Signs That Somebody Is Dissociated I.e. A "blank Spell"

[Hannah91102]

Hi guys

I've been having a bit of trouble recently with dissociating. I'll have a gap in my memory, and I don't know where I've been or who I've seen or anything. Can people sense or see a difference in me when this happens do you think? Or am I just the same as usual. I just don't understand whether or not anybody else can see it in me. It happened today. The last thing I remember is texting my friend at half 8 this morning, and then the next thing, I'm sat in my room at 5pm. As far as I know, I must have gone into college, as I've not heard from any of my friends about not being there. I thought about asking a tutor or something, but I don't know whether it's a good idea or not. I don't know if I'd seem any different.

I've done a fair amount of reading up and research, but I can't find anything anywhere about whether there are signs that someone is dissociated.

Thanks for your help! :-)

 

[WillyKat]

Hi Hannah,
I hope you can find some answers here.

I wish I could answer you directly, but I can't. I can only say that I think that having gaps in your memory is sufficient reason to get it checked out with a professional. Whether people notice or not is a secondary concern. They may or may not, depending on a lot of things.

 

[Carla Martin]

This happens to me too........Although its not for as long of a time frame as you. Other people say the can tell because I don't answer them right away or just kinda look past them when they are talking to me. I don't know how to explain it. but during that time I am someplace other than where I am at and i don;t really remember where I am until i come out of it. but I never forget altogether. I do have a really hard time remembering what i did three days ago or who I talked to on the phone, things like that...I know this isn't much help hahaha but I don't really know how to explain it.

 

[Abstract]

I don't really know but have thought about this a lot in recent years. It stuns me that no therapist ever brought it up and family and friends didn't seem to know. But really that is only half the story. I have been treated as if I am stupid or disorganised (which in a sense I am) and treated as if I am uncooperative by therapists which was far from the truth - consciously at least.

Apparently we can blink less and stare more and have a glassy look and our reactions can slow down. When I am totally down I am totally unresponsive but it seems I am often able to appear to be "normal" and yet remember nothing at all and for long periods of time. Most of my childhood is missing from age 5 onwards.

I think I dissociated so much that people saw it as my personality to an extent. As I have become better at controlling it I have seen a shocked look on others faces (that know me well) but I do know I am very different from one time to the next.

These are the times I don't remember what happens afterwards more or less I think but it is hard to tell.

 

[VDWngr1355]

My therapist picked up fast and was the one who informed me I dissociate. I didn't believe him at first because I was so out of it.

Now, most good portion of the time I can tell when I'm dissociating. Co-workers don't know what it is, but there are times when I dissociate at work and they'll come over to me and ask if I am okay and just say, "you don't look like you are here."

So some people might pick up on it and a lot probably not.

I do have large chunks of time missing too.

 

[WillyKat]

Wow. I spent a good part of my life trying to reach someone that was often "not there". Started out as a crush but became almost a life-long project to reach her. I thought I was getting close at one point, not long after I told her what had happened to me (which I think may have been a mistake). But she I guess ran away. I have not spoken to her in a few years now.

Throughout her life, men have complained about how cold she was. She constantly sets dates or appointments (men, women, friends) and then doesn't show up, doesn't explain, doesn't apologize.

And in the past few years I've felt as if she may have more than one personality. Thing is, if you were to set an appointment with her, she'd often be really warm and tell you she'd "love to" get together. Then nothing. You would bring her to task for it and she'd just say "that's how I am." It's like there's one very warm, loving, friendly person that everyone just loves; then there's this other cold one that infuriates people.

I sure wish I could reach her, but it's not going to happen and it breaks my heart to think of it.

 

[Hopp]

I am trying to understand dissociation. I Think I probably have been in this state a lot in my Life. I have Always had difficulties with remembering my Life. Even my family have been wondering why. It´s scary. I´m thinking it must have been difficult for people to understand that I was somewhere else, otherwise I hope someone would have asked me what happend. It´s even more scary to Think that they didn´t care... I don´t know what´s true...