Do You "Check Out" When You Are Overwhelmed Emotionally

[BrownEyes]

Hi,

I notice sometimes when I think of my past traumas I feel almost like someone has given me a drug.

When I think of those terrible things I start to feel anxious, but then it's like I become drugged and I feel emotionally and physically numb.

I seem to get kind of spacey and I lose my concentration. My mind starts to go blank, and I feel like I could stare off into space forever.

I can hear what's going on around me, but I don't respond to it. I just sit there and not move, and stare off into space, not thinking of anything.

I don't feel distressed or anything during this time, I just feel like I've sort of "checked out" mentally for a bit. Then afterwards I sometimes feel really tired and I want to go to sleep.

This all happened at my last exposure therapy session with my therapist. I sat there and stared into space for a while afterwards. I could hear him speaking to me, but I was sort of mentally "checked out", and I didn't respond to him even though he was asking me questions.

Does anyone else experience this? Is there a name for it? Why does this happen? Is there a way to prevent it from happening?

Thanks for helping me figure this out.

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

BrownEyes -

I absolutely do this. I think it's a form of disassociation but I'm not sure. I believe that with continued therapy dealing with your trauma it should improve (at least I hope so).

I do this during my T appts. - after my T appts. - and during stressful situations.

For me - it's almost like I'm in a tunnel - I'm slightly aware of things going on around me (or people speaking to me) - but I'm not connected to it at all. Everything else is outside the tunnel. I don't have strong emotions related to my trauma - in fact my T will sometimes not be able to hide her feelings about what I'm discussing - but for me I don't feel any emotion at all related to it.

I'm always extremely tired after one of these "episodes" and I almost feel sick - like I'm coming down with a cold or something. It normally takes me at least 24 hours to come back around - sometimes more.

I have not been successful at "Pulling myself back" yet - but if I find a way - I'll be sure to let you know.

 

[TLight]

Yup, me too.......our brains can't cope with the truth. Think it has to come in bits and pieces.

I sort of like being checked out sometimes.....except it makes me really vulnerable to crappy people.

 

[onebravegirl]

Hi Browneyes,
It Sounds like dissociation to me. I think its the brains way of putting pillows around our heads when things get to be too much. Ride the wave, It passes in time. Try not to loose your sense of humour about it, and possible explain to those close to you that it sometimes happens and is nothing personal (unless you want it to be). I used to feel like I should put a 'Out of Order" sign around my neck. After a while my family got used to it, and a while after that it went away and I could flip the sign to"Open".
Hang in there!
O

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

Good point bravegirl -

I have explained this to my family (my husband and adult children) and they now can recognize the look in my eyes and know that I'm not really there.

The sign idea made me chuckle - I've often thought I should have something similiar. Out of order seems quite appropriate.

 

[CafeAulait]

I used to feel like I should put a 'Out of Order" sign around my neck.

*chuckle* I love this! :)

 

[Deleted member 541]

Yes, if I get overwhelmed with people, sensory crap, or stress, I check out......Dissociating is so much fun......At least it gets you away for the crap for awhile... LOL!!!!!

 

[Healing Survivor]

That is a really good way to explain this! It's like you're there, but not there...I totally get it! Thank you....

 

[Nicky31]

Hi HS

Yes this certainly sounds like Dissociation to me. Being there, but being far far away in your own thoughts. It's an incredible coping mechanism but can cause problems such as people thinking you simply aren't lkistening to them, being unaware of what's around you and so on. I find once I become super anxious my brain actually shuts down and I lose the power of speech. It's happened a couple of times in recent months and is very scary. Have you felt this at all or just a bit spaced out?

Nicky

 

[Healing Survivor]

I haven't ever lost speech. That does sound way scary! I actually tend to think that because of my anxiety, I don't shut down too much. I'm always hypervigilant...it's only in places I feel safe that the spacing out happens.

 

[a3a2]

Yes, I am familiar with this. And sometimes after therapy or a trigger, I have no choice but to crawl into bed so I can completely check out for a while.

 

[sidekick]

I do this when triggered, feeling overwhelmed or when faced with something my mind/feelings just can't handle. I shut down, literally. I turn into zombie sometimes until I feel I can speak/talk/walk safetly or just go into a disc. mode I guess?

Something I have been working on trying to stay in the here and now.