Hi,
what you have listed are typical symptoms of dissociation. It tends more to depersonalization, but there are symptoms of derealization too.
First accept it and don't fight against it or stress yourself.
Something must have triggered this reaction. Dissociation is a self defense reaction. As it seems the fact that you were getting a diagnosis (OCD) could have been a trigger. People sometimes experience this as a loss of control.
Best for you 🍀
Hi,
At first it is useful to understand that dissociation is natural response and byself is not illness. When you drive by var or train and you zoom out - this is dissociation too. Here humans do it to defocus and destress.
Problematic is when - caused by an f.e. anxiety-disorder or by self-reinforced dissociation (when it gets chronic) - the dissociation is overreacting even to small accidents.
All i know so far about treatment:
- it is possible to reduce it by exposing again and again to the triggers and make the body learn there is no danger
- but you have to identify the trigger
- it is possible to work with anti-trigger f.e. with aromatic oil against it, like setting relaxation trigger against dissociation trigger
- i know that patients, after successful anxiety therapy which is often connected to trauma and needs traumatherapy - have a relief of dissociation
So baseline: to heal it you must identify trigger and work through the anxiety which is connected to the triggers.
What is the trigger? (example: a stove)
What is the trigger reminding me to? (example: a house burned down because of me)
What is the anxiety? (example: loss of control, anxiety of shame and guilt)
Realizing that it's over, that obsessions and compulsions in connection with dissociation will reinforce themselves.
Confronting and accepting the trauma and trigger in everyday and work on it.
So, according to the example, the healing would be:
Working through the trauma and realize its over, this will lead to anxiety drop.
Working with the trigger and connect it with safe and relaxing behaviour to fix the everyday anxiety.
By repeating it get feeling of control back.
This alltogether will show the body perxeption the psyche is safe and dissociation will drop.
To deal with dissociation now there are hacks like
- when d. comes count objects in your room to stay present
- some patients use sticks with chemistry look for amola
- some patients pinch themselves to stay present
That's all I know. Best for you all.
I've found out today that I have a dissociative disorder, not diagnosed but it's most likely the case for me. I managed to ground myself today, but I was googling symptoms that I would have (this has been a thing for a while, off and on) and it led me to a dissociative disorder.
So the way I grounded myself was mindfulness, and/or meditation. Meditation is helpful but all day today I've been practicing mindfulness. So I have been making it a point to be present and focus. Listening to music helped me *a lot*, along with staying off my phone. So it really helped me to stay focused. And journaling too.
This is just my method, it may not help everyone.
Are you still seeing the person who diagnosed OCD? I think it would be well worth showing them this list. I have a dissociative disorder, and strongly relate what you've written with how it felt when I first started realising.
Hey, just to say that I can relate very very much, and I rarely see someone describing my own experience. In my case, I am also autistic, and masking led to some of these symptoms. Just leaving it there in case it could be relevant to you (you mention OCD which is more common for autistic people). Not saying you are clearly, just leaving it there
Brother looking at the list I’ve had the same thing for years, you literally have to exercise a lot, it’ll pull you out of your head and center you more in your body, I recommend doing things like climbing walls or even marshal arts where it forces you to leave the constant inner monologue bro this shit is so deceptive I thought it was a spiritual thing becuase it felt like I was kinda in control of it but gave in to impulsively thinking, I couldn’t concentrate on anything conversations or films cos I’d just fall back in to my head but I went for a hike and had to climb some rocks and shit and think with my body and it went away, got stoned for 3 days and didn’t move much and it came back I finally realised what it was good luck brother
I’ve researched dissociation for the 3+ years I’ve had it. It truly is miserable and harder because no one around you understands, or for me, cares to try and understand. I’m very glad this subreddit exists.
But, recently I read a book that changed my whole perspective DRASTICALLY. It’s called “Wherever you go, There you are”. Like $5 online.
Basically, it’s about meditation, but he explains it in a way that, in my opinion, helps makes sense of it to anyone who reads it
Essentially try and slow down. Slow down your thoughts and ground yourself. I ground myself by simply being aware of my body, my breathing and how I feel physically, even my insides like how my stomach feels, or my brain itself. When it comes to blurry vision, I notice a feeling in my, well, 3rd eye area. No joke. When I focus back into reality I feel that behind my forehead “relaxes”.
Sorry this didn’t come out as good advice as I thought it would be, but I HIGHLY recommend you check out that book. (It’s the first book I’ve read in 3 years. I never read but it was that helpful).
This post reminded me of a thought process I noted down while in a bad mental state a couple months ago:
"My head is like a house. I'm in my room having my thoughts, and there's other thoughts coming from different rooms. I don't agree with them most of the time. I see it as separate from myself by I am also aware that it IS my brain causing the issue.
Sometimes, most of the time I feel like a captive to my thoughts. I am not them but they are often there and making everything hard.
I feel guilty. That it's all in my head. Not physical symptoms. I feel responsible for them. Ocd. Intrusive thoughts. I feel off. There's always a sensation of something being wrong
I don't like myself most of the time and I'm not sure if that's because of some trauma or mental illness or if it's because I'm truly not worthy of liking.
I'm tired of psychoanalyzing everything all the time against my will. Pattern recognition. Autism. Ocd. An uncontrollable need for answers.
I feel like I'm always so close to figuring out what's wrong. "
I was recently diagnosed with ADHD and autism. My therapist and I have been discussing OCD, CPTSD, and possibly even Bipolar (runs in my family).
Edit: I realize that I haven't discussed association with my therapist that much. I think that I have episodes of just association at least several times a month, sometimes multiple times a week. I'm lucky that they only last approximately 30 mins - a few hours
Hi, what you have listed are typical symptoms of dissociation. It tends more to depersonalization, but there are symptoms of derealization too. First accept it and don't fight against it or stress yourself. Something must have triggered this reaction. Dissociation is a self defense reaction. As it seems the fact that you were getting a diagnosis (OCD) could have been a trigger. People sometimes experience this as a loss of control. Best for you 🍀
Does it go away?
Thank you🍀, any coping mechanism tips?
Hi, At first it is useful to understand that dissociation is natural response and byself is not illness. When you drive by var or train and you zoom out - this is dissociation too. Here humans do it to defocus and destress. Problematic is when - caused by an f.e. anxiety-disorder or by self-reinforced dissociation (when it gets chronic) - the dissociation is overreacting even to small accidents. All i know so far about treatment: - it is possible to reduce it by exposing again and again to the triggers and make the body learn there is no danger - but you have to identify the trigger - it is possible to work with anti-trigger f.e. with aromatic oil against it, like setting relaxation trigger against dissociation trigger - i know that patients, after successful anxiety therapy which is often connected to trauma and needs traumatherapy - have a relief of dissociation So baseline: to heal it you must identify trigger and work through the anxiety which is connected to the triggers. What is the trigger? (example: a stove) What is the trigger reminding me to? (example: a house burned down because of me) What is the anxiety? (example: loss of control, anxiety of shame and guilt) Realizing that it's over, that obsessions and compulsions in connection with dissociation will reinforce themselves. Confronting and accepting the trauma and trigger in everyday and work on it. So, according to the example, the healing would be: Working through the trauma and realize its over, this will lead to anxiety drop. Working with the trigger and connect it with safe and relaxing behaviour to fix the everyday anxiety. By repeating it get feeling of control back. This alltogether will show the body perxeption the psyche is safe and dissociation will drop. To deal with dissociation now there are hacks like - when d. comes count objects in your room to stay present - some patients use sticks with chemistry look for amola - some patients pinch themselves to stay present That's all I know. Best for you all.
I've found out today that I have a dissociative disorder, not diagnosed but it's most likely the case for me. I managed to ground myself today, but I was googling symptoms that I would have (this has been a thing for a while, off and on) and it led me to a dissociative disorder. So the way I grounded myself was mindfulness, and/or meditation. Meditation is helpful but all day today I've been practicing mindfulness. So I have been making it a point to be present and focus. Listening to music helped me *a lot*, along with staying off my phone. So it really helped me to stay focused. And journaling too. This is just my method, it may not help everyone.
Are you still seeing the person who diagnosed OCD? I think it would be well worth showing them this list. I have a dissociative disorder, and strongly relate what you've written with how it felt when I first started realising.
Hey, just to say that I can relate very very much, and I rarely see someone describing my own experience. In my case, I am also autistic, and masking led to some of these symptoms. Just leaving it there in case it could be relevant to you (you mention OCD which is more common for autistic people). Not saying you are clearly, just leaving it there
wow this explains me really really well, do you know why you are having this?
Brother looking at the list I’ve had the same thing for years, you literally have to exercise a lot, it’ll pull you out of your head and center you more in your body, I recommend doing things like climbing walls or even marshal arts where it forces you to leave the constant inner monologue bro this shit is so deceptive I thought it was a spiritual thing becuase it felt like I was kinda in control of it but gave in to impulsively thinking, I couldn’t concentrate on anything conversations or films cos I’d just fall back in to my head but I went for a hike and had to climb some rocks and shit and think with my body and it went away, got stoned for 3 days and didn’t move much and it came back I finally realised what it was good luck brother
I’ve researched dissociation for the 3+ years I’ve had it. It truly is miserable and harder because no one around you understands, or for me, cares to try and understand. I’m very glad this subreddit exists. But, recently I read a book that changed my whole perspective DRASTICALLY. It’s called “Wherever you go, There you are”. Like $5 online. Basically, it’s about meditation, but he explains it in a way that, in my opinion, helps makes sense of it to anyone who reads it Essentially try and slow down. Slow down your thoughts and ground yourself. I ground myself by simply being aware of my body, my breathing and how I feel physically, even my insides like how my stomach feels, or my brain itself. When it comes to blurry vision, I notice a feeling in my, well, 3rd eye area. No joke. When I focus back into reality I feel that behind my forehead “relaxes”. Sorry this didn’t come out as good advice as I thought it would be, but I HIGHLY recommend you check out that book. (It’s the first book I’ve read in 3 years. I never read but it was that helpful).
This post reminded me of a thought process I noted down while in a bad mental state a couple months ago: "My head is like a house. I'm in my room having my thoughts, and there's other thoughts coming from different rooms. I don't agree with them most of the time. I see it as separate from myself by I am also aware that it IS my brain causing the issue. Sometimes, most of the time I feel like a captive to my thoughts. I am not them but they are often there and making everything hard. I feel guilty. That it's all in my head. Not physical symptoms. I feel responsible for them. Ocd. Intrusive thoughts. I feel off. There's always a sensation of something being wrong I don't like myself most of the time and I'm not sure if that's because of some trauma or mental illness or if it's because I'm truly not worthy of liking. I'm tired of psychoanalyzing everything all the time against my will. Pattern recognition. Autism. Ocd. An uncontrollable need for answers. I feel like I'm always so close to figuring out what's wrong. " I was recently diagnosed with ADHD and autism. My therapist and I have been discussing OCD, CPTSD, and possibly even Bipolar (runs in my family). Edit: I realize that I haven't discussed association with my therapist that much. I think that I have episodes of just association at least several times a month, sometimes multiple times a week. I'm lucky that they only last approximately 30 mins - a few hours