Could I have some type of dissociation?

I haven't posted in this forum before but I know a lot of you have experience with this topic. I had an abusive childhood and I am seeing a T very soon.

I think I have some form of dissociation as I have huge chunks of time in my childhood that I just don't remember and also bits and pieces of time I cannot recall. My step father was a pedophile. He exposed himself to me and I do remember that. He would also come into the bathroom to finish my baths at age 8 or so. I do remember that. I have certain strange feelings but I cannot explain them. I even had times I could not wake up and I felt myself twirling around. Weird stuff, I know.

I used to be driving and completely forget where I was and where I was going but that hasn't happened in a very long time. Could all of this be a type of dissociation?

Disassociation is a hard one, and I'm not sure I want to delve too deep into that.

Im sorry but we are not able to tell you whether this can be dissociation in you.

what we can do is tell you what you will find if you google these same symptoms, and frankly thats not much help because what you posted can be millions upon millions of different normal, mental and physical health problems. for instance when I googled the words completely forgetting where I was (words symptom from your post) google came up with 76,900,000 results of what this can be and thats not including the repeating results of what this can be.

Another thing we can tell you is what these problems you posted about are with in ourselves....

my own treatment providers diagnosed those same problems you posted about, in me as being stress/anxiety/depression/bipolar disorder/an eating disorder/sleep deprivation/ poor diet/ pregnancy hormones/ post partum depression / PTSD / normal dissociation/ normal forgetfulness/ depersonalization/derealization/ MS/ psychosis/ hallucinations/delusions....
in short open the DSM 5 and depending upon other accompanying symptoms these symptoms you posted about with in.... me... was called it....

Im not saying whats going on in you is all these things that my own treatment providers called them in me. just thats what it was called in me...

the only way for you to find out what these problems you posted about are with in you is by contacting your own treatment providers or a treatment provider in your off the computer location. they will be able to do a diagnostic evaluation that can tell you what these problems are with in you.

Does anyone have this experience!

It is good that you have an idea of what you might be experiencing and are open to the possibility. But your question is best suited for your therapist. Your t will take the time to evaluate you as you develop a therapeutic relationship with your t. This will help you while working on what trauma may have happened.

I sometimes notice that I do not ask questions in the way that I mean to. I think it may be due to my ADHD. I appreciate your careful wording and caution as it is exactly what you should do. I more than anyone realize that I nor anyone on here can diagnose me. I wasn't asking for that but how could you know, really? So thank you for replying in spite of my question. I should have asked what does dissociation feel like to you. How does it manifest in you? I appreciate your response and wow you have a lot of things going on!

I totally understand.

Thanks!

I know actually. Now if I could only think before I ask such questions! lol

Thank you for your reply!

Don't worry SideBlinded, ask any question you want. Most of the folks on Psych Central are here because of issues that are similar in so many ways that one dx overlaps with another, etc.

I knew what - and why - you were asking. It's okay.

Big chunks of your childhood missing and a pedophile stepfather are certainly issues that would signal a mental health pro to ask the appropriate questions. As you probably know, dissociation is a normal defense reaction to an abnormal situation.

Thanks so much Violet Blue.

You are welcome.
And feel free to Private Message me if you are not comfortable asking questions openly.

dissociation in me varies depending upon where its coming from ie which problem is the cause of it....

in general my dissociation problems are that of depersonalization/derealization disorder and dissociative amnesia where under stress/anxiety/ or other problems can cause me to feel numb spaced out, foggy minded, a sense of disconnection to my body or my environment. what helps is adjustments of my medications by my treatment providers, an assessment with my treatment providers to determine where the problem is coming from for example it ifs from my anxiety problems my medications being adjusted can solve the problem...I also use the tools I learn from my treatment providers to reground and focus on the present moment. a big help for me is doing something physical like rowing my canoe around the lake, taking a walk....

Thanks so much. I will be reading up on this and if my T and I come to some type of resolution concerning this disorder, I will comment further.

Take care!