Automatic "numbing out" during intense dysphoria?

Sometimes when I am going through EXTREME BPD distress/dysphoria, I've noticed that my brain will sometimes seemingly automatically go numb shortly after the triggering event. It's like my debilitating emotional pain is temporarily shut off, or almost shut off. Of course is does come back, but it's almost as if my brain has adapted this defensive mechanism where it just shuts everything off for a bit. Maybe an hour or so. Sometimes longer. And I feel like I'm just in a haze. I don't know that I would describe this as dissociation because I'm aware of this automatic numbing. It's like my brain is giving me this temporary reprieve/relief where I have this window of time to take actions to protect myself from doing something impulsive/unsafe. Otherwise, in these most intense distressing times, my emotions spike so quickly and blind me to the point where any other rational thoughts that might otherwise keep me safe are just not present or within reach. There's no room for them. But the numbness kind of interrupts that for a bit. But I'm not deliberately doing anything, good or bad, to try to numb out. It just happens automatically now. Well actually it doesn't happen often. I've only noticed it a few times, and those were the times when my emotions were at their absolute most unbearable point.

Does this happen for anyone else?

Hmm, I wouldn't say I've felt it exactly like that, but often I either feel numb to emotion or feel a lot of emotion. Sometimes when I should be feeling emotional I'm just numb, and sometimes the emotions will come out later - but not always.

Yeah, I get something similar to this - I've put it down to dissociation. It's kind of like an emergency shut-down, when my emotions get too intense, & feels very surreal while it's happening.

There's 2 types of dissociation:

Depersonalisation: a feeling of separation from yourself and your body. People who experience depersonalisation may say that they feel like they are observing their own body from the outside, or as if they are in a dream.

Derealisation: similar to depersonalisation, but it is a feeling of being detached from the external world, such as other people or things. Derealisation may cause familiar things to look strange, unreal, or unfamiliar. Derealisation and depersonalisation often occur at the same time.

(NOTE: I've plagiarised the above from a website as I'm not allowed to post links yet.)

Do some Googling & you'll find heaps more info.

Also, I've found the DBT skill known as TIPP to be very helpful, so perhaps check that out while you're Googling.

Hope this helps.

Thank you! I think I relate more to derealization than I do depersonalization. It still doesn't quite seem to be an exact fit for what I experience as described above, but similar. And yes I know TIPP! I think it's a great skill

It may be something similar, that emergency shut-down mode our brains do when they're overwhelmed. I hope you find the answer to your question, & that my suggestion aided you in your search.

"I don't know that I would describe this as dissociation because I'm aware of this automatic numbing."

I would still call it dissociation even if you're aware of it happening. But if derealization seems to fit better, that's okay too. Sometimes I'm aware that I'm dissociating but mostly I'm not aware.

Yes, almost exactly what you are describing is what I would use to experience in times of overwhelming emotional stress. The only thing I ever found that worked to stop them is just not letting yourself get to that level of emotional distress. I also noticed I normally had this occur when I was cycling through things in my head trying to figure some situation out and just couldn't do it. The one other thing that helped was really just finding some way to relax because the episode will end and you will be fine as much as it doesn't seem like it when it is happening.

Very true. Thank you.