PTSD Dissociation is real. Sometimes people are so changed by an experience that the trauma of it all seems to shift reality. What’s happening? Is it their imagination? No. The experience is genuine. The “unreal” quality intruding on reality is likely dissociation. Essentially, it is a response that often affects trauma survivors, especially those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
When a person suffers PTSD dissociation, the brain copes with an overwhelming experience by disconnecting from it. Therefore, disconnection disrupts a person’s level of awareness, sense of self and memory. They may experience one or more of the three reasons for that floaty, “unreal” feeling:
1. Dissociative amnesia: "I don't remember."
Trauma affects event recall.Meaning, someone may feel as though they should be able to remember certain details about their own life but are unable to grasp them? All and all, dissociative amnesia is an inability to remember important information about one’s experiences.
It is described as a fairly common response to trauma. Sometimes this type of amnesia extends only to very specific events, however many people report also “losing” whole periods or aspects of their lives. As a result, they feel left struggling to recall details pertaining to that event or stressful periods of time. On the whole, it can be alarming to realize you’re missing a part of your history.
2. Derealization: "The world isn't real"
Trauma affects environmental perception. For example, things, places, or people around you seem “off” or strange. Derealization gives the sense that you’re in a dream state.In fact, this experience is a genuine shift in awareness. Objects may seem oddly sized or surroundings filtered through fog or a bubble.
By all means, derealization isn't a sign that someone is “crazy” or they have an overactive imagination. This type of dissociation is a coping mechanism usually present to help lessen the emotion connected to trauma. Dissociation works to create an alternate environmental perception. Therefore, this helps to mentally shift one’s world. As a result, people will experience a distance from the feelings linked to the trauma.
3. Depersonalization: "This isn't me. I'm not real"
Trauma affects body and identity perception. Occasionally, does it seem that you “can't feel your feelings?” Are your physical sensations alien or unfamiliar? Do you feel outside yourself, listening and watching from above or a distance? If this is familiar, that “out-of-body” sense is real, it’s called depersonalization. Depersonalization creates the sense that you are detached from yourself:
You may feel as though you’ve lost your entire being, as though you are no one.
As well as, you might feel that you are totally detached from your thoughts and their importance.
In addition, your emotions may seem unlinked to you or devoid of meaning.
Even moving your own body feels strange, wrong, or out of control.
More and more, science is understanding the effects of trauma on the mind. Recent research reveals a relationship between PTSD and dissociation.You probably wonder, how one manages PTSD dissociation. They need to take steps to face the PTSD and all that it attempts to avoid. “Healing requires patience.
I encourage you to reconnect to your emotions and sensations gently and at a pace that isn’t overwhelming for you. You can broaden your capacity to be with discomfort…but it doesn’t stop there. This increased capacity for distress tolerance becomes the foundation for many positive changes such as increased self-compassion and improvements in your relationships with others.” ~Dr. Arielle Schwartz But it’s not necessary to do it alone. A caring therapist can help shed unreal feelings so one can live life fully present and emotionally healed.
If you would like some extra support overcoming PTSD dissociation and are looking for a psychotherapist, please contact me for a free consultation to learn about how I can be of service.
To find out more about my services click here: PTSD Treatment. Serving Boulder, Longmont, Denver..
About The Author
April Lyons, MA, LPC is a somatic psychotherapist and currently owns a private practice in Boulder, CO. She specializes in PTSD, eating disorders and child counseling. April is trained in EMDR Therapy, Trauma Informed Care and is certified as a Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapist.
