Dissociation

[16sundayz]

I'm not sure this is going to be in the right section but here goes. Can I please get some advice? My psychologist told me in November that I have mild dissociation and I was just wondering how to tell my family? For those who dissociate too, do your family know and how did you tell them?

[jess334]

Hi 16sundayz,

I think mild dissociation is pretty common in people with mental health issues. It is sometimes easier to go into ourselves and disconnect with the world, especially when we are in the middle of an anxiety or depression attack. It is too hard to focus on other people when we are struggling so hard.

Do you family know about your other mental health issues? I don't think I have specifically told my family that I dissociate, but they are aware when it happens because I zone out. Mostly they see this as a sign that I am anxious (which it is) and they generally leave me alone to sort it out, which is what I need.

I'm not sure what works for you when you are dissociating. I have heard that mindfulness can be really useful to bring you back to 'the real world'. For example - focusing on your breathing, on how your body feels, on the conversation around you etc.

Kind thoughts, Jess

[white knight]

Hi, welcome

As Jess said, it is common amongst MI sufferers.

You can google these-

Beyondblue topic my comfort zone

Beyondblue topic fortress of survival

Beyondblue topic they just wont understand - why?

You only need to read the first post of those threads if you like.

TonyWK

[Ggrand]

Hello, 16sundayz,

Im sorry you have been disociating... I often dissociate and find doing these few things can help me...

Usually I know when I’m starting to dissociate because things start happening to me, I start getting light headed and things around me seem to be hazy to look at.....I think it’s much easier to deal with a dissociative episode as quick as we can if you catch it early..It’s very important to try to recognise our symptoms, as soon as they start effecting us..

I like to use some grounding techniques to bring me back into the world and my surroundings...To try to get myself to zone back into the present moment, the here and now moment..

Some things I do to help me are

Sitting on a comfortable chair, feel your feet on the floor, I pick up something close and study it very intently feeling the texture of the object I have...also I look around and see what’s their, a bookcase with my little treasures, I look at each one and notice what it’s made of, the colour, the texture, the shape etc...

I ask myself the what the date is, what day it is, what the time is, where I am, and what I had been planning to do later in the day etc.

I try to get my mind working back into the present moment again, I go through the alphabet and name an animal from A to Z, Therecare many different ways to ground yourself..

I find after I’ve attempted some grounding techniques I begin to be drawn back into the present moment, then I can continue my day the best I can...

It is very important that you look after yourself after an episode of dissociation, I find I’m tired after an episode it makes me feel tired and worn out. So then I need to allow myself to rest up afterwards and accept that it is okay to feel tired. Please don’t allow a dissociative episodes get you down. I try to keep myself positive after I’ve rested and I find getting some fresh air by sitting on my veranda and watching and listening to the birds and having a cold glass of water while doing so makes me start to feel a better..

Their is a grounding thread here called...”grounding yourself what is it and how do we”..if you search at the top of this page in the search engine and maybe read through it, their are lots of different ways that you can ground yourself, it’s a matter of finding what works for you best...

Wishing you all the best.

kind and caring thoughts,

Grandy..

[Idkme]

Hi 16sundayz,

I’m curious to know whether you would like to tell them? And would you tell all of them or only some?

what is your concern about telling them? How do you think they might react? How would you like them to react?

After all, I’ve not met your family so these questions are all relevant. It’s also kinda relevant to your age also, ie if you’re 14 then I think your parents really should know, however if you’re 41 then maybe it’s not going to do anything good at the moment?

Just a thought....