[just2b]

So at a session and was drinking water from a plastic cup. I can see myself going to place the cup on the coaster on the coffee table, however it hovered over the coaster. It just stopped. I remember thinking "put down the cup" just put the cup on the coaster," and my muscles in my hand just wasn't responding to what I wanted to do. Then I remember getting really mad, " put down the damn cup !" Just put it down and move on" but still I couldn't seem to do it. I had no reason to just stop and freeze. I don't get it. I said all that in my head so I am sure T was just watching as I have no idea really. Not sure how long it went on for. I have had other experiences like that...like I would be in a parking lot getting in my car and suddenly, my mind is like put the "keys in the ignition" and let's go home, but I wouldn't be able too. It's like I just freeze. I think of the fight or flight response but in this situation there is absolutely no danger, putting a cup on a coaster or starting my car, I don't understand. Any thoughts? Any experiences? Thanks for your response.

[Solnutty]

I've only had that happen with my speech, as in, though I feel no danger, I suddenly can't talk. I try, and I can open my mouth a little, but I can't make sounds come out. I know now that while I was fine, one of my others wasn't. They were in distress over something I said or was going to say.
Once I threw something in the trash I intended to keep. I was doing something else and my hand picked it up and dumped it right in the can. I had been arguing with an other about it.

[anais_anais]

Yes, I have this a lot with speech and less frequently with movement. It's like I can't find the part of my brain that tells my body what to do. It happened a lot before I started therapy and it was very frightening before I understood that is was dissociation and not some degenerative neurological thing.

[anais_anais]

I have not figured out how to overcome it in the moment (short of changing the conversation topic or abandoning the movement I wanted to make) but like all things with me, it doesn't happen as badly when I'm taking care of myself and keeping stress levels down generally.

[dlantern]

Ask for clarity get past the moment get a do over. If it doesn't happen again that is okay it just one of those things. Yes, we have moments like that all the time.

[just2b]

Speech thing happens to now that I think of it. Especially when I want to talk to The about something and I end up so frustrated that I can't put thoughts together and she will start talking and then it's okay. Though I never get a chance to try but mind is urging.

I get moments where I become detached from the body and is just an observer watching, doing things that I'm not wanting to do. And yes, I get those moments, too.

[krazy_phoenix]

Dunno if this is the same, but we have trances, where we're stuck standing/sitting in the same spot, not moving (so we're told) for up to an hour. In therapy, we've come to the conclusion that during these times, no-one is 'out front'. We've had MRI scans etc for epilepsy or other physical reason, none found. It seems stress and destabilisation are the times when this happens. Once re-stabilised internally, this doesn't seem to happen. Maybe same for you? When things are topsy-turvy, this happens more?

[Solnutty]

I get trances like that. I am vaguely aware that I'm in one, but can't seem to make myself snap out.

[just2b]

Maybe more so under stress. I don't know though. Things externally and internally are in chaos ...well not.sure externally. Just everything gets turned inward so guess it's internally right?? Been feeling okay in my house but when I open the front door to step out, it's as if I am walking into a different world lately. It doesn't feel the same. All these ideas in my head and nothing happening on outside. I am getting sleepy, and ears feel muffled, music playing and I want to touch the instruments.

[kecanoe]

I have read (Van Der Kolk or Levine) that for people who have the fight or flight response triggered and they can't act, the third choice is freezing. And for folks who are traumatized a lot as little kids, the freeze response is quite common when triggered. So yeah, definitely happens. It might be interesting to see if you can identify the trigger.