1000 Yard Stare?

[Bosco2153]

Yup happens all the time...even in the middle of a conversation with someone. I just zone out.

 

[missd84]

I never was a daydreamer but since having PTSD, there are many times where I just am not there and zone out. Usually it happens when I'm stressed or start thinking about my trauma.

 

[jimmy-joe]

It's dissociation from something, I have to zone out to talk otherwise I start panicking, I do it for anything I don't have to pay attention to continuously(and most of those, it allows for a sense of detachment in pressure-heavy scenarios imo :p but I guess then you have to be able to maintain some awareness while doing it and im still not entirely sure I'm talking about the same thing you guys are). Normal people do it when they daydream, ptsd peeps usually use it to accomplish something or maybe theyve gone through so much that they have to maintain that detachment from w/e.

 

[Lucycat]

I do it a lot. Makes me smile to myself , when I 'come to' and see others turning to look at whatever they thought I was looking at.

 

[Complicated]

Yes I also do it, quite alot actually. Im not sure why I do it, but I like KPs take on it with regads to her statement "It is actually quite useful sometimes to be able to zone out the :poop:."

 

[Grim]

Yes - I often fall into a deep 1000 yard stare. I think others find it quite disconcerting at times. Zoned out completely till something or someone brings me back to the here and now.

Over the years I've had a few people rather aggressively ask me what the F'**** I'm looking at!
With a little newly acquired knowledge of PTSD I now suppose that I've inadvertently focussed my 10000 yard stare on them without me knowing (maybe because I sense them as being a potential threat). In public places like bars and clubs where there are a lot of people, I often find myself zoned out whilst thinking through millions of circular permutations of what I would do, if I was suddenly attacked.

 

[Shadowbreath]

I did it all through my school years, was in accelerated classes, then spiraled down to special classes, then had to quit school in 10th grade to get my GED. I found out recently that I have pretty much dissociated my life away. It's a rather amazing "gift" that saves us PTSD'rs but really can be a handicap later in life, as I'm finding out now.
When I "Zone out" sometimes it means another "part" is trying to come out.........yucky. :poop:

 

[Gamereign555]

Had it all through school as well, still do it sometimes when I'm doing my nervous thinking.

 

[Auroch]

Every day. Usually worse in the mornings for some reason.

People that have successfully brought me out of it without startling me have developed a tactic to strafe slowly into my line of site at a distance of about 5-10 yards and make eye contact. That usually snaps me out of it without being to disturbing. Loud noises and touching me are counterproductive in this condition.

 

[alliz-rag]

It happens to me usually when I am triggered. My friends have pictures of me just sitting there looking at nothing...they all bust my chops and when they ask "Dude...what are you staring at?" I simply reply "I'm a dreamer...leave me alone" then get back to my funny, handsome, witty self! LOLOL :laugh:

I don't look at it as a neagtive thing...if I can find peace and quiet and "space out" for a couple minutes...life is good! :tup:

 

[Tiger Kitten]

It reminds me of that song... "The lights are on but no one's home." I've gotten pretty adept at hiding that I'm not really there. I have always done the "zoning out" thing. I usually just say, "sorry, the time warp I live in got a little off kilter" when someone notices. Or come up with some stupid thing to say when I snap out of it.

I use the stare to make people I don't want to talk to leave me alone. I guess it's disconcerting when someone just stares at you as though you aren't there. (I only use it on people who are trying to manipulate me.)

I've been doing the spacing out thing so long that anyone who knows me just figures I'm off in my own little world again. They just wait until I come back.

Tiger

 

[ClairBear226]

Anna, I think you got your answer... but add one more, lol! This is what I've been told I look like when I'm having a flashback. I stare off into space. It doesn't happen often like it used to, but it still happens.