Walking through fog

[Shadoe]

Im new to this thread but always found some good advice here. Dissociation for me when its bad is wading through fog, my head it just filled with cotton balls sometimes my hearing can go funny and preception of things is slightly off, it feels out of body like someone else is in the drivers seat. Stress or being triggered is normally the culprit but since starting therapy its gone into overdrive. I heard its a defense mechanism for the brain but I really do just want to process my trauma and work through this fog. What has helped you work through the fog and what brings you out? Baths usually help me and strong mints and cigs. Ill stop ranting now. Thanks for the responses.

 

[bellbird]

What has helped you work through the fog

I've found reminding myself that it's ok for me to walk through the fog, is very helpful.
That I don't need to feel bad because of it, or resist it. That I can just be and let the stillness that the fog brings happen. And know that just as it came, so too it will pass again.

what brings you out?

Different things;
Time.
Hearing Claire de Lune playing in the distance.
Enough dissipation of the fog that I can tap back into my grounding techniques.
Some reminder that it's 2019.
Being held.
The soft fur of my teddy bear under my fingers.
The sound of my bird chirping.

 

[Shadoe]

I've found reminding myself that it's ok for me to walk through the fog, is very helpful.
That I don't need to feel bad because of it, or resist it. That I can just be and let the stillness that the fog brings happen. And know that just as it came, so too it will pass again.
Thank you bellbird, I found the not resisting bit helpful to me sometimes I do try to resist but acceptance is key.
Different things;
Time.
Hearing Claire de Lune playing in the distance.
Enough dissipation of the fog that I can tap back into my grounding techniques.
Some reminder that it's 2019.
Being held.
The soft fur of my teddy bear under my fingers.
The sound of my bird chirping.

That sounds like a wonderful list to me. Thank you for replying to me it's been helpful to me, I appreciate it.

 

[bellbird]

Happy to, @Shadoe . And welcome to the community, very glad you've found us :)

 

[Shadoe]

It's nice to be welcomed in, I finally don't feel alone anymore. I'm so glad to be apart of this community @bellbird

 

[shatter eyes]

Same here. I am getting better at grounding myself before blurrred off like an out of focus camera. My vision, sound, touch, balance, cognition...all gets foggy and i have a hard time remember what happens... so i lose time. T and pDoc says it is a stress response so i try to check the stress cup levels. If i am tired the fog is thicker.

Holding cold water or ice helps.

 

[juno]

i suggest asking your friends for a hug. you don’t have to give them a reason why; i don’t. but i find that physical contact with people i trust and am comfortable with helps ground me and brings me back, even if only a little bit.

it seems we share similar experiences, though i am still unsure as to what dissociation is. so right now that’s my only way of bringing myself back, unfortunately. otherwise i just let it be which can be really hard sometimes. have a great day/afternoon/night. :)

 

[Shadoe]

i suggest asking your friends for a hug. you don’t have to give them a reason why; i don’t. but i find that physical contact with people i trust and am comfortable with helps ground me and brings me back, even if only a little bit.

it seems we share similar experiences, though i am still unsure as to what dissociation is. so right now that’s my only way of bringing myself back, unfortunately. otherwise i just let it be which can be really hard sometimes. have a great day/afternoon/night. :)

Thank you juno:)

 

[DharmaGirl]

I've spent so much of my life dissociated, and in maladaptive daydreams that I haven't lived life longer than I've dissociated. I'm just trying to figure it out now. I can ground myself but I like the fog. It makes things soft and nonthreatening, and I can just drift along. I know that's not good, and I work with my hands to get away from it. I do crafts and journal and upcycle furniture. I also have a tiny farm so I work outside which keeps me grounded. Good luck, it's not unusual to be more dissociated during therapy. I can't remember my first year of therapy.