Dissociate but only for a few seconds

[amicableDog6980]

I have dissociated before but only for a few seconds. In those instances, I mean a complete blank in my memory as if those few seconds never existed. It's not a weird memory thing that occurs over time rather I notice this gap right after it occurs. It feels like some weird gray area where it may not be dissociation or it's not in the traditional sense so I've never really been able to talk to a counselor about it or they didn't have much of anything to say. It rarely happens and most of the times it did happen was years ago during my abusive childhood. Aside from traumatic experiences, this dissociation happened when my emotions were way too strong or I got insanely overwhelmed. So I've dealt with it by being careful to not let my emotions get that far out of hand, which is possible now not being in that traumatic family setting anymore. I guess I'm asking if anyone else has experienced super brief dissociation or am just wanting to discuss it with people who can understand.

 

[SjMel]

I have this experience.

It may be not rise to the level of a disassociative disorder but is nonetheless part of our natural fight flight or freeze responses.

Certainly should be processed through but maybe you just feel like counsellors aren't addressing it when they might direct your conversation to the trauma you experienced vs the symptom you experience that is to disassociate momentarily.

I focus less on disassociation and more on the trauma I have experienced. Processing through the trauma you experienced may actually resolve your tendency to disassociate. The fact that you are aware of it is a good thing. It's when you are unaware of it that it becomes more of an issue. A counselor should help you process through it though especially if you ask.

 

[amicableDog6980]

I have this experience.

It may be not rise to the level of a disassociative disorder but is nonetheless part of our natural fight flight or freeze responses.

Certainly should be processed through but maybe you just feel like counsellors aren't addressing it when they might direct your conversation to the trauma you experienced vs the symptom you experience that is to disassociate momentarily.

I focus less on disassociation and more on the trauma I have experienced. Processing through the trauma you experienced may actually resolve your tendency to disassociate. The fact that you are aware of it is a good thing. It's when you are unaware of it that it becomes more of an issue. A counselor should help you process through it though especially if you ask.

Thanks for validating my experience. Maybe I just need to get up the courage to mention it to a counselor again. I hear what you are saying about focusing on the trauma rather than the symptom. To me the symptom of dissociating feels important to discuss because that lack of control and awareness terrifies me.

 

[SjMel]

Thanks for validating my experience. Maybe I just need to get up the courage to mention it to a counselor again. I hear what you are saying about focusing on the trauma rather than the symptom. To me the symptom of dissociating feels important to discuss because that lack of control and awareness terrifies me.

I would definitely encourage you to talk to somebody about it. For sure

 

[amicableDog6980]

I would definitely encourage you to talk to somebody about it. For sure

Hopefully, they don't just respond with a focus on the present. You're ok now. That kind of thing can't happen anymore.
I can understand why they say that and they're not necessarily wrong but it doesn't help.

 

[SjMel]

Hopefully, they don't just respond with a focus on the present. You're ok now. That kind of thing can't happen anymore.
I can understand why they say that and they're not necessarily wrong but it doesn't help.

If they are worth their beans they will understand trauma and PTSD. Trauma may have been in the past but it impacts the present just as much and may even be just as traumatic in the present as it was in the past. Trauma and Recovery is never linear.