Not Understanding Others When They Speak

[Underdog]

My final question for the night. I've experienced this now for a few years and believe it is dissassociation related, but not sure. I've been in many public, loud and busy scenarios where I want to hear what others in the group are saying but I find myself being standoffish and not truly caring. Towards the end, no matter how loud they are speaking, it's like they aren't speaking a language I know and understand. Not sure how else to describe the experience, to be honest. Does anyone else experience this? Is it dissociation? My therapist seemed a tad alarmed today when I told her this happening to me when I am stressed.

 

[passerine]

Sounds like dissociation and something that I was just talking to my therapist about today. During our session the other day, I was dissociating and could not make out the words he was saying as he was trying to talk me through it. At one point I was unresponsive. I couldn't even hear him. I was having flashbacks at that time, too. There was just too much going on inside to process what was happening outside. It's happened when I've been out in public, too, where people are talking to me and it almost sounds as if they are underwater or just very far away. It is quite scary, not to mention incredibly embarrassing. Most often this occurs when I'm overstimulated (too much noise can be a trigger for me). I don't think it's an unusual phenomena in the context of PTSD, though.

 

[BlueOrange]

I tend to shut down when overwhelmed. Everybody has a limit to how much they can handle - when you've been sensitized to something, the limit can be reached sooner.

One thing that helps me is to notice that I'm approaching my limit, and to ask people to slow down or pause. (The trick is to do this while I still have what it takes to ask.) accepting that I can't always be in noisy or crowded spaces helps, too.

 

[Friday]

I have that happening rather a lot, lately. In 2 different flavors

- I know I just heard them. I understood them when I heard them. I have no idea what they just said. Pardon. Sorry. Can you start over? Sometimes I can retain what they're saying, and sometimes it's in one ear and out the other. If I've tried more than once, I just need to go lay down.

- Words. Words. Words. I think. But I have no meaning attached to those words. It's just noise. Noise with inflection that may have meaning, but if so I have no damn idea as to what. Again with the laying down.

Not saying laying down is a good idea. But it's the only thing I've managed to come up with. Okay, interaction is a no-go right now. Check.

 

[DromedaryLights]

I'm not sure if it is exactly what you are experiencing, but something like this happens to me a lot. I just start to feel very removed from the situation that is going on around me, and sometimes it gets to a point where I will be listening to someone talk and then when they stop I will realize that I have absolutely no idea what they just said. It can feel like they are very far away somehow, or like there is some sort of barrier between them and me, if that makes sense.

I'll sometimes lose my train of thought while I'm talking too, have moments where I'm like "Wait, what the hell did I just say? For all I know I could have been speaking gibberish just now."

It's not all the time though; sometimes I am can be totally present, even sharp. It usually happens in concordance with other PTSD symptoms, and I do think it is disassociation related. A lot of times it happens when I start to think about traumatic memories, and my girlfriend can usually tell when it happens -- she'll often remark that I suddenly seem distant.

It does get to be pretty embarrassing and has caused a lot of problems for me at work. People find it exasperating if they know me, or if they don't then they just assume I am an idiot. Very frustrating.

Which I could offer some help, but best of luck and I hope it gets better for you.

 

[Underdog]

Thank you everyone. Wasn't sure what to make of it and my therapist seemingly being alarmed over it rather upset me. Apparently, I haven't discussed a lot of things with her over the past few years including the internal rage. Guessing I haven't discussed them because I couldn't do so and feared myself, but am finally coming to some understanding about where I am and what happened, what is still happening and why I feel "stuck."

 

[racheldiane]

That happens to me when I disassociate. I also get in this state where I know I'm supposed to say something back, but A.) I have no idea what they just said and B.) I'm afraid of not being able to talk. It's happened to me where I've tried to respond and it just comes out jibberish because I don't have any thoughts formed before I'm supposed to say something so I'll just start making sounds and halfway through I'm like 'shit I can't talk' and then I just kinda smile and walk away. Quite embarrassing for me but I'm sure it's entertaining to some degree for the other person. Usually I can retain my ability to say words though, so I'll start saying something, pause, and be like 'jk I started talking before I had anything to say, my b'

 

[Ronin]

Experience this fairly often.

Coupled with aphasia it then gets super fun. Better keep my mouth shut and wait for it to move.

 

[Orglethorp]

This happens to me as well, but it's not just in loud or crowded places. Usually, but not always. Sometimes I can't distinguish the words at all, and other times it's like I have a delay between hearing and processing. I'll get it eventually, but usually not before I've asked the other person to repeat what they just said.