I wanted to go listen to a presentation on trauma, but I was pretty sure it might trigger me, so I told my close friend that I might need her help. We worked out what she could do if it looked like I had "left". Turned out the presentation was fine and I was so thrilled. I usually try to handle stuff like this on my own and I think worrying about anyone finding out that something is wrong makes me even more anxious. Knowing that my friend already knew that this situation might be hard for me, I think made it easier.

My T and I worked on finding what types of things calmed me when feelings of depersonalization would start and what types of things could bring me back. Then we practiced these things: taking a drink of water, unwrapping and putting a hot cinnamon hard candy in my mouth (it stings my mouth a little), smelling a small bottle of lemon grass oil, turning the wheels on a small toy car of my son's, looking around me and noticing things in the room, rubbing my finger back and forth along the seam of my jeans. I carry water, hard candy, a small bottle of oil and the toy car in my bag just in case.

My close friend's office is next to mine and there have been times when she's noticed that I kind of seem to be stuck, not moving. She knows to tell me to take a drink of water and that's enough to start the whole ritual of taking a sip of water, looking for the hard candy, unwrapping it....

And like someone's already mentioned, there are certain safe drawings that I use when I unexpectedly read something that's triggering. It just looks like I'm doodling.

So maybe you can find a trusted friend that you can get to help out, and maybe there are certain routines that can help at least calm you and get you a little more present, that are discreet. I had to practice the routines a lot before I could do them when I started to feel strange.

I hope some of this helps. It's kind of a long reply, sorry.