Is someone always driving when it's not you?

[gorgonzola]

Just wondering because once in a while I've been completely in the back of the metaphorical van hiding under some blankets with no idea who's driving, just noting that driving is happening.

Either my head is more crowded than I generally believe it to be, or philosophical zombies exist and I can be one of them, albeit temporarily. Both are interesting results.

 

[arfie]

hmmmm. . .
i'm not quite sure i am catching the metaphor, but i get lost in metaphor with discouraging ease.

it sounds kinda like what i call, "dissociation" where nothing feels real to me, and/or my "victim mode" where i just take whatever gets thrown at me instead of thinking for myself. the "crowded head" makes me think of intrusive thoughts.

 

[HomelessJoe]

Are you lost in thought when this happens? I zone out into my work sometimes and have a sort of out of body experience. Is that what your talking about? Lost in thought and on autopilot. If so yes I think that is normal for folks with trauma. I don't see as losing your mind. More like catching up with your mind.

 

[gorgonzola]

Wow, yes, I really shouldn't post late at night in deeply metaphorical language.

Van = brain, driving = exercising executive control over your body's actions, whole thing = depersonalization. Crowded head = some other part existing that I'm unaware of.

Thank you @arfie.

Are you lost in thought when this happens? I zone out into my work sometimes and have a sort of out of body experience. Is that what your talking about? Lost in thought and on autopilot. If so yes I think that is normal for folks with trauma. I don't see as losing your mind. More like catching up with your mind.

Not lost in thought, no, but emotionally overloaded I guess I would put it (at least until I nope out of the metaphorical driver's seat) to get there. In the metaphorical back of the van of anything I'm just observing sensory input, exercising no executive control over my body's actions.

Fortunately my body doesn't seem to do much that I wouldn't have done, except for maybe phrasing things a particular way or being more straightforwardly if-this-happens-then-do-that without the procrastinating that I might do were my hands on the wheel, so to speak.

Thank you @HomelessJoe.