Grounding Yourself From Dissociation/disorientation

[LeoTheLion]

I would like to see what do you do to get yourself back to self while your dissociation or disorientation, what do you suggestion or do to grounding yourself to get out of dissociation/disorientation? I have received one tip is using Ice in hands, I am curious what else is the possibility to help with this?

 

[Crl1983]

Touching things and identifying them as I touch them occasionally helps, but sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes I need to feel pain. I haven't cut in a while, but I do things such as hitting and kicking the **** out of doors or walls or the punching bag until my arms and legs hurt.

 

[stuff]

I use strong smelling essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus in conjunction with naming things I am looking at and sometimes touching them. Loud, loud music. And yeah, I hate to admit it but pain sometimes helps. I try to keep it light and feel a bit guilty when I do but pinching and smacking or an elastic band on my wrist that i snap really hard. I have a deal with myself that it doesn't go any further than there.

 

[Heather]

Another suggestion that was given to me here was identifying five things in the room that were blue and naming them. I doubt the color matters.

If your sitting in a chair. Feel it beneath you. Is it hard or soft? Grab onto the arms. Put your feet on the floor. Is it hard or soft?

Find a blanket. Grab onto that. Feel the material. What does that feel like? Focus on the FEELING. Anything that will help bring you back to the here and now.

Hope that helps.

Take care. Heather

 

[Abrasky]

A shock sometimes brings me out of it. A smoke alarm, anything like that.

 

[OKRADLAK]

I hope this does not sound too negative, but I try to stay in it. My life is a nightmare, and on days I may go out, why would I ever want to come back. When I dissassociate I see it as a gift, something my mind started to help me.

 

[Smushroom]

When I dissassociate I see it as a gift, something my mind started to help me.

Interesting to read this. I too feel the same way. I feel like it is that slight, temporary reprieve from an otherwise nightmarish existence.

But in saying that, I know it is not a healthy way to live. I can't constantly be in a disocciated state. I have tried many different ways to bring me back, but none, or very few, usually work. I can name objects, colors, the day and time like clockwork, but that doesn't bring me back. I can play with a bracelet or a crystal in my pocket, I can 'feel' the ground underneath me, but again, it does not always bring me back.

I've been working on this grounding thing for a long time and still haven't found the foolproof way of bringing myself back.

Any other suggestions?