Getting Lost

[PTSDbegone]

Does anyone else get lost due to dissociating?

Up until recently I always thought of it as an adventure. I never knew where I'd end up.

Now it's another story. It has been becoming worse as I dissociate for longer periods of time. Recently I was assaulted while on public transportation. I have no memory of it because I was zoned out. However someone recorded it, and turned it into police. I have a wonderful therapist who I am working with, but we have yet to come up with a strategy of some sort to keep me safe while I am out and about.

Has anyone else dealt with this? Or anything similar?

 

[shimmerz]

I used to pop hot or super sour candies quite a bit. They jolted me back into my body and not long afterwards I was able to notice when I was zoning out, thereby giving me more control.

I get lost a lot too, but not because of dissociation. It is due to my incredibly unstable housing situation as an infant/toddler.

 

[Kailani]

Scary, you have to be careful. That is so awful that you were assaulted; so sorry for you!! A safety plan needs to be implemented. I don't have DID, i dissociate but still there. Feels like a mist around the edges of my eyes; start feeling fatigue, pain, fuzzy. Feels like someone is trying to make me miserable-drives me craaaazy. grounding helps, deep breathing, sleeping to avoid it.

 

[PTSDbegone]

Thank you both.

Sleeping to avoid things is the best way to go! that is if it doesn't get interrupted by nightmares of course.

Yes I realize now a safety plan is needed. I just don't know what that would be.

 

[shimmerz]

As I recall you are in the area that I was in when I suffered through some pretty horrendous stuff. There are several agencies that will help with a safety plan.

DASA (Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault) are excellent at assessing danger in high risk relationships. They are also excellent at building safety plans.

Link Removed

Also Yellow Brick House is an excellent outreach program that will help you to see what is happening, how to safely navigate it etc. Not sure if you are in the city proper or not but these agencies are a little north of the city (Richmond Hill, Aurora, Vaughn). Let me know if you are out of that area and I will get you contact numbers. It is very important that you have a comprehensive safety plan.

 

[PTSDbegone]

Thank you very much @shimmerz

Thank you for the information. I am so nervous about reaching out, and asking for help with a safety plan. When it comes down to it I don't think I have much of a choice in the matter anymore. I'm right in Toronto. Thanks again for the help. Really appreciate it.

 

[shimmerz]

I am so nervous about reaching out,

They know this and are really good at putting one at ease. Please keep in touch if you have any fears or concerns wrapped around this ..... it helped me more than I can express. Much love :hug:

 

[PTSDbegone]

Thank you!

 

[Ice_Fire]

Hi. I have DID too and so, obviously I dissociate a heck of a lot. It's getting better after being in weekly, rather intense therapy for a couple of years. I'm now at the point where I have to be very triggered and/or extremely overtired before I switch, but I 'zone out' a lot still.

I have, before now, literally got lost in a strange city, it happened when I first moved to my university. Thankfully, I've not been assaulted or come to any harm, which must have been very scary for you once you realised what had happened. I have to be very mindful and work at staying grounded but it is very tiring. I tend to zone out and, what's it called...demamania or something? I mess my skin up. My therapist thinks it's a cross between low-level self-harming and a "stim" to keep myself calm.

 

[PTSDbegone]

Thank you @Ice_Fire for sharing that. I'm sorry to hear you understand what I am going through though. To a certain extent at least. I am a skin picker (something I have done since childhood). It's under control most of the time. I believe medication has helped me a little with that. You are right about it being very tiring! it sure is. Thanks so much for understanding. We are all in this together.