Weird Dissociation

[surviving_it_all]

I sometimes have this weird dissociation. When I go to recall my address, its another.... like from years ago. When I go to recall a tidbit of information, its from so long ago. Once I realize, I am in an entire different moment of time... I get sort of embarrassed even though noone knows but me. I find it weird and creepy that I do this. Maybe someone else has experienced something like this?

 

[safenow]

It seems you and I are destined to talk tonight. I have lived with dissociation for more years than you have been alive. It's good to know you are aware you are doing it. Believe it or not, that is a good sign. Many people with PTSD dissociate.

I suggest you write down in a journal each time that happens. Write down the date of the event, as well as the date you are remembering. Take them with you to your therapist the next time you see him/her and they can help you process what is going on. Something has awakened that memory in you. Something in your current time zone. Once you can figure out what that trigger was, you can learn how to dissipate it before you go back in time.

Just like everything else with PTSD, it won't happen over night, but it will happen. I learned a strange thing a number of years back. The only time that happens is when your mind feels the body is safe enough to handle what ever that memory is.

You are not alone any more, surviving_it_all.

 

[surviving_it_all]

Cool. I mean when you dissociate... Do you ever find it odd? For me its mostly, an emotional state that I revert back but while I am in this emotional state if I have to like fill out a form or like I dont know recall a piece of information--- its not the the answer from now...today from like another time a long time ago.. for example my address, my phone number, my age, the year... I dont realize the dissociation until I get in this sticky situations.

 

[safenow]

When I'm under a lot of stress, I have to take this little red stuffed animal with me. It has the number 10 on it. Which is part of my address. When I see that, I can picture my livingroom, and then I know how to get home. I call that little teddy my 5-4-3-2-1 game. It helps to ground me to the now.

There are all sorts of tricks you can use to get you back into the now. If you want to know some of them, let me know. I'm more than happy to share what helps me.

Do you ever find it odd?

In the past when that happened, it did find it odd. But I've been doing it for so many years, I am now co-conscious, so it's totally different.