How To Stop Dissociation??

[safenow]

zaniara, those are all grounding methods. So you see, even though you didn't know it, you are doing the right things. I'm so proud of you.

Have no problem with people treating be badly, but freaks out when they're nice..

I can so relate to that. I am learning how to say "thank you" when people say nice things. I'm not used to so much of that, so it's hard to accept. But deep down inside, it is so good to hear and is so healing. I hope you get enough of it to know that as I do.

 

[zaniara]

safenow, thank you! :) ;)

I'm working on it.. With friends I manage somehow, to a certain degree, to let them be nice/close to me.. (dont have any unhealthy friends anymore) It's working if I dont see them to often.. But my therapist is working on getting really close, it feels like, and its really scary.. Get paranoid sometimes, but am fighting to stay and not run away.. (I know intellectually that he really can help me..) Guess it's part of the complex PTSD thing.. Have a nice day! (you seem to have a really warm heart!)

 

[NarcSis]

Look up the 5-4-3-2-1 game here on the forum, good way to ground when you're starting to dissociate.

My therapist was careful to ensure I had grounding techniques down before we started exposure therapy. Things like a shiny piece of jewelry or a bright kids bracelet, something that I could keep with me at all times, interact with and verbally describe when I started to feel numb.

A rubber band on your wrist that you can snap to bring you back to the present, a frozen bottle of water to hold, looking around the room to describe something....all coupled with deep breathing to counter the hyperventilation.

I still occasionally dissociate but I know I can come back fairly easily by using my techniques. Good luck. :)

 

[safenow]

If you allow them, I'm sending you safe, gentle hugs, (((( zaniara )))). I am glad you only have healthy friends now. That is very important. And just so you know. You don't have to see friends every single day to be friends. I have two friends that I've known over 20 years. They know about me and my issues. There are times we've gone a couple of years and not seen each other, but when we talk, it's like we have never been apart. People you see every day are only acquaintances. But friends are worth more than rubies or diamonds.

 

[zaniara]

Thank you, both (all) of you! Now I just have to go and try some of that stuff out.. *panicking and feeling unreal* Tried to talk over the phone just now and was just "fading away"/zooming out.. my voice seemed strange.. oh.. :yuck:

*going to try it again* (and taking a bath)

 

[NarcSis]

Crisis lines if you have any in your country can be good if you need someone to guide you back down.

The crisis counsellors/suicide hotlines are trained in grounding techniques here in Canada.

Feel better and know you're safe. Hugs.

 

[zaniara]

Thank you Medic! :) I dont know if they know about this kind of stuff at the helplines.. or if I would feel better by talking to a stranger.. (have a rough time with that; especially over the phone..) but I got in touch with a friend, through sms, so we talked after a couple of hours.. was "gone" like 3 or something.. but not like 100%; more like 75-80. Nothing worked.. Tried most of the above mentioned stuff.. maybe I just have to "take it" some times, and try to just cope with it.. When I got out of it a bit some more memories came.. (it was like the dissociation made me feel like I felt back then.. but without the "pictures" if anyone can understand that..)

 

[safenow]

(it was like the dissociation made me feel like I felt back then.. but without the "pictures" if anyone can understand that..)

Oh yes. Can so understand. That is all part of healing. Your dissociation was a way of helping you to cope with what you've been through. Now, the mind is feeling safe, so it is okay for some of these memories to come back, a little at a time, so you can face them and see them for what they are. It's not an easy thing, but you will find in time, it is so worth it.

I am so happy that you are doing this while you are still young. When you have no answers to explain things for over 67 years it makes it harder to accept when you finally do get help, and feel safe enough to talk about your life. And even though it is not the only thing you need to do, talking is healing as well. Honest, completely safe feelings can do so much to heal your mind and body.

I wish I was rich. I'd pay this place over $200 an hour just for the sort of therapy I'm getting here. All therapy is, in my humble opinion, is a way to express and get feedback on problems and life's situations. For some, it is sort of a paid friendship. Someone to tell your troubles to, if you I may put it that way. For others, it is a means of learning new ways to cope with what life throws at you from those who have figured out what works.

I hope this helps you.

 

[zaniara]

Oh yes. Can so understand.

Thank you safenow! It helps to be understood and that somebody recognize what I'm describing/experiencing. And thank you for calling me young!! :) Feel so old.. And are closer to 40 now.. But I guess it could be worse. So many of "us" just don't get any help at all and so many seem to not make it through.. I guess we are the lucky ones! (hope you're not offended by that!)

For others, it is a means of learning new ways to cope with what life throws at you from those who have figured out what works.

That was a nice way of expressing it! :)

Therapy tomorrow and I'm scared.. I somewhat fell through after last therapy, and got angry at him afterwards, so I wrote a letter.. now I'm so scared to go there tomorrow to face him and sort it out.. (I know he want to help me, but I was confused and angry by some things he said and some things he do repeatedly, things I don't understand, just get so upset by.. so I had to be honest. And couldn't cope one whole week: so I wrote that damn letter.. :oops: )

Hope you're having a good day!

 

[safenow]

closer to 40 now

That's young. lol. I was just learning the good stuff at that age. So you are the only one.

 

[zaniara]

learning the good stuff

Whats the good stuff? A stupid question I guess.. but didn't quite follow you there.. :)

 

[safenow]

How to breathe when anxious. How to ground triggers. How to find peace with myself.[DOUBLEPOST=1359374320][/DOUBLEPOST]

So you are the only one.

I mean you are not the only one. Sometimes I tend to leave out that most important word. Sorry

talked about "grounding".. Never heard of it before, but I think I found som tips there.. I guess I just have to work on it!

You are welcome to go to my diary/journal, page 9, item 21 and page 15, item 365. These are some ways of grounding that I use.