Today

In addition to Dissociative Disorder I suffer from PTSD Bipolar and a rare Seizure condition. This morning I had a Grand mal seizure. While a friend was coming to get me and bring me to the hospital where my Neurosurgeon practices I had a Dissociative episode. hen I get them I tend to wander off. Not a good thing when you live in Trenton NJ. I just came out of it 20mins ago and found myself a block away from home.

My Doc has left for the day so here I'll wait until tomorrow. Does anyone else wander during an episode? If so what do you do? Any tips on safeguards?

Thanks
Gray

That must be a very scary thing to go through!

While I don't suffer from anything like this, I do have an idea to try for a safeguard for you.

If you go to a hardware store, you can ask them if they have door alarms that are very inexpensive and easy to install. I had to get them when I was doing a job having a disabled woman living with me and she would wander. I needed to know if she was heading out the door.

These alarms are small and you attach one piece to the doorjam and one to the door. They make a connection when the door is shut, but as soon as the connection is broken by opening the door, the alarm will sound. The alarm is quite loud and it may be something that will jar you back into the present and where you are so that you can keep yourself safe.

Again, this may work or it may not, but I thought it was at least worth the effort to let you know about it. I hope you stay safe and take good care of yourself!

Eep! I have grand mal seizures sometimes, and they are so very not pleasant.

When I have dissociative episodes, I tend to be sat in my chair, staring at the wall for ages, so I don't really wander around, no. I think sabby's idea of the door alarms is good, though!

Hi,

That sounds a very distressing experience.

I have had very occasional seizures, I found then very scary. So you have my sympathies.

I have dissociated before and 'come to' having wandered off somewhere. It hasn't happened to me often - normally I will be at home, or wherever I was when I dissociated. But it has happened, and it was very disconcerting and worrying for me.

I am sorry I don't have any tips to help with safeguarding, except if there is someone you can trust to talk to about this I would do so. I always make sure I carry ID on me, and have my mobile. Not for this in particular, but just in general so if anything happens I can be identified, remind myself who I am and can get in touch with someone for help if I need it.

When it has happened to me I have usually had a panic attack on finding myself not where I expected to be, then when I have calmed myself down I get myself somewhere I feel safe and try to figure out what happened and why. I can recommend the second part - get yourself somewhere you feel safe. When you feel able to, try and think about what might have triggered this episode and if there is anyway to work through that, or try and safeguard against it happening again.

I wish you luck and I want you to know that you aren't alone.

Milli

x