Dissociation Explained

[BlackbirdSinging]

It still sounds like peritraumatic dissociation from what I've read. The description of that sounds more like what I'd feel. And it only happened while trauma was occurring. Although occasionally when something triggers my anxiety I'll sometimes freeze momentarily as my anxiety is getting really high. And then my heart will start pounding and I'll start shaking. It's such an awful experience. I'll let you know what my therapist says tomorrow though.

 

[Abstract]

Ah. I think I understand now and did not before. You are saying you think it sounds more like peritraumtic dissociation than re experiencing. I have to say thats what I thought when I first read your description but I guess I thought you were saying that the reexperiencing sounded right and that that meant there was "reexperiencing" stuff happening that you had not mentioned.

Freezing and dissociating I think normally most often happens in response to our anxiety just getting high. Especially when it is habitual coping habit. Good luck!

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

Ah. I think I understand now and did not before. You are saying you think it sounds more like peritraumtic dissociation than re experiencing.

Sorry for the confusion. I think that's because I was talking about two different occasions and they got all confused.

I asked my therapist today if when I was being traumatized and I'd freeze was I dissociating. She said yes. She said basically any time you "check out" so to speak from the present moment you're in one sense or another dissociating.

I mentioned the different kinds of dissociation and she didn't get into which one was what and what I experienced. She just kept it simple and said that in one form or another I'd been dissociating during trauma when I'd freeze.

Then I asked her about the day in her office when I was telling her about a traumatic event and I felt like I was back in that moment and wasn't in the present moment. That's the second experience I was referring to in my original question. She said that had been me re experiencing or reliving the experience. Basically it was a flashback. And in terms of me feeling like I wasn't in the present moment that I was essentially dissociated while I was flashing back if that makes sense.

 

[didso]

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Dissociation appears as a fixed stare with glazed eyes. People say things to you such as, “You’re dizzy,” “You sure are spacey,” “Where did you go?” or, “Earth to Mary.” Dissociation is used to escape from uncomfortable situations, feelings, or traumatic events, such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, spiritual abuse, emotional abuse, or verbal abuse. However, as adults, we have more and better ways to defend ourselves than by dissociating, and continuing to do so robs us of our vitality and ability to fully experience life.

I am a SO of a person who has severe DID. I have been with her for 7 years. What a tremendous learning experience but also a very lonely existence. I live in quiet desperation as I watch her and her alters carry on through life's ups and downs. She meets once a week with a hypnotherapist who also uses EMDR to try to help merge the alters. I am normally a very social person who craves a close loving communicative relationship. I have a lot of valuable information and would like to share it with someone in a similar situation if not just to know there are others out there that are slowly withering away as a plant without water like me....

 

[Abstract]

am learning.

Welcome Didso. You can report your own post if it is too late to edit it or if you push edit on the bottom left hand of your post you can edit the content. One of the rules is not to quote entire posts. The arrow on the quote takes someone back to the whole post anyway.

Your situation must be very challenging. I hope you find support here.

 

[josephc]

I only came to recognise the concept of fragments with my current T. She refers them as sub personalities. I always am aware of what I am doing. My fragments fight with each other bully is a more accurate description of the experiance. When one of the sub personalities breaks the rules he has to be punishe, or someone takes control, impulses, some just have me hide. One makes me just forgetful.

 

[Abstract]

.next thing I know I am on the floor

Yes, I think I have had that although in different circumstances to the ones you describe.

I searched for ages trying to find out what it was and considered narcolepsy etc but it didn't fit in certain ways. Eventually I came upon someone else who got it and have now seen it mentioned elsewhere. I think I have two versions of it. The one I am unconscious and the other it is as if I am asleep from the outside but from the inside I am not.

 

[KatB]

Dissociation lately has become an interference. I have been under extreme stress and my mind splits up into two places: I want to remember but I can't but, then #2: I can't remember and don't want to b/c it is a bitter pill to swallow.

I come back to reality when I re-call the things around me or use signs and numbers.

 

[lcb]

Not sure where to post this as I am new. But wanted to ask. Not sure if you can answer this. But does trying to pretend its a tv show or being invisible part of dissociation or is that something different.?

 

[Abstract]

It would technically fall under dissociation but be what is called normal or everyday dissociation. For example daydreaming is technically a form of dissociation and even concentrating on a tele program where you are totally involved is too.

 

[lcb]

Wow this is really eye opening. My mother left when I was 2 and that's when it all began. It just got worse from then on. But people always said I was a ditz or dizzy. Where I read in the post or one of the articles posted is common.

 

[HemlockGrove]

Dissociation does not mean that you are defective, damaged, insane, stupid, or worthless. In fact, you are among the most gifted people in the world because it takes intelligence, creativity, and imagination to learn how to dissociate. Congratulate yourself on your ability to survive overwhelming trauma.

I think this alone is very beneficial to many many people. I know it is to me. I still don't think I know all the trauma that happened so far in my life, but I do know it causes a very positive reaction to have something positive about myself to cling onto - almost like a slap to abusers, an "Aha! See? I'm NOT the worthless person you think I am!"

I think that kind of thought is exactly what a lot of people need.