[medicalfox]

My therapist told me months ago that I most likely have dissociation from my PTSD. What is dissociation though? I read that people with bipolar, autism, and schizophrenia may have dissociation so maybe I had it at some point? Also, I noticed on this forum a lot of people deal with memory problems from it. Can you have dissociation after a manic episode? I often forget what I'm like during my episodes and my old psychiatrist was so angry about this. He tried to deem me as unsafe because of my memory problems and tried to take my driver's license away, but I was able to keep it. Is this problem severe ADHD or dissociation? I know when I'm forgetful about silly things that's ADHD, but is that the reason for my lack of memory from manic episodes and melt downs? Why am I so forgetful?

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by medicalfox

My therapist told me months ago that I most likely have dissociation from my PTSD. What is dissociation though? I read that people with bipolar, autism, and schizophrenia may have dissociation so maybe I had it at some point? Also, I noticed on this forum a lot of people deal with memory problems from it. Can you have dissociation after a manic episode? I often forget what I'm like during my episodes and my old psychiatrist was so angry about this. He tried to deem me as unsafe because of my memory problems and tried to take my driver's license away, but I was able to keep it. Is this problem severe ADHD or dissociation? I know when I'm forgetful about silly things that's ADHD, but is that the reason for my lack of memory from manic episodes and melt downs? Why am I so forgetful?

here where I live and work in a city in NY, which is in the USA (I am including this back in my posting to clarify I am speaking only for myself and where I live as opposed to other New Yorks in other countries and am only speaking for my location not the whole United States)...

Dissociation is a reaction that triggers someone. that triggering event can be a positive or negative one. Everyone has their own coping abilities and what their bodies react to and how.

example stress causes me to feel numb, spacey, ...riding in a vehicle for a couple hours makes me feel numb, spacey, not fully connected to my environment....these are all normal forms of dissociation in me.

there are many forms of dissociation, and can happen with any mental disorder, any physical problem or even with no mental and no physical problems..

here where I live yes dissociation can happen after a manic episode. it happens to me all the time. my own treatment providers tell me the kind of dissociation i have after mania is called dissociative amnesia.

to find out what kind and how severe your dissociation problems are you will need to contact your treatment providers. the same with finding out whether its ADHD or dissociation, we can not make a diagnosis of your problems here.

[medicalfox]

Thank you so much! I hope my therapist won't think I'm stupid for this. I have a lot of problems and I'm scared she will get mad at me because of all my problems. She says me fear of rejection from psych professionals is from PTSD. I don't want to over whelm them with all my problems, I'm so nervous about it.

[likewater]

Originally Posted by medicalfox

My therapist told me months ago that I most likely have dissociation from my PTSD. What is dissociation though? I read that people with bipolar, autism, and schizophrenia may have dissociation so maybe I had it at some point? Also, I noticed on this forum a lot of people deal with memory problems from it. Can you have dissociation after a manic episode? I often forget what I'm like during my episodes and my old psychiatrist was so angry about this. He tried to deem me as unsafe because of my memory problems and tried to take my driver's license away, but I was able to keep it. Is this problem severe ADHD or dissociation? I know when I'm forgetful about silly things that's ADHD, but is that the reason for my lack of memory from manic episodes and melt diowns? Why am I so forgetful?

Why in the world should you lose your driver's license just because you block out periods of time? I do that, my sister does that. It's pretty common with dissociation.
I hope your pdoc is better equipped to deal with ptsd and trauma issues.

[IndieVisible]

Your driving in your car on your way to the store which is 30 minutes away. You suddenly seem to be at the story much sooner and can't believe how quick it was this time, the time flew by! Actually you zoned out for awhile. That's a form of dissociation that is more common to more people.

For me, I don't remember events the way they are explained to me. I remember them a little differently. I may omit a part and add another. Mine are brief perhaps only minutes. The more serious it gets when it's for longer periods.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by likewater

Why in the world should you lose your driver's license just because you block out periods of time? I do that, my sister does that. It's pretty common with dissociation.
I hope your pdoc is better equipped to deal with ptsd and trauma issues.

I lost my license because I dissociated while driving.

example sitting at a red light my impaired judgement of being foggy/numb I hit the gas and went anyway. no one was hurt because the other drivers were watching traffic and saw me go but the line in the sand was my judgement due to dissociation was impaired and I could very well have caused an accident/killed other drivers. one of the other drivers had taken down my license plate information, and reported me to the Department of Motor Vehicles and the police. I was issued a ticket to appear in court. When the court discovered I had a mental disorder that was impairing my judgement they removed my license to drive.

this situation wasnt even one of the severe dissociative events that used to come from my having DID or those that come from my having dissociative amnesia. it was just a mild depersonalization/derealization disorder event but it still put myself and others in danger of harm or being killed. like the Judge told me theres a reason why medications say dont drive and operate vehicles and heavy machinery (dissociation due to medications used to be considered depersonalization) and theres a reason why treatment providers in NY state are supposed to contact the department of motor vehicles when a person has a physical or mental problem that can impair a persons judgement and abilities to function mentally or physically. Sometimes modifications to the vehicle or limitations on the license or no license to drive is needed to protect the driver and other drivers they may encounter. In my case what was needed to keep myself and other drivers safe was removal of my license.

its not like they could modify my families car to detect when I was dissociating/ dissociated and because my dissociation wasnt one of predictability (like if I was only dissociating at night they could have put a limitation on my license saying I could only drive during the day/light hours).

the court had no choice but to revoke my license to drive due to dissociation symptoms and disorders.