Any Tricks To Avoid Dissociation In Therapy?

[zoie33]

I am new to this and I have no idea how to avoid it during emdr, but I have found that I can usually avoid didspciatinh if I can maintain fairly frequent eye contact with T. The problem is once things get too uncomfortable I start the car off stare and I am home. He usually uses a cold Coke can as one way to bring me back. I have considered bringing a frozen water bottle with me during each session. Once I zone out my T stops to bring me back and it is another wasted session. Does anyone have any ideas that they use?

 

[zoie33]

Sorry really screwed that title up.

 

[joeylittle]

@zoie33 - do you mean for it to say 'dissociation'?

 

[zoie33]

Yes. Sorry. I swear I fixed it and now I see I did the same thing in the body of the question. I think I have poltergeists.

 

[Muted]

I am new to this and I have no idea how to avoid it during emdr, but I have found that I can usually avo...

Do you know if you're still talking during the dissociation?

 

[Missycat]

@zoie33 , this totally resinates with me. I have really struggled with dissociating in t and when processing using emdr. Its when it all becomes too much for me. My T will talk to me and ground me and we have worked on grounding techniques. It has affected my being able to do emdr so we took a break. We have recently returned to using emdr but this time we do short bursts when processing , for example she will ask me to go to the difficult memory but only for 6 seconds , then we process etc etc and we gradually increase the time. This has really helped me stay present. May be worth mentioning it to your T .
Good luck and i hope you get something sorted.

 

[Deleted member 40384]

I make sure to communicate to T when I'm dissociating.
Grounding techniques can be really effective. Glad the cold Coke can helps bring you back. Ice packs are great, if your T has those. Sometimes I bring really cold, or really warm, tea in a thermos to maintain the temperature. I bring tea with an aroma and taste that feel comforting to me. Other things I've found helpful: taking deep breaths to the count of 4, or 5, while trying to relax the muscles of my face and soften my gaze (I get the deer-in-the-headlights feeling, and it feels like my mind is stuck in partial oblivion); wiggling my toes and feeling them touch the insides of my shoes; sensing the floor beneath my feet, and the chair/couch beneath me. If these don't work, sometimes I will bend forward with my head upside-down, and stay there inside my "safe cave" for 10-20 seconds, then come back up and stretch my arms wide... might be contraindicated for those with blood pressure issues, though. Dissociation is so frustrating, especially during EMDR. Sometimes it helps if I find gratitude for the dissociation - it's trying to protect me - so I (deeper, core self) thank it for its intention, remind myself that I'm safe right now, and imagine it dissipating like a cloud.

 

[BlueOrange]

Talk to your therapist about whether dissociating in one of your sessions is actually a bad thing. Tell them how you feel about dissociating during a session.

If you're going to dissociate, then the best place to do it is in the presence of a therapist who can help you compose yourself.

 

[zoie33]

ThAnk you blueorange. We are working on finding ways that I can stay present I've moved over to the other side of the room so I can't stare out the window we're only doing EMDR with my eyes open and he's more aware to constantly be checking on my presence. Dissociation is not helpful when we are doing EMDR so it is not a good thing during those times. He is however very open and willing to talk and work with my different parts. I'm still in denial on that subject but it is nice to know that he is open and willing if it happens.

 

[talon]

I am new to this and I have no idea how to avoid it during emdr, but I have found that I can usually avo...

I'm sorry i cannot help as not had sufficient information as to how this works or doesn't as the case may be, but communicating the fact to therapist that you switch off might provide a solution. Communication is always the key to progressing

 

[Lexie p]

I have been doing EMDR therapy and when I was taken back to some painful memories, I dissociated. I never knew that this term is what I have been doing all my life. It was worst for about two weeks. I would spontaneously go in and out throughout the day. I had no control. It was hard to talk any length of time with friends because I would feel like I was sucked into a cave. I couldn't pay attention to anything but here I am floating through life wondering how I manage Day to day tasks. I do lose track of time. My therapist says I have been in this state all my life to survive everything. It is a normal way of life for me. Some states seems much worst that I am watching myself go through the motions of life. I am working on my triggers so that I am more able to deal with situations in the present moment.
For me, I feel like I have no control going in and out of states and it is hard to snap out of it even through I am trying hard. I am more aware when I am doing it. I think I scared my therapist and she stopped doing EMDR for awhile and more grounding art therapy. Even through EMDR is scary, I find that each time after processing the whole session, I am able to go through my triggers without emotional attachment. I feel more free and not triggered as much. My kids really triggered me when they were at certain ages. My anxiety went through the roof. Now I am able to effectively communicate and be present with them.

 

[Deleted member 8714]

My therapist never stopped a session when I dissociated. It was my survival mechanism as a child. He figured that when I outgrew the need to protect myself that I wouldn't dissociate. He had no problems with it and because he didn't neither did I. It was acceptable. I never once questioned it.

I no longer have DID so I guess he was right on with his assessment.