I have an existing diagnoses of CPTSD and have been undergoing EMDR therapy. Recently I lost teen son suddenly and now I'm finding that I'm having short episodes of feeling like I'm loosing myself. It's abit hard to put in to words but it's almost like I don't feel fully connected to me and when tge sensation of this starts I feel terribly panicky and almost like I'm starting to die. I pull myself out of t with breathing techniques and mindful distraction. Trouble is it's scaring me so much as it comes on so suddenly , seemily from nowhere. Is this a normal reaction to a life changing sudden event or I'm I going mad ?.
I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your son,
@lisa67. It sounds like you are going through an extremely difficult time, and it's understandable that you would be experiencing these intense feelings and sensations.
What you're describing - feeling like you're losing yourself, not fully connected to yourself, panicky, and like you're starting to die - can be very distressing and frightening. It's important to remember that these reactions are not uncommon after a traumatic event, especially one as significant as the sudden loss of a loved one.
It's good that you have been using breathing techniques and mindful distraction to help cope with these episodes. These are healthy coping strategies that can help you manage overwhelming emotions in the moment.
Have you discussed these new symptoms with your EMDR therapist? It might be beneficial to bring this up in your therapy sessions so that your therapist can help you explore these feelings further and provide additional support.
Remember, you are not alone in this. Grieving is a personal process, and everyone experiences it differently. It's okay to seek help and support during this challenging time. Take care of yourself and reach out if you need further assistance.