Was This Dissociation?

[loui50]

I was driving yesterday and all i could focus on was oncoming traffic. My eyes were twitching back and forth as the traffic passed. I felt like i was floating and not really there. It physically felt like a flashback but there was no memory playing out. What just happened? It scared me.

 

[rosey]

sounds to me like an emotional flashback. I have these frequently. your body is reacting but you have no idea exactly why. care for yourself in the same way as you would with standard flashbacks.

sorry that happened to you especially whilst you were driving.

 

[loui50]

It was scary. My 5 year old was in the car.

So i have never heard of an emotional flashback. Does that mean i was have a flashback to feelings but not a specific memory? That has never happened. Usually my flashbackes are like watching a movie of a scene playing out as if i were watching my past. Complete reliving of and incident. I have had many traumas. I was neglected as a child and i was a cop. So Lots of trauma.

 

[rosey]

It was scary. My 5 year old was in the car.

So i have never heard of an emotional flashback. Does tha...

yes you have the idea. it is a response that hits your emotions so your emotions run off in response and it is hard to trace back exactly what much of the time can happen with you body too in that your body response to something in a way it did at the time of the trauma. I have a lot of flashbacks in those ways and the more standard visual flashbacks. I cant really explain it well maybe look it up for a better description.

I am not surprised it frightened you hope you are okish now.

 

[loui50]

Wow. I googled it really quick and that sounds like what happened. How is it i have had ptsd since 2005 and never heard of this. I guess i know what i will be talking about to my therapist monday. I have been totally triggered since the hurricane hit fl recently because one of my traumas was a cat 3 hurricane in 04. Since the car incident i have been really short fused and i know hard to be around. Thank you.

 

[rosey]

Wow. I googled it really quick and that sounds like what happened. How is it i have had ptsd since 200...

Your welcome. They get less scarey once you are aware of what they are but hopefully it was a one off for you. Take it easy as with standard flashbacks it can take a while to calm the nervous system back down.

 

[loui50]

So I discussed this incident with my T and she called it depersonalization/derealizaion. I looked that up and it is exactly what happened. I feel better having names for this stuff and knowing that others have experienced it!! I feel less "crazy."

 

[Gs172003]

I was driving yesterday and all i could focus on was oncoming traffic. My eyes were twitching back and...

That!!!! That's what happened to me yesterday and it ended in a panic attack! Thanks!! ( sorry to steal your thread)

 

[loui50]

No need to apologize. It is nice to not be alone!!! It is also nice to know it has a name and is a real thing isn't it!! My T was so calm and just like, it is called depersonalization/derealization. You aren't going crazy it is a common symptom of PTSD. You can read about it and ask me any questions.

 

[Gs172003]

Mine was triggered. I don't know if it was exactly the same as yours but it sounds pretty close.

 

[Sideways]

she called it depersonalization/derealizaion

Sounds a lot like derealisation. When that happens to me, I become a total space cadet, and it feels like everything around me could just be a great big movie set.

Driving on auto-pilot is a form of dissociation and is actually quite safe.

But (big but) derealisation is further up the dissociative spectrum than just auto pilot. If it happens again while you're driving, definitely pull over and do some brief grounding exercises before getting behind the wheel again.