Dissociation Question

[jjh29]

Okay so I know I have asked something similar in regards to this but it just keeps bothering me. Does everyone dissociate in a way where they lose time and what does it look like? Is there a warning beforehand?

 

[jjh29]

Let me add to the above thread. Could you initiate conversation like this or other activity?

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Does everyone lose time? I'm guessing that you're asking if everyone with PTSD loses time. The answer is no. I think if you're losing time, you may want to explore the possibility that a dissociative disorder may also exist. I'm not sure of the diagnostic criteria, but it's something to discuss with a professional.

 

[jjh29]

Yea I go see my new t this Thursday but I don't know why I can't stop thinking about it. It only happened once but it really bothered me. And yes I meant people with ptsd. It's crazy I don't really experience too many symptoms but the worst one possible I had. I just like to see how it is for other people.

 

[MomOfTwo]

I lose time but not days and for me it is related to dissociation which can be a part of PTSD from what I have been told. I am learning ways to ground myself so if I do face a stressor I stay more present. I look for three things, listen for 3 things and touch 3 things. My doctor has taught me that. Dissociation encompasses not just losing time but numbing ones self which I think many survivors do. I think many people who have gone through PTSD have utilized dissociation as a coping skill and I think so many emergency workers and people dealing with horrific things must numb themselves or remove themselves mentally from a situation in order to cope.

 

[jjh29]

How long does it usually last for you mom of two? I do have the numbing that is one of the symptoms I do experience majority of the time. Oh and do you appear to other people? Can they tell?

 

[MomOfTwo]

I have emotionally numbed myself for months if not years. I am working at staying attuned to life for my family. When I had my children I needed and wanted to be a good parent for them. I needed to be as present as possible in their lives and not disengage from them. It has taken a lot of work when most of my life has been about disconnecting myself from anything uncomfortable. I still numb myself but am taking more risks about feeling what is happening in the moment instead of stuffing it.

 

[jjh29]

Yes I have 2 boys as well. So I really understand that. That is one of the reasons the loss of time thing scares me. I just don't know if I would of been normal in front of them or not. When you lose time how long is it for and do you know how you appear to others?

 

[anonymous]

I have dissociative amnesia where I lose a significant amount of time and remember nothing. Initially they linked this to my PSTD, since then I have been diagnosed with other dissociative disorders.

When mentally I am 'out of the room' I appear to do normal things (so I am told) or I take up an alter status where I behave according to that alters characteristics. So scary! I'm working with my T to keep in the room more but it's a long slow process and so far I have made very little progress.

 

[jjh29]

Do you feel a certain way before it happens? Just curious to know if maybe there are some signs that is fixing to happen?

 

[anonymous]

If I am tired or have an especially low mood I do it more often. Other signs for me are convo topics if I know the convosation I am having has potentially triggering content then I am more able to keep grounded. Also I get da ja vu kind of feelings or day dream sometimes just before. Other signals its about to happen, for me are headaches and occasionally hearing loss-like everything sounds distant.

When I know I am potentially going to be triggered I can do grounding exercises to combat the disassociation, generally this will work but then as soon as I stop the exercises/being busy i'll disassociate anyway.

 

[jjh29]

I think the reason I worry so much about it is because my trauma was caused by being raped while in a blacked out state. I guess I think if I'm having a dissociative episode that something like that will happen again. Has that ever happened to anyone or has anyone ever heard of that before? Could you really give consent in that state?