Dissociation Episodes - Walking And Driving

[sbean]

Hi everyone. Thanks for your input and sharing.

I think I've been dissociating a lot during my life. One thing I've always wondered about were these episodes I'd get when I first went to college - I was very overwhelmed and overstimulated by everything - I would suddenly just have to go for a walk. Like I couldn't control it. I didn't feel like, "Oh, I'd like to go for a walk now." It was just an overwhelming, undeniable impulse to get up and go, and often it would be for a long time, like hours, and I'd end up going through semi-dangerous or deserted areas of town. There always seemed to be an element of danger involved in these little journeys, without being able to stop and think rationally about what I was doing. When I got a car, I did this same thing driving, still do sometimes. I am just in some strange spacey state, going and going, until something finally snaps me out of it enough to turn around and go back. I don't think I've ever actually lost time or not known what I was doing, it just felt like I sort of lost control of myself somehow, and this overpowering force is just pushing me along. I don't have any idea why.

Wondering if anyone else ever dealt with anything similar?

 

[Stickler]

I will forget where I am going when really upset, just focus on driving.

Do pull over if spacy. Wrecking because you are dissociating is bad.

 

[Friday]

Yes. Very much so.

 

[watundah]

I used to have 45 minute commutes and not know how I made it home! Interestingly, this is fairly common with driving, not just PTSD folks. It's often the example therapist's use to explain what dissociation feels like. Scary, eh?

 

[theshadowoftheliving]

Definitley scary.

I think it's a super common dissociatice response, as @watundah pounted out. Most folks, however, have the ability to pull themselves back when they need to. It becomes a problem when you can't - about a year ago I got into a fairly serious accident driving because I was totally spaced out and just ran my car into another car. Oops. I was so lucky neither of us were hurt (even though the car was to talked).

For me, this is a scary, dangerous thing. For most folks it's no big deal.

 

[Trae]

Sitting at Jamba Juice waiting for a drink wondering why I am at Jamba Juice in the first place and where I am supposed to be and what area of town I am in It's so disconcerting.