Disconnecting from body parts

[Woodsforthetrees]

Hi,

I'm currently in trauma therapy and sometimes I lose the ability to speak or move my left arm (I can still sort of feel it). Other times it feels like my foot, arm, face etc has disappeared, not numb, just missing usually the left side of my body and right side of face. I can feel the line where it's no longer there.

Is this a trauma reaction? Has it happened to anyone else? It usually lasts ten minutes max but sometimes on and off for a few days.

 

[Friday]

Is this a trauma reaction?

Maybe? But ruling out seizures &/or any other kind of neurological involvement, which are often brought on by stress, would be top of my To Do list.

 

[Teamwork]

When that happens my psychologist suggests tapping both sides of the body. So for me I just tap both legs, alternate rhythm. A lot of the time only one hand responds, but with practice, concentration the other hand will join in and once I get the tapping going, I come back together again. I do it at home a lot too, which helps when I need it. He calls it bilateral tapping. It does work for me.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Hi,

I'm currently in trauma therapy and sometimes I lose the ability to speak or move my left arm (I can still sort of feel it). Other times it feels like my foot, arm, face etc has disappeared, not numb, just missing usually the left side of my body and right side of face. I can feel the line where it's no longer there.

Is this a trauma reaction? Has it happened to anyone else? It usually lasts ten minutes max but sometimes on and off for a few days.

Drugs like cocaine-used for extended periods of time, or habitual use of drugs can cause seizure-like activity and neurologic issues, like the inability to speak.....and TBI can cause neurologic damage which takes all shapes. A fearful part that chooses not to speak can cause speech to get stuck. Stess can create havoc in the brain, and when your stress is elevated.....you can shut down. So, when you are in trauma therapy......do you know you can't speak? If so, how high are your emotions running.....would you say you are dissociative....and not feeling "all there?"

 

[Woodsforthetrees]

Thank you everyone for replying.

I saw a neurologist and they ruled out anything like seizures, epilepsy etc.

The bilateral tapping seems interesting. My therapist has mentioned tapping but I have to stay away from my face as it seems to cause a flashback.

I know that I can't speak. Sometimes I can sort of huff in frustration but words won't come. If I'm mid speech I just say what word I'm on over and over. I think emotions are high inside I'm just not expressing it as I'm usual stuck somewhat still.

I feel quite alone is this as I haven't found anyone else who goes through the similar thing with body parts 'missing'.

 

[grit]

I am sorry you are experiencing this. I am happy for you it is not neurological condition.

It sounds like your body is remembering something that happened and you are not able to recall so it is almost as if it is showing you how you were paralysed or passed out or trying to fight back etc. I had some defense movement in therapy at some points. Please be gentle with you. It is important you do not resist or react harsh or create shame around it. Just try to pay attention what your body is communicating. It can be quite frightening and the feeling of unable to control simple body limbs but either you are over stressed and your body cannot hold anymore or you are feeling safe and able to process. Only you can determine that.

Take care