Hello PC friends,

recently I experienced something traumatic. I am not comfortable sharing the details publicly. This experience involved a great deal of loss, fear, violation of privacy, and stress. For a while, I felt numb or entirely empty. Now I have this odd feeling that I am not living within my body. I realize how strange that sounds. It is not easy to convey. Best I can explain is that my mind or spirit or soul (whatever you call that which propels us from one day or moment to the next) has left my body. It's there somewhere. Watching what happens from a short distance. It's bizarre and disconcerting...more than that...the feeling frightens me...like my own Self has walked away from me. What's my point? If you have an e-hug or a supportive thought to share, I would welcome that. I feel scared and very much alone. I reached out to two non-PC friends who really let me down in this crisis. My family is far, far away.

Thank you for reading. I send all of you peace and positive energy.

[AzulOscuro]

Couldn’t it be what it’s called despersonalization disorder? Have you got any posibility to visit a doctor soon or call emergency?
From what I have just read, it could be a phase that is gonna pass, it doesn’t have to be frequent and be a disorder but only a symptom. I guess it must be a madness.
How are you feeling now?

[MickeyCheeky]

I'm so sorry, HopefullyLost1211 I know it's hard. Please don't give up. Remember that you're not alone. You have us. We're here to support you if you need it. You're a wonderful person and you have helped so many people here at PC, it's time we help you. I know you're strong. Try to hang on. Things will get better. You won't stay like this forever. Try to hang on to that thought. I think you're handling all of this pretty well, even though you're struggling. I agree with AzulOscuro. If things get worse, talk to a doctor about this and see how it goes from there. You deserve to get help. I'm so sorry you don't have a support system IRL. But we're here for you. Feel free to vent here as much as you want. You know we won't judge you. Stay strong, HopefullyLost1211. I know you'll get through this. You're a wonderful person. We all love you here. We care about you. Is there anything we can do to help you? Please let us know. Remember that I'm here for you as well if you need it. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you

[Fuzzybear]

I’m sorry HopefullyLost1211 We’re here to support you, thank you for sharing I’m very sorry your non pc friends let you down in this crisis . Please feel free to PM me also if I can be of any support. I’m sending much positive energy and warm thoughts. Many hugs

[Sunflower123]

I’m so sorry you had a traumatic experience. Do you think the stress and anxiety from the trauma could be causing your current condition? You aren’t alone. You have us here on PC to comfort and support you as you work through this. Sending many hugs and supportive vibes.

Originally Posted by AzulOscuro

Couldn’t it be what it’s called despersonalization disorder? Have you got any posibility to visit a doctor soon or call emergency?
From what I have just read, it could be a phase that is gonna pass, it doesn’t have to be frequent and be a disorder but only a symptom. I guess it must be a madness.
How are you feeling now?

A little better this morning thank you. The feeling I described has been intermittent lately. I am trying not to freak out about it...assuming it's some sort of shock response...but well...it's quite an ugly or alien way to feel. For me anyway. Thank you for thinking of me and for taking the time to write. Much appreciated!

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

I’m sorry HopefullyLost1211 We’re here to support you, thank you for sharing I’m very sorry your non pc friends let you down in this crisis . Please feel free to PM me also if I can be of any support. I’m sending much positive energy and warm thoughts. Many hugs

Thank you very much. You are a very kind bear!

Originally Posted by MickeyCheeky

I'm so sorry, HopefullyLost1211 I know it's hard. Please don't give up. Remember that you're not alone. You have us. We're here to support you if you need it. You're a wonderful person and you have helped so many people here at PC, it's time we help you. I know you're strong. Try to hang on. Things will get better. You won't stay like this forever. Try to hang on to that thought. I think you're handling all of this pretty well, even though you're struggling. I agree with AzulOscuro. If things get worse, talk to a doctor about this and see how it goes from there. You deserve to get help. I'm so sorry you don't have a support system IRL. But we're here for you. Feel free to vent here as much as you want. You know we won't judge you. Stay strong, HopefullyLost1211. I know you'll get through this. You're a wonderful person. We all love you here. We care about you. Is there anything we can do to help you? Please let us know. Remember that I'm here for you as well if you need it. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you

Thank you very much. As always, you are wonderfully kind, MickeyCheeky

[Skeezyks]

[Mopey]

So very sorry you’ve had this horrific experience, Hopefully. It does sound to me like a reaction to the trauma, especially if the trauma involved your physical body. Also sounds as if the shock response may be starting to give way.

Are you able to function? Feel your body? Pour a glass of water, that kind of thing?

Originally Posted by Mopey

So very sorry you’ve had this horrific experience, Hopefully. It does sound to me like a reaction to the trauma, especially if the trauma involved your physical body. Also sounds as if the shock response may be starting to give way.

Are you able to function? Feel your body? Pour a glass of water, that kind of thing?

I am functioning yes. By the nature of the trauma, a lot of strangers had to enter my life and this involved a lot of meetings and calls etc with unfamiliar people with a variety of personalities. That is cognitively draining right after a major shock. Some were also very unkind. Though I must focus on the warm and empathetic folks. My significant other is going through this too but our coping styles are very different. He wants to pretend that it's not happening...or at least he deals with it without discussing his feelings. I need to discuss my feelings or I feel crazy or deeply depressed.

I hope I didn't mislead anyone. I am not entirely alone since I do have my S.O. And he's a good man but one human can only do so much, right? He has his stress too and I don't want to be a burden. Support from friends or family would be nice but nobody has stepped up (my family has sent kind messages but they are physically far away) so we will accept our reality.

When I posted last night, my S.O. was away all night and I was alone with intense feelings which had not hit me yet. Your comment about the shock response starting to give way sounds very accurate. That's alarming me because I'm not ready to deal with another major trauma. I've had other traumas in the past. I just do my best and try to focus on gratitude and coping step by step. In small increments. However, as of yesterday, I feel I need trauma counseling. I had to run an errand and I cried the whole way as I walked home and my hands were shaking. I couldn't stop. I don't think anyone saw me...I hope!!!

Thank you for writing!

[Mopey]

Do you have a counselor? A therapist? And if not, it seems to me I’ve seen something at the top of this forum that says “Do you need to talk to a counselor right now?” Maybe you could give that a try if there are no other options.

I’ll share with you that I have had a few out-of-body experiences myself, some frightening, some not so much, so if that or anything else I can do might feel helpful feel free to PM me.

[Monticello]

virtual hugs for you today

[Mopey]

Another thing someone told me once when i was going thru one of these things was to put my hand over my solar plexus and hold it there for awile. There was something reassuring about that.

Originally Posted by Mopey

Another thing someone told me once when i was going thru one of these things was to put my hand over my solar plexus and hold it there for awile. There was something reassuring about that.

I am going to try that. Forgive the obtuse Q...I have heard of the solar plexus but don't exactly know where it is...could you explain?

[Mopey]

The solar plexus is the area right below the center of your breasts but an inch or two above your navel. You should feel a slight indentation there.

[AzulOscuro]

I’m glad you felt a little better.
It must be a horrible sensation. It sounds like the stress in the present, untied demonds from the past.
I used to have extracorporeal experiences when I was sleeping and I was living a period of lots of stress and pressure and it already was very scary. I’m not comparing. That’s why I said that living it when you are awake must be absolutely confused and scary.

Try to talk to a therapist or psychiatrist to see up to what point it can be slowered the effects, with different techniques.

[Mopey]

Originally Posted by AzulOscuro

I’m glad you felt a little better.
It must be a horrible sensation. It sounds like the stress in the present, untied demonds from the past.
I used to have extracorporeal experiences when I was sleeping and I was living a period of lots of stress and pressure and it already was very scary. I’m not comparing. That’s why I said that living it when you are awake must be absolutely confused and scary.

Try to talk to a therapist or psychiatrist to see up to what point it can be slowered the effects, with different techniques.

Absolutely.

[Carmina]

This happened to me due to a traumatic experience as a teenager, I saw it as a form of dissociation and with hindsight, it was a defence mechanism.

[Thirty shades]

I have experienced feeling unreal at times of extreme anxiety. I believe it is a human response to have.

It feels awful, I know, I find some space and try to remember it will pass.

Feeling 'Unreal' - Anxiety Care UK

Big hug and much love

THANK YOU so much to everyone here for reading and sharing and inspiring! I try to reply to each poster one by one but sometimes I am slow. I am not sleeping well lately so I wake up feeling fractured and distracted.

There are some really valuable insights and strategies from you folks here. Plus your empathy means more to me than I can convey in words. I hope this message finds you all well. If not, I hope you can find the resources and support you need. Please know that I am wishing each of you peace, positive energy, and hope. Take good care of yourselves.

This may sound silly but I found this in a fortune cookie a while ago and I kept it and during times of crisis I read it to myself:

The stars appear every night in the sky. All is well.

I find that when life is perplexing and painful, looking to nature can be very powerful and comforting.

[Fuzzybear]

I’m sending much love to all who have shared valuable insights and/or hugs and love here

[MickeyCheeky]

Take good care of yourself, HopefullyLost1211 I hope you'll feel better soon. You deserve to feel well. You're a wonderful person. I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. You don't deserve to suffer like this. You're in my thoughts and prayers. Remember that we're here for you. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this

[AzulOscuro]

Originally Posted by Thirty shades

I have experienced feeling unreal at times of extreme anxiety. I believe it is a human response to have.

It feels awful, I know, I find some space and try to remember it will pass.

Feeling 'Unreal' - Anxiety Care UK

Big hug and much love

What an interesting link! Thanks! :-)

[Mopey]

Hopefully, I think it is very gracious of you to try to reply to each member's post. It shows how conscientious you are. However, when you're going through a crisis as you are right now, personally I think you need to concentrate on yourself and trying to deal with what you're experiencing, with the faith that anyone who responds to you is trying to help you deal with that.

I've made a number of posts that have generated no replies, and while it's always gratifying to have your efforts recognized, that isn't the main reason, I don't think, for posting. It's to try to come up with something that might possibly help the suffering person.

Please don't worry about the necessity to reply, at least on my account.