Dissociation As A Drowsy Feeling?

[Stanley Shi-Yume]

I'm wondering if this could be a dissociation, it feels like my mind is going to sleep, but only halfway. It still takes in sound and sensory info, but thinking becomes very auto pilot, other thoughts race through as if in a half dreamstate. the thoughts are often fantastical in nature, imagining some favorable, unfamiliar setting and situation or person...

it feels like I can't control it, like all I could do other than resist is shut my eyes and pass out\


Re-edit: Foggy dissociation seems to be this thing. I know I should be doing my research but I also have really appreciated direct feedback from people in the few days that I have been here. I have been impressed with this group as more open and active than any I have tried before, so I got the year/pro upgrade to my account.

 

[arfie]

Sure sounds like what I call dissociation.

Getting physical is my surest way out of it. Stretching. A walk. Workout. Sometimes talking to someone help, but I am careful there. I don't have full mental capacity in this state. Political correctness is quite beyond me at these moments.

 

[EverOnly358]

Hey Dreams,

Yeah. I'm no expert, but I think there are many different types of dissociation. I know that way too often I fall into a weird state where I'm making up a complicated, many layered story in my head as a way to cope with too much pain. The main character is usually a girl, who's smart and tough and can handle anything (so, besides the smart, because I am smart... she's so not me). :laugh: And because I'm such a SciFi/Fantasy geek, she usually has a magic sword, too. :laugh: (And yes, when I'm not dissociating, I use stupid humor as a way to cope with anxiety. ;))

I also have spells where I stop I being able to hear lots of things and pieces of my memory disappear temporarily. Not good.

So, I guess I'm saying I think I may understand and that you're not the only one struggling with this sort of thing (if that helps at all to hear that).

I liked this article especially https://www.myptsd.com/threads/dissociation-explained.13879/ Maybe it'll help.

And dissociated in my mind is most closely related to that out of body experience I've had many times. So, to feel better, you gotta do whatever you can to get out of your head and back into your body. Exercise, obviously, is a go to solution. Whatever works for you. Grounding and breathing exercises, too. And all this starts with being able to wrap your head around the idea that you deserve to feel better... which, hey, is the biggest part of the struggle for me. After I pass that hurdle (which is hard, and honestly, doesn't happen as much as it should), then it's easy to go for a walk or do yoga or really whatever physical thing I can think of and then I feel better.

Hope this is helpful,
D

 

[franciemarnie]

You know how the limbic brain gets activated because it perceives a threat to safety. Then there is fight, flight, freeze or collapse. You might have gotten triggered and are in freeze or collapse or somewhere in between. That is a dissociation place. I always go with exercise, especially walking and watching my feet as I go if I am not up to more strenuous activity.

 

[zaniara]

I have those moments too. You got some good suggestions up there! Seeing people and talking to people(or if I can tolerate them touching me it's the best thing really: but I have a hard time with touch sometimes) is the thing that helps me the most. Unless something in that interaction triggers me to have a flashback that is. Sometimes I get "lost" and can't control it or speak at all. Sometimes I go all "foggy" like that(like you described) when memories are surfacing.

 

[Seasounds]

Yes, I have had this. And I think it can be a sign of, and a form of, disassociation. It is interesting that you bring this up, at this time. A manager started to behave this way, when I informed her of a client who bullied me. She needed to tune out the violence.

 

[Jenfa]

During arguments that had topics that were triggers for me, I'd stop mid-sentence of my yelling, and go lay down and pass out lol. I would wake up 20 minutes later and be all like, "What?". For years people thought I was in a sleepwalk or something. Sooooo drowsy! I wonder why I can't feel that at night when I want to go to bed haha