Post by robyn on Feb 7, 2016 4:54:29 GMT
I've noticed a lot of "is this dissociation" and "what is dissociation like" questions in the inbox. So I wanted to create a thread where people can share how dissociation feels for them. Our FAQ has a link to a post by goldenphoenixgirl that has some short descriptions. I kind of wanted to maybe see some more in depth descriptions and such.
This is how I dissociate:
I start losing the ability to focus my eyes. I have to use twice the effort to focus on anything (what I'm typing, people talking, etc). I feel like my awareness/consciousness/whatever is withdrawing into myself through my eyes. Overall, I feel my my awareness is trying to shut down so that my brain doesn't have to function at an emotional/whatever level. This usually happens as a reaction to stress, especially when it's something that's related to one my long term sources of stress (such as finding a place for my husband and me to live).
From the FAQ:
You may be dissociating if you:
find yourself staring at one spot, not thinking anything
feel completely numb
feel like you’re not really in your body, like you’re watching yourself in a movie.
feel suddenly lightheaded or dizzy
lose the plot of the show or conversation you were focused on
feel as if you’re not quite real, like you’re in a dream
feel like you’re floating
suddenly feel like you’re not a part of the world around you
feel detached and far away from other people, who may seem mechanical or unreal to you
are very startled when someone/something gets your attention
completely forget what you were thinking just a moment ago
suddenly cover your face or react as if you’re about to be hurt for no reason
can’t remember important information about yourself, like your age or where you live
find yourself rocking back and forth
become very focused on a small or trivial object or event
find that voices, sounds or writing seem far away and you sometimes have trouble understanding them.
feel as if you’ve just experienced a flashback (perhaps rapidly) but you can’t remember anything about it.
perceive your body as foreign or not belonging to you
This is how I dissociate:
I start losing the ability to focus my eyes. I have to use twice the effort to focus on anything (what I'm typing, people talking, etc). I feel like my awareness/consciousness/whatever is withdrawing into myself through my eyes. Overall, I feel my my awareness is trying to shut down so that my brain doesn't have to function at an emotional/whatever level. This usually happens as a reaction to stress, especially when it's something that's related to one my long term sources of stress (such as finding a place for my husband and me to live).
From the FAQ:
You may be dissociating if you:
find yourself staring at one spot, not thinking anything
feel completely numb
feel like you’re not really in your body, like you’re watching yourself in a movie.
feel suddenly lightheaded or dizzy
lose the plot of the show or conversation you were focused on
feel as if you’re not quite real, like you’re in a dream
feel like you’re floating
suddenly feel like you’re not a part of the world around you
feel detached and far away from other people, who may seem mechanical or unreal to you
are very startled when someone/something gets your attention
completely forget what you were thinking just a moment ago
suddenly cover your face or react as if you’re about to be hurt for no reason
can’t remember important information about yourself, like your age or where you live
find yourself rocking back and forth
become very focused on a small or trivial object or event
find that voices, sounds or writing seem far away and you sometimes have trouble understanding them.
feel as if you’ve just experienced a flashback (perhaps rapidly) but you can’t remember anything about it.
perceive your body as foreign or not belonging to you