Anyone experience semi-conscious dissociative state?

[LOTR741]

I am new to this website, and I am hoping to find people that have experienced in therapy what I have.

I am told I dissociate. My EMDR therapist with 24 years of experiences says my dissociation is the most severe he has seen.

When I dissociate, my T says that I go into a semi-conscious state where I am able to remember everything that I hear and see but I am unable to move or speak, but I am unable to recall what I was thinking or felt during this state. My psychiatrist calls this a dissociative form of "catatonia". I think it's some form of dissociative stupor. We are unable to find a trigger with my current and previous T.

I am hoping someone here has experienced something like this and will be able to tell me more about their experience, and if and how they treated it.

Right now my T and P are doing damage control, trying to avoid me going into this state.

 

[Sideways]

Do you go floppy at the same time? Like all power suddenly disappears from your muscles? That can be pretty scary - and is more likely the "flop" state (fear response).

Otherwise, that sounds like dissociation to me. It means you're probably becoming too distressed by the experience you're having in therapy, and yes, time to wind back and spend some time on grounding techniques.

 

[Ireusa]

I experience this too, as well as other symptoms associated with dissociation. I have just been diagnosed as having a dissociative disorder (in addition to PTSD).

You are definitely not alone. The 1st step for me was to identify what were the 1st signs physically that it was going to happen or starting to happen, and then focus on grounding. It is much easier to not fade away than to come back from it.

After identifying the physical symptoms, we worked on identifying the triggers. In my case it is either an emotion or a reminder of one of the assaults.

Sensorimotor therapy has helped as well. EMDR can be done IF adapting and changing some of the techniques (there are many research papers on dissociation and EMDR). We had to pause using EMDR because of the dissociation. Having trauma/complex trauma therapists is fundamental as well.

Even though I am sorry you're struggling with this, you are definitely not alone.

 

[Juso]

I was in a similar state once (and in less severe versions of it multiple times), but it might have been worsened by fatigue. I wasn't aware of what I was saying or what was happening until I kind of "woke up" and became fully conscious again if that makes sense? I wasn't catatonic though cos I was speaking (like a child according to my boyfriend). And I also vaguely remember how I felt during this state, but the memory was definitely clouded.

It makes sense though. Dissociation is literally an alteration of consciousness, and what you describe sounds like exactly that. I guess this alteration can take many forms and varies in intensities. I for example once (without knowing) completely blocked out the sounds of extremely loud applause and perceived absolute silence (still baffles me to this day how my brain was able to trick me like that). Unfortunately the research on dissociation is still in the beginning, so there is probably not much (yet!!!) that could explain your catatonic state.

Have you heard of some kinds of medication that might reduce dissociative states (e.g. naltrexone)? Maybe that could help for a while just to make you more functional for therapy?

 

[LOTR741]

I was in a similar state once (and in less severe versions of it multiple times), but it might have been worsened by fatigue. I wasn't aware of what I was saying or what was happening until I kind of "woke up" and became fully conscious again if that makes sense? I wasn't catatonic though cos I was speaking (like a child according to my boyfriend). And I also vaguely remember how I felt during this state, but the memory was definitely clouded.

It makes sense though. Dissociation is literally an alteration of consciousness, and what you describe sounds like exactly that. I guess this alteration can take many forms and varies in intensities. I for example once (without knowing) completely blocked out the sounds of extremely loud applause and perceived absolute silence (still baffles me to this day how my brain was able to trick me like that). Unfortunately the research on dissociation is still in the beginning, so there is probably not much (yet!!!) that could explain your catatonic state.

Have you heard of some kinds of medication that might reduce dissociative states (e.g. naltrexone)? Maybe that could help for a while just to make you more functional for therapy?

I am on 50mg of Naltrexone

 

[Juso]

How long have you been taking it? You feel like its helping you?

 

[LOTR741]

How long have you been taking it? You feel like its helping you?

I've been taking it for two weeks. I don't think it's helping because I've had derealization last Thursday before therapy.

 

[Juso]

Maybe it needs some time to work (like SSRIs), but maybe its the wrong medication for you. Maybe give it some more weeks and then see if it worked?

 

[LOTR741]

Maybe it needs some time to work (like SSRIs), but maybe its the wrong medication for you. Maybe give it some more weeks and then see if it worked?

I'll consult my psychiatrist. I'm bipolar 1 so I can't take SSRI's.

 

[Juso]

No I wasn't suggesting SSRIs, I was just taking them as an example of how some medications may need some time to work. Good luck!

Maybe this catatonic state has more to do with your bipolar disorder? I've heard that many people with this disorder experience catatonia.

 

[LOTR741]

Maybe this catatonic state has more to do with your bipolar disorder? I've heard that many people with this disorder experience catatonia.

It is possible. I am on thorazine which is suppose to treat that. Thanks for the information.

 

[LOTR741]

I experience this too, as well as other symptoms associated with dissociation. I have just been diagnosed as having a dissociative disorder (in addition to PTSD).

You are definitely not alone. The 1st step for me was to identify what were the 1st signs physically that it was going to happen or starting to happen, and then focus on grounding. It is much easier to not fade away than to come back from it.

After identifying the physical symptoms, we worked on identifying the triggers. In my case it is either an emotion or a reminder of one of the assaults.

Sensorimotor therapy has helped as well. EMDR can be done IF adapting and changing some of the techniques (there are many research papers on dissociation and EMDR). We had to pause using EMDR because of the dissociation. Having trauma/complex trauma therapists is fundamental as well.

Even though I am sorry you're struggling with this, you are definitely not alone.

What are your signs you’re about to fade away? For me it feels like an internal battle to stay conscious.