5 Signs of Dissociation

Key Points
00:00 - Is this you?
00:21 - My Dissociation
01:15 - Dissociation as children
01:48 - Freeze
02:37 - Sign 1: Memory Loss
03:19 - Sign 2: Depersonalization
04:06 - Sign 3: Numbness
04:24 - Sign 4: Sore/Tight muscles
04:46 - Sign 5: Chronis Procrastination

[sonyashami]

I daydream when I dissociate. Maladaptive daydreaming has been my coping mechanism since I was a little girl. I have created a world of my own that I escape to everyday. It has become the norm that my mind finds it hard to come back to reality and accept it or face it. It is like an addiction.

[private]

Absolutely. I had a vicious partner who would take advantage of my memory issues and used it as a tool to gaslight me (it was “proof” my mind was just so unreliable). Meditation, breath work, sauna, ice cold showers, and yoga have all become huge tools in my back pocket.

[breathelectric]

In high conflict situations or arguments, I am unable to recall things that were said and the entire event becomes a blur, whereas someone else who experienced the same thing with me can articulate what happened with detail. So interesting!

[tonyakay]

Yes I am severely dissociating. I am so checked out and have been since my marriage started a decline in 2013 and after divorce in 2021 when it really got bad. The divorce felt like a death to me. The procrastination increased and social media strolling is an addiction now. Just last night, I sat on the couch for two hours on social media going from IG, to Facebook to Tik Tok...during the entire time I was thinking that I was a failure. I even fell asleep and awaken and started cleaning at 10:51 p.m and finally went to bed at 1:01 a.m. During this checked out state, I am tracking in my mind my behaviors. I need my life back; this state is causing financial problems in my life.

[melissahoots]

I'm almost 60 and have beat myself up all these years over chronic procrastinating! After finding your channel, I've started reading How to do the Work and watching the companion podcasts. Nobody has helped me the way you do! Thank you for your giving spirit and loving presentations! ❤

[charettebyreddog]

One of the most incredible things I've learned doing my trauma healing is the overlap of symptoms of things like ADD/ADHD with cPTSD and nervous system dysregulation. So many of these are symptoms I have and they look a lot like ADD. But as I started working with a therapist and "Doing the Work" and realizing I was living in a constant freeze/fawn state in addition to cPTSD from having a narc mother, and healing my attachment wounding, a large portion of my symptoms disappear. Not to mention now when I go back into a dysregulation, the symptoms start to come back. And the dissociation that gives me ADD symptoms is usually the first thing I notice now.

[madnessintomagic]

Yep, all of these…. 😢
2:38 Memory loss
3:16 Depersonalization
4:03 Numbness
4:23 Sore/tight muscles
4:44 Chronic procrastination

[morgan]

As a therapist, this is the best explanation I have come across. Better than how grad school explained it. I appreciate this so much!!

[EsmereldaIndigo]

You explained my experience perfectly. I'm not lazy; I've always been able to do stuff. But, it's like I know I need to, shower, eat, go to bed... but it is like I zone out. I've gotten out of the shower and lost a lot of time just standing there in my towel. One time, 45 minutes passed and I was just standing there.

[MalinoisMadness]

Absolutely. I've just turned 40, and suddenly I'm realizing and learning all the things about myself, and it all makes sense now. Unfortunately my anxiety and procrastination, also get in the way of me seeking help

[Ebeling]

Wow! You described my childhood and the exact place I've been stuck the last 3 years. At 72 just now learning how narcissistic father and non intervening mother effected my life! 34 years clean and sober & retired but since my father died 10 yrs. ago have been slowly retreating into frozen state. Pandemic lockdown was the final blow. Now struggling to go out for groceries, etc. Making plans to go out but keep procrastinating... Thank you for what you and others post because I'm learning there is hope and that I'm not alone. I look forward to your next post! ❤

[FilhadeYhwhKadosh]

I have so many issues so glad found your channel. I am a Brazilian girl i was traded for pleasure since age 6 sold to different clients every day. Today as a grown woman i can't have a relationship all men reject me i am was hurt by my uncles, male cousins and sold for 100 bucks everyday. I was hurt the worst way that a girl can be hurt. Many many years now as as grown up my life is stagnant no breakthrough no blessings nothing but just an empty space in my ❤️

[darwin_shrugged]

I've dissociated away large parts of my childhood (or the last 40 years in general). Only in my late 30s I stumpled upon cptsd, attachment trauma, narcissistic abuse, dysfunctional family systems etc., and it's been such a ride ever since. Complete 180° turn of my perspective, looking back on my life.
The memory problems, the procrastination, the difficulties in school even though I did okay IF I was able to function ... it all makes sense.

[wyrdwitch]

I have done this my whole life since I was born. I remember very little of my life, and many things I cannot account for as I was simply out of my body. I didn't realize procrastination & muscle tension & soreness were connected to this! I am very much looking forward to learning your technique. I have made progress on my own, but still a long way to go. I own your first two books :) Thank you!

[ada]

...and then you beat yourself up for not doing anything which triggers you even more and makes you feel MORE exhausted and stuck! Thank you for teaching about this and I look forward to your next video on the freeze response.

[hannahgallagher]

I grew up I with severe abuse and neglect as a baby on up to my teen years, this carried into my adulthood where I only knew to accept abusive partners. I have CPTSD and have learned to coexist with this and just try to be the best human I can but I have 3 autoimmune illnesses and severe fibromyalgia. As an older lady now I cannot concentrate and I am loosing short term memory It’s amazing how the body holds onto emotional pain and trauma. I hope everyone here finds love and healing.

[greylizard]

Repressed memories from childhood that have come back to me, make certain fears of mine make so much sense now. It's amazing what the mind can hide away. There wasn't anything I could do about those things, and nobody I talked to seemed to care or believe me so my mind closed it up.

[no.]

Gosh, I identify with this so much, especially procrastination.
Thank you.

[minervapuranen]

Concerning chronic procrastination:
Wait, so locking up and being seemingly unable to do things even when you know you should is an actual thing that several people experience? I kinda thought it was just my brain failing to be normal

[kenkeishamiller]

I never knew why I was numb and unable to cry. My procrastination mixed in with avoidance has been a mainstay. I didn't learn how to feel my feelings. I blank out very quickly and takes me some time to snap out of it. It's great to see the whiteboard back. 🙂