other suggestions but, for me, grounding tools to stay present, performing tasks mindfully and distracting yourself if you find yourself ruminating are the places I would start.
 
I printed out some cognitive worksheets at work and do them when I feel super stressed. I find writing helps me get organized

Or simple replying to these fourms makes me feel less alone and stressed.
 
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