What is the difference between emotional numbing and dissociation?

[hope4us]

or is it the exact same thing?

 

[somerandomguy]

Dissociation is not being present. It's not even a PTSD thing - ever been driving and then suddenly realized you don't remember the last few minutes of driving and you were somehow on autopilot? Yeah, everyone does that, not just us.

Emotional numbing is not being aware of your feelings, or feeling like you don't have any feelings. It can be associated with dissociation, but not necessarily. It's its own thing, totally separate from dissociation.

 

[Friday]

or is it the exact same thing?

Squares and rectangles.

Emotional numbing is a type of disassociation. Because you are dis-associating from your emotions. Distancing yourself. Numbing/not feeling them.

It has its own little spectrum under the reeeeeeeally big umbrella of disassociation, as do most other kinds of disassociation. From not being effected emotionally by the millions of people you’ve never met, to professional distance, to setting your emotions aside to accomplish something, to being in shock on one end of the spectrum (normal, transient, and absolutely necessary, it’s a sign of something wrong if someone cannot do these things); all the way to the other end of the spectrum where a person is completely cut off from their emotions, or simply doesn’t possess them -or some of them- at all, ever (also a sign of something seriously wrong). And a vast area in between.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Dissociation is not being present. It's not even a PTSD thing - ever been driving and then suddenly realized you don't remember the last few minutes of driving and you were somehow on autopilot? Yeah, everyone does that, not just us.

Emotional numbing is not being aware of your feelings, or feeling like you don't have any feelings. It can be associated with dissociation, but not necessarily. It's its own thing, totally separate from dissociation.

I have gotten good at "numbing" when I go into "red alert" emotions go in a space....but I am able to retrieve them.....after more trauma or a time where I have to stay on alert....is over. Then, sometimes they stay put away if I'm distracted....and other times I take them out....and deal with them.....then there are the unanticipated "leaks" always in the wrong time and place. Dissociation....I can do....
I have done.....I still do....and I work really hard to stay connected.....and with practice...I'm getting better. So, yes they are two different things...I agree with somerandomguy.

 

[katz]

I've always wondered what the difference was. I know that there is a difference. I was having a conversation with my sister (that I don't have much of a relationship with), when all at once she looked at me and said "don't do that- I hate when you do that!"

I must have changed my expression on my face. I know that I did not dissociate. I guess my face just went … blank? I look back now and always get a giggle out of it. Don't know why - just do.