Covering skin

[showtunie]

I had some really bad panic attacks last week due to being triggered, and with all of them I had an intense need to cover my skin. I usually blank during my attacks, but I remember just not wanting to see my skin because I wanted to be out of it.

Has anybody gone through the same thing? Does anyone have tips to move through it?

 

[Sunny6]

Hmm, I have never experienced this. As it does not seem harmful towards you, I would not be worried. It seems like a momentary coping mechanism when you're in such an anxious state. My guess would be it's due to wanting to disconnect from yourself and be somewhere else? If so, you could look into ways to prevent dissociating if it is a very uncomfortable thing to experience.

 

[user17231]

When I was in middle school (where a lot of my trauma was worse), I would wear hooded sweatshirts or sweaters to feel comfortable. In 9th grade, I was known as the "weird kid" who wore hooding year round. I remember sweating my ass off and people would ask why I didn't take my sweater off. I would pretend I was cold.

In my sessions with my T this has come up and I think it's related to being "protected" -- feeling that you're safe under your clothing. Think "security blanket" -- I think it's pretty normal. To be exposed (metaphorically or physically) is to be vulnerable. To be vulnerable is to invite danger.

I haven't directly experienced the feeling of not wanting to see my own skin because I don't want to be in it, though. Just thought I'd share to see if my experiences resonate. Best of luck to you.