How To Recognise Dissociation & Manage It | Catriona Morten

[@capriquarius9861]

Nature helps me more than anything! & maybe incorporating sensory things while at home, like a scented candle close to your desk while your working.... a fan, one of those running water decor fountains, helps me when I'm at home ❤ good luck!

[@wearevegatherapy]

Thank you for comment, these are great suggestions!

[@avosquirrel231]

My last disassociated episode, my body was programmed and brain was aware of what was happening, brain was just along for the ride, I was on auto pilot. I tend to shrink down, not make eye contact staring at the ground, making myself small, start scratching, people say my eyes go dead and I am flat except when I start talking. I can talk, but it is like a little kid, doesn't make sense, broken/ choppy thoughts, or it is really simple short sentences. A friend snapped me out of it by telling a totally inappropriate dad joke, I started laughing, responded with "that is the stupidest thing I ever heard", it was like I instantly snapped back, most of the times it is not like that.

[@wearevegatherapy]

That's a really good description. A lot of people find humour is a good way of breaking the dissociative state. Some other things to help switch states quickly can be, smelling a very strong aromatic oil, a sharp loud noise, or splashing water on your face. These are all sensory tools which can be very affective for some people. Thank you for your comment and sharing your experience with us 🙂

[@stevenj2915]

I have CPTSD, had for many years. Been on all the psych meds and only got worse. Started to take CBD and was blown away with it. It gave me a strange calm, and have taken it daily ever since. It turns the crazy part of our brains off. Just an FYI…HUGS

[@hectorg362]

What CBD have you taken?

[@stevenj2915]

@@hectorg362 Hemp Fusion Calming 20mg

[@hardlines2635]

And you think this is a good thing.

[@newleft2254]

I microdose on psilocybin mushrooms and it completely stops my disassociation.

[@JKThom-59]

Thank you for this explanation. Most definitions seem vague, maybe it's me. I also suffer CPTSD and always thought I was daydreaming. I find when dissociating it feels relaxing, calming. My little escape.

[@saniyatandel789]

Same here ❤

[@AppleTY2015]

Thankyou so much. I hadn’t been able to quite understand the concept of dissociation yet, but your video was incredibly well done. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge on this topic and providing the many examples. It was actually really calming to listen to aswell and reassuring when you iterated that it’s a normal and protective response. ❤

[@wearevegatherapy]

I’m so glad this helped you 😊 thank you!

[@saniyatandel789]

Thankyou so much for this video.. so much of positive energy.. Much love ❤❤❤❤❤

[@Overarainbow-rr1ly]

Thanks for the excellent explanation. I appreciate the check list. Clever!

[@eyesopen-paintbrush-full298]

I don't mean to be rude or critical, but just to give feedback, so hope it is ok to say the following? I'm afraid I found the background music terribly triggering and dissociated from the excellent spoken content... I feel it "fights" emotionally with what is being said, & creates a strange kind of tension/contradictory or mixed message .. as if we are being told, "you can't truly be allowed to connect emotionally to this message.." It reminded me of some of the music played when one calls a service with an urgent need, but one is put on hold for a very long time..

[@jennywright4092]

Agree -very very annoying

[@wearevegatherapy]

We really appreciate the feedback & will definitely take it into account!

[@personaddi]

Thank you ❤

[@countessk]

Thank you for addressing that disassociation can be brief. I have not seen that in other videos, who all indicated disassociation was a prolonged situation. That was informative for my own situation.

[@wearevegatherapy]

That's really good to hear 😊

[@robynwilliams460]

Thanks

[@crowolfe290]

I'm currently in a triggered state while trying to finish grad school and a master's thesis. I'm going through the motions, but I'm not really functional. I'm dissociating even when I'm home. Just end up sitting at my desk, staring at nothing. This has gone on way longer than usual, weeks... Gonna try some of these suggestions! Maybe the gym might help, if I can get myself there. Thank you

[@robertafierro5592]

It's very hard to focus unless I'm interested. Fixing things is very important for me. I've had the worst counseling for years. I finally understand now what is happening and why.

[@AwakeningRae]

Thank you!! What a helpful and gentle way to explain this. ❤ so glad I found your video.

[@wearevegatherapy]

Thank you for your comment, that's lovely to hear!

[@nv3363]

As an autistic person I dissociate everyday because I get overwhelmed by my environments

[@ayuu.]

I do get overwhelmed but have never experienced dissociation as an autistic. Neither do the autistic friends I know though. How is your dissociation like? Does it occurs for long period of time or it’s just few secs?

[@nv3363]

@@ayuu. it’s for a long period of time everyday, normally whenever I go to work. I work in a loud place that’s very bright so then I start to dissociate the entire time until I get somewhere quiet. It mainly happens when I’m not at home because I can’t control the volume of my environment and I won’t know whose going to be around. I will lose track of time even if I’m trying really hard to concentrate and it’s like my brain just goes offline. It’s like your half asleep but you know your fully awake and it’s like watching yourself doing things from outside a room. I have periods of amnesia and dissociative black outs. I won’t be able to remember what I was doing sometimes. I think I might have DID though. I have lots of trauma from early childhood so maybe I’m only experiencing this because of my ptsd and trauma. At the time I made that comment I kinda assumed every autistic person dissociated since I was so used to it. I only learned that autism doesn’t cause you to dissociate like the way I do one or two days ago. Sorry if I confused you.

[@ayuu.]

@@nv3363 thanks for sharing! Two of my friends who was diagnosed with DID have similar episodes like yours. But at the same time they have different "personalities" (alters) that are separated from their main host. They shared that when one alter controls the body, the rest will not really know what's happening. Their behaviours and the way they talk will look very different as well. It's what they shared so if you want to know if you really have it, best to get a diagnosis. As for autism, it doesn't make autistics dissociate like your experience for sure.

[@nv3363]

@@ayuu. yes I’ve been experiencing that as well, I haven’t gotten tested yet because I don’t have a lot of money right now also because at times I believe I have it 100 percent then at other times I find myself thinking “none of that is real don’t bother” it makes me really anxious as well, I’ve been watching lots of videos about it and learned that the alters don’t normally like being discovered and will try to hide themselves, so I’m unsure as to if I really don’t believe it exists or if it’s an alter trying to gas light me into thinking they don’t. At times it’s hard for me to know how I really feel about something even if I’ve made my mind up and I confuse a lot of people because of it haha.

[@ayuu.]

@@nv3363 I'm sure you'll heal slowly if you have help. My friends alters did merged and they shared with me it's part of healing process. Long healing yet can be done if there's help. If you find that something or anything that is affecting your daily functioning, then it's time to get help or explore ways to solve/navigate through tough times. For example if you find that environmental noises are overwhelming, you can wear musicians earplugs. Those are lifesaver for me. Particularly Earasers Musician Ear Plugs. Tried countless brands and ear plugs, noise cancelling headphones etc but those musician earplugs works the best. You can try it out to see if it works for you

[@Steph-uw4zz]

Thank you for sharing this information for free.

[@ShintogaDeathAngel]

Great video - must say I also love the cushion with the tassels, never seen one like that before!

[@wearevegatherapy]

Thank you! :) It's TK Maxx!

[@chaosdweller]

In my experience I think it's quite unfortunate that the medical profession won't look Into this that much with me , but their so quick to make other diagnosiss that require more medication/ patients money.

[@jamiescowboys]

ty for this it all happned when i lost my grandma all of a sudden something happened and cant drive or leave the house

[@katiefinnegan4649]

Wow. I needed that ❤

[@manchineel]

I have lost my train of thought in the middle of talking about traumatic events. The room can get fuzzy or a ringing in my ears.

[@wearevegatherapy]

The talking is obviously too much and you're going offline.

[@BilliesCraftRoom]

Really helpful thank you.

[@privateprivate4384]

I like this. Doctor Jon Stone has some fantastic information and videos on dissociative seizures UK

[@gogogolyra1340]

the maladaptive daydreaming kept me hopeful of the future.

[@kimberlyschaefer5030]

When my husband dissociates its very scary. I'm the only one who can tell when its happening and he kinda checks out. Its a very mean stare and his mouth is in like a grimace. His voice drops very very low (not even a tone he can make when not dissociated). How can I comfort him? How do I become comfortable with it and not be scared of the dissociation face and voice?

[@wearevegatherapy]

Thank you for sharing this with us, it might be easier to help through an email for this. If you want to, you can send Catriona an email at [e-mail] and she can give a more in-depth answer for you. 🙂

[@user-jd6ew6lb2k]

Im going through the same thing with my husband and its so hard to find help for him and myself. if you find any support please let us all know. For now just know you're not alone. Its so scary.

[@user-wu7qg8xo2u]

Works both ways

[@aujax1]

diagnosing dissociation isnt the problem. its pretty easy to know that youre dissociating. its treatment thats somewhat lacking. u basically take an ssri and talk about it. and then it just stays.

[@wearevegatherapy]

Learning how to regulate and identifying what's actually happening in your body can help you gain some control and understanding of what's happening. We agree that treatment can be very hard to find!

[@joemcallister128]

Thank you for this.

[@blacksheepgirl]

wow when you said .. freeze. O_O

[@user-wu7qg8xo2u]

The missing link...

[@daverich3352]

Is the editing on this automatic?, I find it a touch unnatural the way cuts so tight at the end and start of a sentence. Hard to watch.

[@wearevegatherapy]

Not automatic no, the editing has been a steep learning curve!

[@evgendoktor-TA]

Do you really beleive in DID?

[@wearevegatherapy]

Yes, it's a very real condition for some people!

[@stevenj2915]

3:12 I used to get stuck like that, and be very angry. I would say they are poking the bear.