Does Anyone Else Have The "thousand Yard Stare" At Times?

[Anonymous28376573]

When I was going through a dark time I would stare off and think till someone would make a sound of some sort. And at night I couldn't sleep because I would just think. Are these normal symptoms of PTSD?

 

[Leah123]

I certainly experience that type of withdrawn, inward focused thought process/state of being where I feel startled and uncomfortable to hear my family or noises that pull me out of it. I believe that everyone stares off into space from time to time, but in my case, the way I react, so strongly, is partly the PTSD startle reflex, hyperarousal, where things seem more threatening than they are, and I get more irritable than a person without PTSD when I am disturbed.

As far as not sleeping well due to a head full of thoughts, well, many people have that- it can be anxiety (among other things perhaps) which ranges from occasional to constant, and on the other hand, sleep difficulties from a variety of causes are notorious in PTSD sufferers. I have sleep difficulties too and have dealt with thoughts that won't stop (anxiety) that kept me awake many times, though it's very rare lately where I am in my life now.

 

[Lucycat]

Are these normal symptoms of PTSD?

Yes! They are. Thousand yard stare is very common, and intrusive thoughts preventing sleep are also well recognised.

 

[roseann]

I so understand this right now. I haven't slept a night through in ages, and it's been so much worse lately. I feel I take comfort in shutting down and being unresponsive. When I am there, quiet, I can hear what is going on around me but feel entirely disconnected from it -- it is peaceful, a reprieve from the anguish, and I don't want to come back.

Trying to sleep is so ... man, I wish I could sleep. The thoughts spiral out of control. I am sorry to hear you are experiencing this. You are not alone, and I wish you well.

 

[therisa]

Yes, CJNull25, to both of them. It has gotten to the point, I am zoning out, during conversations with friends. As for the intrusive thoughts, I have experienced them, since I was, a young child, which my abuse started. Finding my mind racing, in a thousand and one different directions. Have taken my racing mind and tried to burn the excess energy, in writing poetry, when it happens.

 

[WendyMay]

Do any of you have bipolar disorder, too? I experience this with manic and mixed episodes, and I am in a mixed episode right now.
Wendy

 

[therisa]

Do any of you have bipolar disorder, too?

No, Wendy. Just chronic severe depression.

 

[roseann]

@WendyMay I don't know. I have no idea. However, I want that kitty in your avatar picture. I had a beautiful blind angel of a kitty for 18 years... from bottle feeding to the day we had to euthanize her... oh my god I miss having that pure little soul
in my life.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Yes all the time I stare off and it feels like I'm trapped between two dimensions, not a part of either one and unable to escape the dark space between them - I can't break away from it. Sometimes it's a nightmare and sometimes all I want is to be there trapped and isolated away from everything. It's scary but also the only place I can touch upon safeness.

 

[Britt.f7]

Yes, ever since I was a little girl with the long stare and mind too busy to sleep. I can't say that it is related to the PTSD, in my case, simply because I've had it so long it just seems a part of my personality. I do take adderall and that seems to help with some of the thinking, slow it down so that I can decipher it, but it definitely isn't a miracle drug.

 

[therapybankrupt]

I would suggest research in dissassociation. Grounding will help with this. If you catch yourself try naming colors or things you see in the room.

 

[Abstract]

The classic thousand yard stare is dissociation like therapybankrupt mentions. I have to say I recently caught myself in the mirror a few times when noone else was around and was a bit taken aback. And I wasn't even that dissociated.