[tom2123]

Hey everyone, so I have a question regarding dissociation in general. My therapist who's a LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with many years of experience in the world of dissociation thinks I have just dissociation. I am very skeptical of that however as I get symptoms that are extremely concerning. These include things such as excess saliva, severe cognitive impairment (it was even hard for me to think and type this post out), strange feelings in my head, slurred speech, trouble swallowing, and very strange visual symptoms (seeing color spots, static vision, other neurological type vision symptoms, etc). Does anyone else experience these or know if this can be a part of dissociation? Or should I get checked out by a neurologist or something as well?

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by tom2123

Hey everyone, so I have a question regarding dissociation in general. My therapist who's a LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with many years of experience in the world of dissociation thinks I have just dissociation. I am very skeptical of that however as I get symptoms that are extremely concerning. These include things such as excess saliva, severe cognitive impairment (it was even hard for me to think and type this post out), strange feelings in my head, slurred speech, trouble swallowing, and very strange visual symptoms (seeing color spots, static vision, other neurological type vision symptoms, etc). Does anyone else experience these or know if this can be a part of dissociation? Or should I get checked out by a neurologist or something as well?

Im sorry we can not tell you whether this is dissociative problems in you, only your treatment providers can say that.

what I can say is that in my location we have a mental disorder called conversion disorder. (some locations outside the USA group this in with dissociative disorders here in america conversion disorder is in the somatic class of disorders.)

reason i include that information is that here where I am located meental disorders of any kind can have physical symptoms\show itself as physical problems such as what you posted. here in the USA where I am when a mental disorder presents with physical symptoms its called conversion disorder.

again I can not say whether this is what your own treatment provider meant when she diagnosed with with dissociation based on these physical symptoms. to find this out you will need to talk more with your treatment providers.

we also can not tell you whether you should see another treatment provider only you can decide that.

[flockpride]

Physical sensations can be part of dissociative disorders.

But if you can see an MD, why not just put your mind at ease?

[1976kitchenfloor]

Originally Posted by tom2123

Hey everyone, so I have a question regarding dissociation in general. My therapist who's a LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with many years of experience in the world of dissociation thinks I have just dissociation. I am very skeptical of that however as I get symptoms that are extremely concerning. These include things such as excess saliva, severe cognitive impairment (it was even hard for me to think and type this post out), strange feelings in my head, slurred speech, trouble swallowing, and very strange visual symptoms (seeing color spots, static vision, other neurological type vision symptoms, etc). Does anyone else experience these or know if this can be a part of dissociation? Or should I get checked out by a neurologist or something as well?

Hello. Usually its always a good idea and often mandatory that all physical causes of symptoms are ruled out before any psychiatric diagnosis is made. What you describe must be very troubling, for sure. also, some med can cause symptoms uch as those you describe.

I wish you well and hope you get some clarification on what is causing these symptoms so you can go ahead and work out any other issues that are causing you concern.

Take care. You know you're not alone. Each of us struggle with our own issues and problems and life is in general a lot of hard work. I send you good vibes and hugs.

[Shaly78]

'Strange feelings in my head', I tend to agree hopefully you got good insurance put your mind at ease and get every test, so that it stalls your T.. Well cause you all are continually gathering information and observing whether or not you have a dissociative disorder....I get it, put your mind at ease....Ultimately though, try to be more specific if you can about strange feelings in your head in your journal. There is conversion and somatic disorder, also PTSD...

Originally Posted by tom2123

These include things such as excess saliva, severe cognitive impairment (it was even hard for me to think and type this post out)... trouble swallowing, and very strange visual symptoms (seeing color spots, static vision, other neurological type vision symptoms, etc). Does anyone else experience these or know if this can be a part of dissociation?

Hey Tom, Yeah I get most of these - it used to be very distressing until I understood dissociation - once I did it became less scary, and the symptoms also lessened.

Excess saliva has become dribbling --- like a little one. Trouble swallowing became ... lets just say that was a dissociated memory. Once I made that connection it pretty much stopped completely. Cognitive impairment really upsets me - and still does. Everything from randomly forgetting how to count, or recognise money, to feeling like I was trying think through treacle. Vision can also be problematic - usually everything gets very blurry or I can't process what Im seeing to the point I can't even watch tv. I've seen a neurologist who diagnosed me with M.E. - and then said there was nothing he could do to help. Counselling has significantly improved things, but they are all still there occasionally.

[Littlemeinside]

Originally Posted by tom2123

Hey everyone, so I have a question regarding dissociation in general. My therapist who's a LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with many years of experience in the world of dissociation thinks I have just dissociation. I am very skeptical of that however as I get symptoms that are extremely concerning. These include things such as excess saliva, severe cognitive impairment (it was even hard for me to think and type this post out), strange feelings in my head, slurred speech, trouble swallowing, and very strange visual symptoms (seeing color spots, static vision, other neurological type vision symptoms, etc). Does anyone else experience these or know if this can be a part of dissociation? Or should I get checked out by a neurologist or something as well?

People who have been stressed out for a while, get those symptoms to or it could be a side effect from medication ? Anyways you are not alone.

There is nothing wrong in getting a full mental/physical health check up because this really is the basis of starting diagnosis without guessing.

Good luck hon!

[krazy_phoenix]

I can only tell you how things are for me. I call it 'clunky thinking' when I have to think through each step of the most basic of processes, like having a shower, packing the dishwasher, etc. I have trances where its like 'the lights are on but no ones home ', where despite the fact I'm awake, its like no one is out front. I have occasional visual disturbance like seeing heat waves through the air so if im looking at my kitchen table, i get horizontal heat wave lines passing in front of it. I also have visual stuff like I'm looking out a tunnel.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know you're not alone.
Take good care,
kp