Dissociation And Driving

[Pixie]

I have at times, stopped driving altogether when my dissociation symptoms get so bad that I am constantly finding myself "waking up" when driving and either not knowing where I am or that I have arrived somewhere with no memory of having gotten there.

I know that this happens to everyone at some point, PTSD or not but the level of dissociation in PTSD is much more frightening I think.

My question's are:

• How often do you dissociate when driving?
• Is it usually when you are going to a particular destination or just general?
• Do you continue to drive to your destination when you "wake up" finding yourself driving?
• Are you able to stop dissociating when driving?

I have this huge fear of being pulled over by the police and having to try and explain that I have no memory of where I have come from or are going, or why they have pulled me over...

Pixie

 

[Deleted member 541]

Been there, done that, and continue to do it. I have even driven through a red light, and thank god, no one was coming in the other direction...

Mine is random, but pretty much happens often while driving. I Fortunately can feel it coming on, so I can usually pull myself out of it.

Yes, I continue on to my destination, as I have been doing this for over 25 yrs, it no longer upsets me as much. I have sort of just learned to deal with it.

When I feel myself starting to *leave the scene* I turn up the music and sing, I put down the window, turn off the heat, (in winter) and if that isn't helping, I will use my cell phone and call a friend. Don't know what will happen when they ban cell phone use in cars.....LOL!!!!!

 

[Nicolette]

Don't know what will happen when they ban cell phone use in cars.....LOL!!!!!

In Australia it is illegal to use a phone when driving unless it is hands free and as of November 09 you have to be able to answer or use the phone without touching it. In other words you need a car which can access your phone contacts through the steering wheel otherwise whamo and you are fined.

 

[Pixie]

Good point Nicolette! Though we have found that we can use bluetooth to have our GPS make the phone call and it is all hands free which is handy! :)

Pixie

 

[NarcSis]

I hear you about the hands free laws - they suck because my husband usually sends me texts, being 'on the phone' at work is frowned upon...you can't get a text while driving and the bluetooth device still rings in your ear. Technology!!

I find that it is actually rare for me to dissociate while driving, interestingly it was the sort of thing that used to happen before my trauma, since my trauma I have been more alert while driving, afraid of everyone else on the road. If I'm alone on the road, I worry about deer or animals jumping out in front of me. I'm more tense while driving now than I used to be, I clench my jaw and tense my arms most times...long drives leave me exhausted and sore. Seen too many dead people in cars - don't want that to be me.

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

I used to do this quite often (daily almost). I remember when I first told my counselor about not remembering how I got home etc. - she was shocked that it didn't scare me. Why would it scare me? I had been doing it as long as I could remember.

Now I try to "catch" myself (works maybe 1/2 the time) and if I can - I'll pull over and stop somewhere to just regroup.

I still dissociate when driving home from my T appts., and when under alot of stress. However, it is improving - slowly.

 

[Hemels]

I don't drive - just learning to at the moment. But I have found myself randomly walking about after being dissociated :stupid:
Lord knows what I am going to be like when I start driving. Like She Cat, I am aware of my feelings on when I am going to start being dissociated and sometimes I can pull myself out of it. Loud music always helped me LOL.

Hemmy xXx

 

[onebravegirl]

The driving dissociated sounds scary to me. I think Pulling to the side of the road would be wise. Cold things would help me in the past. So would crunchy or sour things.I would suggest to try exploring your other senses be it touch, taste, sound or smell. I knew one friend who rubbed lemon oil in his hands and would breathe it in deeply. Mmmm! Of couse that would not be helpful while driving! :rofl:Sorry, that's all I got.
O

 

[Manic11]

Yep, this has happened to me quite a few times. Sometimes I just end up at a destination and I can't remember why I'm there or how I got there. It happens just in general. Sometimes it's just that I'm on "autopilot" like when I drive home from work everyday. But I have dissociated in that way, yes.
I dissociate quite often and I have a "grounding box" that I use to sometimes when I dissociate at home. However, I don't know how to stop the dissociation or prevent it while driving...
Thank you for the thread!

Manic

 

[Ursa]

I have read in books (like The Dissociative Identity Disorder Sourcebook and Amongst Ourselves) and also more than one therapist have told me that dissociating while driving is quite normal even for people that do not have dissociative dissorders. This is even used as an example to ilustrate what dissociation feels like.

"Dissociation is common and nearly everyone experiences mild dissociation from time to time. If you have ever had the experience of driving somewhere, and suddenly you realize that you have little or no memory of driving the last few minutes. Perhaps you even passed your exit. Your driving ability wasn't hindered because the mind was still utilizing the part of the brain that was needed to drive the car. However, instead of your thinking-mind focusing on the driving, it was somewhere else. That is dissociation. Daydreaming is a very mild form of dissociation. "( www. psych-net. com/ dissociation. html).

So, I think that if this really bothers you, you can chose to commute or try to keep your driving to places as close to home as possible. Workload and driving distance also influences how much someone can dissociate while driving (www. ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pubmed/19285580). So you can consider also those conditions when deciding driving.

Personally, yes I dissociate a lot while driving but up to now the "auto-pilot" have turned off if needed and I have avoided accidents before even being consciously aware of the dangerous situations.

I hope this helps.

OBS- I spaced the web addresses so that they are not automatic links. If anyone wants to check on them, copy+paste and then take the spaces out.

 

[kers]

I used to do this quite often (daily almost). I remember when I first told my counselor about not remembering how I got home etc. - she was shocked that it didn't scare me. Why would it scare me? I had been doing it as long as I could remember.

This rings so true to me. I never realized I was doing it before, but now that I do, I don't drive while dissociated. After therapy, for example, I get really checked out. I used to just try to white-knuckle through it; now I either sit in the parking lot, or I drive a block down to a well-lit shopping center. I write what happened in my session to get it out, and then I put the windows down a bit and turn the radio on. In about fifteen minutes I feel back to myself.

For me, there's a difference between typical 'highway hypnosis' where you get lost in thought and miss an exit, and being so spaced out I don't even realize I'm in a car, or completely oblivious to the cars hurtling around me.

 

[Pixie]

For me, there's a difference between typical 'highway hypnosis' where you get lost in thought and miss an exit, and being so spaced out I don't even realize I'm in a car, or completely oblivious to the cars hurtling around me.

Well put Kers. That is what I was trying to say (obviously not very well!). :wink:

I am one of those who does the "white knuckle", push through kind of driving. I simply can't allow myself to be late to my appointments...

Pixie