How Can I Tell If I'm Dissociating

[wolfie205]

I know I dissociate because I've had times in session when I was just gone and when I came back, my therapist was just sitting there staring at me. Most times though, I can't tell when I'm dissociating or what I do when I dissociate. Therapist said I needed to find new coping strategies so I don't dissociate so much. I haven't really noticed myself dissociating though. Sometimes in sessions, I can get lost in patterns like I'll see a pattern on my bag and start tracing it out in my mind. Is that dissociating? I know I'm emotionally detached but how do I start noticing when I dissociate? What does dissociation really feel like?

My friend said I don't remember a lot of stuff I've done, like he brought me to a new place a few weeks ago and I only remember it very vaguely when he brought it up. I honestly can't remember much about what I did from a day to day basis. Is that normal?

 

[HeraBane]

I have similar issues. The only way I know I have dissociated is if it happens when I am with another person during the episode and they happen to bring up that interaction after the episode is over. They would say "oh it was great seeing you on so and so day and time, or continue a discussion that took place during the episode.

My problem is that I do not know when I have dissociated, no memory of what happend during the episode, and no feeling at all of the time lost because of the episode. Unless like the situatiom above, it's like it never happend as far as I know, when in reality the episode and time lost was real. I have NEVER been able to recall or remember the episode and what took place or recall/feel time lost. For all I know I've had conversations or done things I don't know or will ever know took place.

 

[PTSDbegone]

I can only speak about my experience. Everyone dissociates to a degree.

That being said it does sound like you are dissociating more than the average person may. That's what happens when one has had trauma. It's a normal reaction I've been told. How you have explained what happens to you, is how I often dissociate. I never know what has caused me to dissociate, or what has brought me out of it. It's like I have been triggered, and I am put into a trance like state. I lose a lot of time.

It becomes a safety issue when you dissociate, and travel to other places while in that state.

 

[Graham Brown]

:hug: my friend can dissaociate and she hasnt been through any trauma, i think everyone does to some degree. I think you doing it a fair bit - it a bad feeling, worrying and troubling when someone says "you remember when..?" then reality dawns, wasn't on the same universe.

Stay safe, work with T and I hope things improve soon.