HELP!! Severe Dissociation
Posted , 5 users are following.
Has anyone with complex PTSD (but no specific trauma memory) had severe dissociation where they've lost time and were not in control during the time they dissociated. And it was at a time where they were not at all stressed, simply calm but a little tired and did not expect to dissociate (which is often the case with me). Vs. when you dissociate but are still partially present and in control of your actions. I've seen a neurologist and a million therapists over the years and nothing has helped me stop the dissociation but until I hit perimenopause I was still always in control while I dissociated. But since peri it has gotten crazy worse. Would love to know I'm not the only one or some advice. Thx ladies.
0 likes, 9 replies
sam18386 sakura26
Edited
complex ptsd can be helped through a ptsd specialist. it's better than any run of the mill therapist. these people are experts. i hope you get the support you need. good luck.
displacerkitten sakura26
Posted
I have never lost control, and really don't lose time, but I do have whole years missing from my memory. I can say that my PTSD gets way worse with my menstrual cycle, and acetominophen completely negated the effects of my SSRI when I was on it, with very acute effects. I used to feel lost and confused about what year it was during an event, so I trained a service dog to take me back to my car and to ground me while having dissociation or flashbacks. I used the book "How to Train Your Service Dog" by Lelah Sullivan and joined her Facebook page. I can honestly say that the dog prevented dissociative events from getting too severe, and now I no longer have them.
sakura26
Posted
Thank you both for responding. I have tried to find a PTSD expert for years and have not found one. I also looked into service dogs that stopped dissociation but they are 10,000 and up so not affordable. I even looked into trying to train my own dog but it was also very expensive. 😦
sam18386 sakura26
Posted
hi i don't know where you live but in England we can get hold of free care. you need to ask your doctor to signpost you to a ptsd counsellor, there are some out there. mine is private but not an expensive one! please reach out you obviously need support. good luck!
sakura26 sam18386
Posted
Hi Sam, thanks but I'm in the US where healthcare sucks and capitalism rules. 😉
displacerkitten sakura26
Posted
I am in the US, too. I got a trauma specialist and a psychiatrist. Training my own dog was expensive, but manageable bc I was in graduate school and working from home. Idk what your finances ate, but I was able to do it on $24 k/year living with a roommate, acknowledging that I had no debt, no car payment, and did not pay my own health insurance. I used the Dave Ramsey method to do it. The critical part was working from home IMO.
sam18386 displacerkitten
Posted
oh sorry i didn't know!
sakura26 displacerkitten
Posted
Hi, I am on my own paying rent and can't live with my family and have a lot of college loan debt and some medical debt. I'm old and have tried roommates when younger and was always a bad idea. I'm working 2 jobs tho and looking for a better one and/or a third job. Did you train your dog on your own then? Does she actually sense you about to dissociate and stop it? What does she do to help? Also how did you find a trauma specialist? I looked online but hard to find anyone on my insurance that is even taking patients if they are any good. I am in CA. You can private message me if that's easier.
hua08948 sakura26
Posted
I must find the right mental expert. I have met many doctors who can only give you medicine. I am disappointed, but I think what I need is love, family understanding and relationship. It is very painful when I am disengaged. I am very serious CPTSD, I was constantly hurt, I experienced painful torture, and my headache was severe, but in the end I had to rely on myself