Dissociation due to trauma

[anonmarch2023]

Does anyone else get this? It’s a bloody horrible feeling, I can have a few days of feeling fine and then suddenly feel ‘blank’. I’m meant to be going to an appt at 2 but feel so flat and out of it that there’s no way I’m going to manage.

Felt funny last night falling asleep - kept waking up with a start/out of breath.

I have got PRN meds to take when it’s this bad which I’ve taken but genuinely can’t get myself to do anything - haven’t eaten or anything.

Does anyone else get this, is there anything that stops it?

Following and hoping to bump this because it’s also something I suffer with. Such a horrible feeling x

I've only recently come out of the other side of this. Intense therapy and beta blockers helped me, can you afford therapy? Even if you might have to cut out other things, it's so worth it to be well again.
Weirdly, this podcast really helped me recently.

open.spotify.com/episode/1dBnMUeFd0nqX6j4q7KQK5?si=wfE6ki-1SV6hrTM5jORrwA&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A7iQXmUT7XGuZSzAMjoNWlX

Well worth a listen. Just remember this is only your 'forever' if you accept it that way. It will pass, you'll make sure of it.

Another thing that helped me was eating and drinking discipline. You have no appetite but you need to force yourself to eat and force a lot of water down you, you're ill and your body needs fuel to repair the brain, just as it would any other long term illness.

Have you tried anything in the moment to bring yourself out of it?

Two ideas that occur - sensory things, trying to focus on them mindfully and really feel them. Sometimes it can help to bring you closer to the real world. A warm bath, something soft and furry, an ice cube in your hand, that kind of thing. You could try some mindful eating or drinking and kill two birds with one stone.

Or, because this is a response to unprocessed trauma and anxiety, something that calms anxiety - even though you’re not really feeling it, excessive anxiety is the reason you’re feeling detached. A guided meditation, mindful breathing etc.

Therapy is likely to be helpful in the longer term, are you on a waiting list?

If you can get therapy and can't afford many sessions, go with a list of your traumas and tackle them immediately and in great detail. The only way I could let go was relaxing all the horrible details k thought I could never tell anyone x
Good luck OP

Releasing*

I have beta blockers. Do you find they help stop the dissociation? My mind is racing alllll the time atm and it’s like my brain is dissociating because it’s just to much to cope with

Yes I’m exactly like this.

have experienced a lot of trauma in the past 2 years. I can barely function some days, feel blank and almost not here, don’t want move or eat. I get days where I don’t give a shit about my appearance and close myself off from everyone.

not sure how to deal with it but it’s getting me down. I’m on nitrazepam at night to help me sleep although I’ve only one left now so hopefully the psych will give me more but I think my other meds need upping too.

I’m sorry you are going through this. I understand the feeling. What has helped me somewhat is doing yoga in a studio with others as it makes me very aware of my body. It hasn’t helped with the numb emotions though - of not being here. Today, the sun was shining and the light looked so beautiful when I went out. I felt like was on another planet or dreaming. I didn’t quite understand my place here.