Do You Get Many Somatic Reactions When You Talk About Difficult Stuff?

[Cool Cat]

I've nearly passed out a few times while talking about difficult stuff (either traumas or things about myself)
I've shook several times or just disassociated. I've been told it's a defence mechanism. A few times I've gone several minutes without being able to speak. Is this common?

 

[Rumors]

I think it is common. I get a sweaty forehead, shake, leave the room in my mind, etc. It sucks. Sorry!

 

[Seagreen]

Yes I think so. Are somatic reactions just physical symptoms of distress? I cant stand anything touching my neck or chest. It feels as if I am being choked whenever I am anxious or remembering my traumas. Then there is shaking, nausea, chest pain and a prickly hot sweat I sometimes get plus others.

 

[arfie]

They are common for me. They happen when I am having flashbacks, as well. Temporary deafness might be among my weirdest, but that would be a tough measure. I am extremely vulnerable to power of suggestion while in episode. If I have recently read the symptoms of having moon rocks in ears, I am likely to manifest symptoms of having moon rocks in my ear.

 

[Wounded Scribe]

Very much so. I'd list them, but I'd probably have a reaction. But yes, I do.

 

[Cool Cat]

Yes I think so. Are somatic reactions just physical symptoms of distress?

No idea! They're weird though, they only generally happen in therapy. Sometimes if someone says something nasty to something that makes me angry on facebook or Twitter I find that I start to shake too.
Are somatic reactions exclusive for trauma and experience-related mental illnesses?

 

[Cool Cat]

In particular actually, anyone here ever have the problem of just simply not being able to speak?**

** like for a few minutes at a time while working through difficult stuff

 

[digger]

anyone here ever have the problem of just simply not being able to speak?**

** like for a few minutes at a time

Frequently, and generally for much longer than a few minutes.

 

[Eagle3]

i find it hard to speak sometimes, but that's because I'm so lost in my own head I don't realize I'm NOT saying the stuff out loud...my therapist calls me on that, makes me say stuff out loud when I get quiet, even if I'm sobbing, hyperventilating, or just shaking like an epileptic. I hate somatic responses, so pesky...

 

[Cool Cat]

@Eagle3 yeah sometimes I've even found myself stuttering through sentences too! Mine makes me finish sentences, I sometimes stop before I get to the important part. They are pesky! I always try to take them as a sign that I am working and pushing myself out of my comfort zone to enable change.
I would be pretty self concious about somatic responses too. Would love to know what actually causes them, what is going on in your head when you get them.

 

[Lukie]

In particular actually, anyone here ever have the problem of just simply not being able to speak?**

** like for a few minutes at a time while working through difficult stuff

Yep. Quite often. Or finding myself stuttering when I do manage to speak. Or when trying to explain something to someone, realizing that I'm relaying the story out of sequence, or saying something different than the thought I intended to express. It's like brain and mouth don't meet up anymore.

 

[bell]

Yes, my body does weird things, too. I get all panicky and teary and shaky, which only makes me want to shutdown more, because that's when I feel like I'm losing people the most. That if I talk more I will lose them forever and/or lose their respect. :(