Catatonic During High Stress

[Mrsk]

When I get really stressed, I completely shut down and become what I call 'catatonic'. I can hear you and see you, but I can't respond. I just stare at you with a blank look. I can answer you in my head, but not talk. I have no emotion, barely move (I can get up and go to the bathroom, and slowly walk around the house), but I can't make my mouth move. If I try to talk, I sound like I'm being strangled. Just a garbled noise comes out if anything at all. It's like my mouth is paralyzed.

I can feel it coming on and can head it off if I keep talking, but if there is no one to talk to, I fade out. It will last for anywhere from an hour to the next day.

I am starting talk therapy tomorrow for the first time in 6 years and this time I actually want to cooperate and talk about my abuse and deal with it so I can put it away. But I am afraid of being overcome with the catatonic thing and scaring my children. I am hoping it won't happen at all. But I am scared of it lasting days and having to be hospitalized. I don't want to traumatize them. They know my dad abused me as a child but they don't know what he did.

Anyone else experience this? How do I stop it from even starting???

 

[Lucycat]

Hi Mrsk,

What you are describing sounds to me like tonic immobility.
[DLMURL]http://www.mysexabuse.com/threads/dissociation-or-tonic-immobility.756/#post-12693[/DLMURL]

I have had this when I am highly stresses and it really is not pleasant. After reading about it, and understanding a bit more about it, it has become a bit less frightening.

Good luck with the talk therapy.

 

[Mrsk]

Thank you. I read the thread and it does sound like it, except it doesn't come on that fast. Everyone else seems to have it suddenly start, like a slap. I have about a minute to stop it before I lose control and shut down. The article said 'not found' when I tried to open it, but I'm going to google it and see what I can find.

 

[Lucycat]

I'm sorry the link no longer works. I have asked the author for permission to put the full article on here, but he has to contact the magazine it was originally in, for their permission as they own the copyright. However I have saved it for my own personal use. If you are interested in reading it send me your email address in a private message and I will email you the article in a PDF format.

Regards
Lucy x

 

[Mrsk]

I found it online when I googled it and you're right, it is very difficult to understand!

I woke up yesterday (from what I imagine was a bad dream that I can't remember) and was on the verge of shutting down all day. It was as if I as thinking about something traumatic but can't remember what it was. I had to hibernate in my room and stare for most of the day, drifting in and out of sleep. I never shut down completely this time, but was nowhere close to being able to function. Couldn't brush my teeth, wash up, eat, or get dressed.

I am much better this morning but I was unable to function at all yesterday. Thank goodness hubby was home to take care of the kids. I just said I didn't feel well and the kids left me alone most of the day. Hubby knew what was going on though.

Just wish I could remember what was on my mind that was bad enough to almost shut me down. Then maybe I could deal with it and move it to the 'done' file in my head. I just feel like this mental sickness is like having antibiotic resistant MRSA. It flares and there's nothing you can do about it until it goes away.

 

[Tina]

Anyone else experience this? How do I stop it from even starting???

Yes, this has happened to me on two occasions. It was very odd. I glad to know now what this is called.