Detachment/lack of bodily (or really any) sensations

MuddyBoots · Yesterday at 11:19 AM

One trauma response is becoming detached from--or even totally lacking-- sensations (physical, mental, emotional), which totally makes sense, and wanting to get rid of "CPTSD symptoms" makes sense, right?

But this one...doesn't make sense to me. I know learning these things take time, but I've tried working on it, and focusing on physical sensations is panic-inducing. I get there's a reason we're supposed to have sensations in a certain way, but if they're altered, is there really any point or gain to attempt to learn to get back there? A lot of "mindfulness skills" they try walking me through just make me feel worse.

I'm sorry if this doesn't make much sense, but the whole concept feels like a rock fell down a hill and there's no point in putting it back up (if it didn't make sense, that probably didn't clear it up).

unaluna · Yesterday at 11:24 AM

You make more sense than Sysiphus.

I think "their" point might be to reclaim these feelings and hence your entire body as your own. I have thought of myself as only my mind for waaaay too long.

MuddyBoots · Yesterday at 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unaluna

You make more sense than Sysiphus.

I think "their" point might be to reclaim these feelings and hence your entire body as your own. I have thought of myself as only my mind for waaaay too long.

Sisyphus doesn't make sense to me though. The rock wants to be at the bottom, why are you disobeying its wishes?

If I make more sense than Sisyphus, you make more sense than me

ogyogm · Today at 05:37 AM

This is the way I see Sisyphus:

He wants the rock on the hill. Rock wants nothing as it is just an object, lifeless and empty. Other people ("gods") want rock on the bottom, but just to spite Sisyphus.
For me, it is conflict of genuine achievement in life versus the aggressive and destructive society which has no purpose.

I too associate myself only with my mind. My body is futile and ridiculed by everyone, starting with my parents. But my mind is free, it goes wherever I wish.
Maybe, try to vent your anger on this stupid world of hairless apes? My therapist used to say it helps. It may.

iheartjacques · Today at 05:45 AM

It's scary for me when that happens, I find rubbing my fingertips is a start for me to feel my body, or going for a fast walk with my dog and feeling my muscles as I move. The rest of the time, my body feels alien sometimes.

MuddyBoots · Today at 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ogyogm

This is the way I see Sisyphus:

He wants the rock on the hill. Rock wants nothing as it is just an object, lifeless and empty. Other people ("gods") want rock on the bottom, but just to spite Sisyphus.
For me, it is conflict of genuine achievement in life versus the aggressive and destructive society which has no purpose.

I too associate myself only with my mind. My body is futile and ridiculed by everyone, starting with my parents. But my mind is free, it goes wherever I wish.
Maybe, try to vent your anger on this stupid world of hairless apes? My therapist used to say it helps. It may.

oh, yeah, my insinuation that a rock has desires was more of a joke. My genuine interpretation of Sisyphus is that you put in all your efforts over and over to move towards your goals, and there will forever be set backs--maybe caused by society, maybe not--but you just keep working on it. Over, and over.

I don't know. I don't have a "top of the hill" so I can't relate, but that's just what comes to mind when I think of it.

I don't really have anger. I mean, I do sometimes, maybe too intensely, but it doesn't really feel like even that's there when it's not all-consuming. Overall, it's just emptiness.

I do think of my mind of kind of a place to explore infinitely (and that's cool af), but that kind of roaming alone without direction can get dangerous.

ogyogm · Today at 12:21 PM

@MuddyBoots. oh, I never suggested you or anyone should enclose into his mind. I was just relating to your and other posters' experience. I do try to learn to feel my body and associate myself with my full body and my full mind. With little result yet (but not completely without progress).

Feeling emptiness in place of anger is a strong sign that you should vent. Try to carefully think and remember any wrongdoings anyone caused you, you may start now and work backwards. I did found a lot of suppressed anger there. That won't solve all your problems, but it has made me feel a little bit less tired.
If you put your anger into words somewhere like this forum - it will help even more. Also, you may find a lot of resentment instead of anger - it is the other side and is just masking your true emotions.

Also, do it when you have energy. All such exercises require a lot of it.

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Detachment/lack of bodily (or really any) sensations

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unaluna Elder Harridan x-hankster Member Since Jun 2011 Location: Milan/Michigan Posts: 40,657 (SuperPoster!) 13 68.1k hugs given	Yesterday at 11:24 AM #2 You make more sense than Sysiphus. I think "their" point might be to reclaim these feelings and hence your entire body as your own. I have thought of myself as only my mind for waaaay too long.
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iheartjacques Magnate Member Since Apr 2014 Location: world Posts: 2,190 10 366 hugs given	Today at 05:45 AM #5 It's scary for me when that happens, I find rubbing my fingertips is a start for me to feel my body, or going for a fast walk with my dog and feeling my muscles as I move. The rest of the time, my body feels alien sometimes.
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