Dissociation medication

[LizardStuff]

I'm going through a horrendous time at the moment with my mental health and have been stuck in a state of dissociation for a fortnight now, where my mind has literally shut down and I feel like I'm in a dream like state. I've suffered with this off and on since a child and know It's due to extreme anxiety and my brain trying to protect me. I've recently been prescribed propranolol for racing heart/ shakes and daily panic attacks but if anything it seems to add to the emotional numbness and feeling of ' blankness '. Can anyone relate or suggest any meds which might help?

Hi OP, I’m sorry I have no suggestions with regards to medication, but I have used propranolol to help with the physical reaction to stress and anxiety (and still do when necessary). I’m sorry you’re going through such a difficult time. Are you able to get counselling / therapy to
help address what’s at the cause of what you’re going through?

@wheeliegood thank you for replying. I desperately need counselling really, but normal cbt nhs stuff wouldn't even scratch the surface of 40 years of trauma - starting in early childhood and continuing in one way or another for the subsequent years. I first remember feeling dissociated around the age of 10 and it's continued off and on over the years. I happen to be going through a really stressful time right now with a family matter and dissociation is playing havoc with my head. Did you find propranolol makes you feel spacey at all? It definitely helps with the physical symptoms of anxiety, but I can't work out of its also contributing to this ' dream' state I'm stuck in.

I get this spacey feeling too, but for me I know it's because I'm really tense and breathing strange (can't help it) so it's like hyperventilating. It's horrible and I feel like I can't think clearly or do anything remotely productive when im like this.
I take propanalol and it doesn't make me any more spacey x

If you can’t afford private counselling look into free or low cost services near you. nothing compares to getting good therapy. Good luck

Thank you. I'm sorry you suffer too. It's a horrible, exhausting way to live life. I guess it's all just part of anxiety. I couldn't work out if propranolok was adding to the dissociation really. I find it helps somewhat, but I also feel quite depressed after taking it which then creates another problem on top of the existing one.

I get this quite a lot and propranolol does nothing. I take low dose amitriptyline 10mg for fibromyalgia and I think this helps with my anxiety. Just found out at 41 that I have severe ADHD in both inattentive and hyperactive which majorly contributes to my anxiety and spacing out quite a lot. Other things I do to help with the detached feeling is yoga and going out classes and just talking to people helps me break out of the dissociation cycle. Even just talking to friends and family can help bring me back to real life. It’s also exhausting so make sure you’re getting enough sleep and rest.

Also sound baths really help think it’s the frequency’s. Anything that helps you slow down your mind, sometimes a good walk listening to some music you enjoy can help.

I told the GP propanalol did work (it didnt) but then realised the half life of it is only a out 4/5 hours. So obviously taking 1 tablet when I wake up isn't going to stop panic attacks in the evening.. I take 40mg 3x a day now and helps with the worst parts of panic attacks for me

Thank you for your reply and understanding ! My family unfortunately, are the cause of my anxiety so being around them wouldn't help! Lots of ongoing trauma there... I forced myself to get out today and see somewhere different but still felt terribly dissociated - just don't feel ' real 'in my body, like I'm observing things through a clouded lense. My body feels entirely separate from my mind.

I’ve been feeling a lot like this today, does worry me when driving. Ahh it’s no fun, are you getting enough sleep as I find that makes a huge difference, think I’ve probably been through a lot of trauma with my parents when I was younger also, rarely confide in them to be honest. I just have a few really good girlfriends and my other half is a great listener, would be lost without him. I went on something called a wellnamis bed the other day. Apparently it’s something the army use to heal trauma from what they have seen in war zones. Found it did help a little, definitely lowered by heart rate.

Sorry you're feeling it too, I think unless you experience it yourself it's impossible to explain to people. The bed sounds intriguing, I'll look that up ! Ummm, yes difficult parents I can full well relate to - they're elderly now but as the scapegoat daughter they've caused me an unimaginable amount of pain and it only gets worse as they age. I have only one close friend ( lost all the others when I started suffering with mental health ), but I can't burden them with everything, it's too much for any one person to handle.

Also I’ve just started CBT with mind matters in my area, they also do other types of therapy which may help, it’s free so might be worth getting in touch with them if in England.

Thank you, that's really helpful

There's some information here on coping with dissociation.

I don't know if you've been diagnosed but if CPTSD resonates, Pete Walker's book CPTSD from Surviving to Thriving might be helpful.

Trauma based therapy may help. You can find a therapist on the BAPC website.

Thank you. I do wonder if it's cptsd. I've kidded myself all my life that my trauma ' isn't that bad ',because I wasn't physically/sexually abused but when I talk about the emotional abuse and neglect to my friend, she's shocked. It's far from the norm. Everyday throws up another drama courtesy of my parents and before I can find my footing, I'm thrown to the floor again. Hence the dissociation - it's all too dark and overwhelming for me to cope with.

I have tried a few SSRIs for it as well as quetiapine which I really hated. I’m prescribed medical cannabis for cPTSD through a private clinic. This has been utterly life changing for me, but I appreciate the costs may make it not an option for you.

A good place to start might be NAPAC, they have a good helpline and can point you in the right direction for help.

That's really helpful . I think the starting point for overcoming all of my anxiety and associated problems is first recognising that there really is a problem. This thread, and the useful posts, has been really helpful in shining a light on that. All too often I find myself down playing my childhood or previously, confiding in the wrong people who invalidated my experiences.

OP please contact NAPAC, they will listen and validate everything you say. Many people don't understand childhood abuse, don't take any notice of them.

In the meantime I posted coping strategies above. You can contact NHS Direct if you feel like you're in crisis.

Hub of Hope is a searchable database for any help available in your area. You're going to be ok.

You've just made me cry with your post, thank you. I've woke today with a stone in my chest, not helped by mothers day and my mum is currently giving me the silent treatment although I don't know what I've done. I looked at the napac website , I think they're shut over the weekend but I'm going to call them tomorrow.

It sounds like maladaptive daydreaming or de-realisation, both of which I have.
It was an annoying wait, but I eventually got given a clinical psychologist on the NHS and it was an absolute game changer and I'm so grateful that I had her.
The mental health team referred me after some pushing and me telling them how I felt and why.
Unfortunately, the mental health team can be inadequate and you might not get anywhere, but at the least I'd request for a referal from the GP stating the severity of things.

Thank you to all who posted. I've gone down the rabbit hole today to read up on cptsd and dissociation. Pete walkers website in particular. I can relate to do much, especially the fight/ flight/freeze/ fawn response to trauma - I think I've been stuck in freeze for most of my life. I've cried a lot of tears today, perhaps most with the realisation that my family will never change and wasting a minute more on trying to get them to see or hear or understand me, will be more time wasted. The only way forward is to work on myself and get some proper support. The resources suggested by a few of you will hopefully come good.

Bear in mind that propranolol will lower your blood pressure, so that could contribute to a feeling if faintness. Especially if your BP already tends to be low. I've suggested this before on here, and I think it helps some people, so I'll try to explain my pain attack solution (not guaranteed to help but worth a try). I acknowledge the panic, and say hello to it. Then I tell it I'll come back to it in a minute. Then I do something physical, the best is usually washing the dishes. Note the warmth of the water, smell of the bumbles, think about how you are stacking the dishes etc. job done, anxiety will get back in my head, acknowledge it again, put it off by doing another tiny job, spray and wipe surfaces, hoover or something. Again, focus on smell or sound or feel. Repeat until calmer. As things start to ease, you might feel able to leave the house for a walk. Spot birds, cars, whatever grabs you. Hopefully you and your body and your environment will start to reconnect. And the noise in your head from the panic will hopefully get quieter. I wish you all the best and hope you can find things to help you.