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CartDown
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Default Apr 29, 2019 at 08:11 AM
  #1
Thanks to therapy, I've been realizing how detached I am sometimes. And this is something I've been dealing with since my childhood. I've found certain things I relate to, such as maladaptive daydreaming. I just always want to listen to music and daydream, always have. I remember when I walked the hallways at school, people would seriously have to get right in my face for attention, because I was not always present. I also notice I space out a lot, even during session.I'm embarrassed by it because it's not like I do it intentionally. It's almost like he knows the deal though, because he asks that I repeat things back to him. It's awkward sometimes.

Is this something others here relate to?
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Default Apr 29, 2019 at 01:54 PM
  #2
Yes, I am pretty dissociative. In life people have to say my name to get my attention so I can snap out of it and not be so out of it. In therapy, I do grounding exercises to try to not dissociate but I usually do anyway. HUGS Kit

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Default Apr 29, 2019 at 01:59 PM
  #3
I used to have constant problems with dissociation. It was the coping mechanism I used to survive, but I carried it with me beyond its usefulness and it became a problem.

My therapists worked a great deal with me on staying grounded but it took truly having worked through my abuse history for the dissociation to finally go away. I still have very rare instances of PTSD symptoms, but generally it isn't an issue now, certainly not to the extent it once was.
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Default Apr 29, 2019 at 03:38 PM
  #4
Thank you for sharing this and those that responded. Me too. Dissociation has been my issue all along, since I was less than a handful of years. I just didn't understand or know how to put it into words. I am almost 10 years without a drink and I thought it would disappear. It has not. I am seeing a new pdoc tomorrow for this very reason...as I have had many labels over the years and the meds I am on need to be reviewed. Anyway, you are most definitely not alone.
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Default Apr 29, 2019 at 04:55 PM
  #5
Yes, I relate. I also didn't realize how bad my dissociation had gotten until I went to therapy.

Talking about my emotions and channeling my feelings into art helped immensely. I'm still a spacey person, but I no longer step into a shower and 'wake up' 45 minutes later when the hot water's gone.

There's nothing wrong with dissociating, but if you feel it's maladaptive, it's good you're looking at it.

If it's any use, I don't think my dissociation improved by tackling it directly. It was a symptom, which reduced when I began creating something with my emotions (art) or discussing others' emotions (I took a course on poetry and mental health through Futura which was probably just as helpful as therapy -- and free!). I think my previous strategy was getting lost in my emotions (daydreaming, listening to music, reading, etc), and my emotions were trapped there.
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Default Apr 29, 2019 at 07:23 PM
  #6
It might be depersonalization, not dissociation.

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Default Apr 29, 2019 at 07:29 PM
  #7
Quote:
Originally Posted by coolibrarian View Post
It might be depersonalization, not dissociation.
@coolibrarian... can you explain the difference?

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Default Apr 30, 2019 at 10:17 AM
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You can look at this Depersonalization - Wikipedia for more info, but I have experienced depersonalization as my "car knowing where to go," that is, I get to work, but have no recollection of driving there. Sometimes I look at my hand and it seems like it doesn't belong to me. I have had the experience of "day-dreaming" in my t session, and my T asks me where I went; once I was on the ceiling, looking down at my session. Dissociation, on the other hand, has to be "At least two distinct and relatively enduring personality states," whether they are called alters, others, or another name. I have never experienced this, nor has my T mentioned that "anyone else" has "come out" during my sessions.

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Default Apr 30, 2019 at 10:32 AM
  #9
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Originally Posted by coolibrarian View Post
You can look at this Depersonalization - Wikipedia for more info, but I have experienced depersonalization as my "car knowing where to go," that is, I get to work, but have no recollection of driving there. Sometimes I look at my hand and it seems like it doesn't belong to me. I have had the experience of "day-dreaming" in my t session, and my T asks me where I went; once I was on the ceiling, looking down at my session. Dissociation, on the other hand, has to be "At least two distinct and relatively enduring personality states," whether they are called alters, others, or another name. I have never experienced this, nor has my T mentioned that "anyone else" has "come out" during my sessions.
Hmmm. Thanks coolibrarian...
I experience all of this. Still sorting it out and it appears there are crossover terms that are used differently by different sources and providers. Confusing and fascinating.

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Default Apr 30, 2019 at 11:42 PM
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I have a dissociative disorder. I had DID but I am integrated. That doesn't make the dissociation stop. It just means I do it as a single integrated psyche. Dissociation is actually an amazing adaptive technique. I've learned to harness it constructively...most of the time. A severe PTSD with psychosis episode and dissociation still has it's old destructive negative features.
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Default May 01, 2019 at 08:28 AM
  #11
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Originally Posted by sheltiemom2007 View Post
I have a dissociative disorder. I had DID but I am integrated. That doesn't make the dissociation stop. It just means I do it as a single integrated psyche. Dissociation is actually an amazing adaptive technique. I've learned to harness it constructively...most of the time. A severe PTSD with psychosis episode and dissociation still has it's old destructive negative features.
Thank you for sharing that, sheltiemom2007.
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Default May 01, 2019 at 10:25 AM
  #12
@FearLess47

There are a lot of good books on this subject; have you read any? I can give you (or anyone else on this Forum) titles, if you want. Just ask.

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Default May 01, 2019 at 04:27 PM
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@FearLess47

There are a lot of good books on this subject; have you read any? I can give you (or anyone else on this Forum) titles, if you want. Just ask.
Thank you @coolibrarian. I have read several books about trauma, the body and dissociation/PTSD but not the DID stuff yet. I'm just starting with a new trauma T and psych so I have been a little cautious about reading too much. It's a bit overwhelming and yet answers many mysteries and questions so I am sure I'll be having reading assignments soon.


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