[VickiesPath]

I was kinda wondering what this phenomena is called. I'll be working at my computer or playing a game or concentrating on something and suddenly I don't know where I am, meaning I have no idea which room I'm in, what chair or bed I'm sitting on, what time of day it is, total disorientation. I have to look up and do a reality check. This has been going on for quite a while. It also happens when I'm out about town. I'll be in a store and think I'm in a certain store and I'm planning my route home in my head when I come out of the store, get into my car, leave the parking lot, and realize I'm in a totally different part of town. It comes as a total surprise to me that I'm not where I think I am. This is starting to really bother me and I was wondering if someone can tell me if this has a name and if anyone else has ever experienced it.

[(JD)]

What you describe sounds like a form of dissociation. It is a component of PTSD, which you are Dx'd with as I read from your profile.
You might be stressing yourself out and focusing too much on one task. Or, perhaps things in your life have become overwhelming, and thus you're dissociating to try and give yourself a break.
Try to not multitask. Make yourself lists, and maybe even print off maps from the computer showing the store at which you wish to shop.

Originally Posted by VickiesPath

I was kinda wondering what this phenomena is called. I'll be working at my computer or playing a game or concentrating on something and suddenly I don't know where I am, meaning I have no idea which room I'm in, what chair or bed I'm sitting on, what time of day it is, total disorientation. I have to look up and do a reality check. This has been going on for quite a while. It also happens when I'm out about town. I'll be in a store and think I'm in a certain store and I'm planning my route home in my head when I come out of the store, get into my car, leave the parking lot, and realize I'm in a totally different part of town. It comes as a total surprise to me that I'm not where I think I am. This is starting to really bother me and I was wondering if someone can tell me if this has a name and if anyone else has ever experienced it.

[lonegael]

Vickie, I agree, it sounds like yu are dissociating for some reason. I had a firend who would getinher car, take off for the grocery store, and call me panicked at two AM some where out in the desert with her car and no idea how she got there. Thank God, she didn't get hurt, but it was not an easy thing to deal with. How long does this tend to last, I mean, what's the time gap? I do a more minor varient of it, but it's usually when I am tired and moderately upset about something. Music is a big trigger, but smells and shifts of the light can do the same.
Yep, it is a component of PTSD and shows up hand in hand with other anxiety disorders as well.
If you can, talk to your T. I think personally it's a gift; there were some situations in my past I would never have come through if it hadn't been for an ability to put myself elsewhere and let the cold analytical part take over. Not everyone can step outside and give the brain that type of break. Of course, there are safety issues, so I anderstand your concern. Huggs, I think you're ok.

[FooZe]

Originally Posted by VickiesPath

... I was wondering if someone can tell me if this has a name and if anyone else has ever experienced it.

I sometimes get flashes of something like that when I've been up late, staring at the computer screen, maybe waiting for something to finish loading. Only what's on the screen in front of me will exist any more; all the surrounding objects will turn into something else. The light falling on the side of the computer will become a doorway into an unfamiliar room.

I lived for almost 20 years in a certain city on the east coast, then later in a city on the west coast that had a few things in common with it. For years I kept catching myself confusing locations in one city with locations in the other.

In between, I lived way out in the country where there weren't any street lights and the nearest neighbors were a quarter mile away. To get to my house after dark I had to follow a footpath through the woods by flashlight. Pretty regularly, the path would start looking unfamiliar to me and I'd start wondering if I'd somehow ended up on the wrong planet with no way back.

The other day I happened to be driving past the end of my street where I almost always turn left to go home. This time I was on my way to a different destination a few blocks away and wasn't going to turn. The intersection looked so different to me that I had to look twice to make sure it was really the same one and all the landmarks were where they were supposed to be.

Vickie, I think we're talking about similar experiences but I don't know what they're called. I may dissociate but I've never been diagnosed with dissociation.

[salukigirl]

I noticed from your profile that you are almost 60 which is about the age that the first signs of Alzheimer's start to appear. My grandma is 87 now but several years ago when she first started experiencing the symptoms we would be talking and all of a sudden she would look around and not know where she was. I remember one time she started telling me a story about someone she knew when she was in her 30's and when I asked her what year she thought it was she said "Isn't it 1956?"

I don't know much about dissociative disorders so it could possibly be that. Just what you describe sounds like what my grandma went through when she started having signs of Alzheimer's and 60 is about the age they start.

[mlpHolmes]

Happens to me a lot also. Very scary. Anxiety of course soars

Mine is a problem w/ Dissociation - I work on methods to keeps my dissociations at a minimum

my Life is much better!

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by Fool Zero

Pretty regularly, the path would start looking unfamiliar to me and I'd start wondering if I'd somehow ended up on the wrong planet with no way back.

You did.

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by VickiesPath

This is starting to really bother me and I was wondering if someone can tell me if this has a name and if anyone else has ever experienced it.

Might look into "physical" causes too...

[Typo]

I do this as well Vickie, I have read it can be a compent of PTSD, I will get confused, or unable to grasp the concept of time, or I'll be walking from one class to my next and I'll stop and get confused on to where I am going or suppose to be doing, it sounds like dissocation, I often dissocate when under stress or when an enviroment gets too loud and bright (sometimes very loud noises combined with a lot of light and movement will trigger me to dissociate or become confused and disorentied) I would check with doctor though, there are many medical conditions that can cause this to happen too. I have learned taking deep breathes, closing my eyes, and counting helps me get resituated, or I go sit down if that is possible, or if it's bad enough I'll go to a restroom and stand in a stall and give myself a moment to ground and sort of talk to myself and help myself out of my confusion.

(((((((((((((((Vickie))))))))))))))))))))))

Sending many hugs and peaceful thoughts
Typo

Originally Posted by salukigirl

I noticed from your profile that you are almost 60 which is about the age that the first signs of Alzheimer's start to appear. My grandma is 87 now but several years ago when she first started experiencing the symptoms we would be talking and all of a sudden she would look around and not know where she was. I remember one time she started telling me a story about someone she knew when she was in her 30's and when I asked her what year she thought it was she said "Isn't it 1956?"

I don't know much about dissociative disorders so it could possibly be that. Just what you describe sounds like what my grandma went through when she started having signs of Alzheimer's and 60 is about the age they start.

it's true that the earliest signs of alzheimer's can occur that young but fortunately it is quite unlikely. (full disclosure: i get completely freaked out by the suggestion of alzheimer's since it is in my family too). according to the mayo clinic:

About 5 percent of people between the ages of 65 and 74 have Alzheimer's disease, while nearly half the people over the age of 85 have Alzheimer's.

if you have ptsd then it is more likely dissociation but it is always good to get checked by a doctor.

[VickiesPath]

Originally Posted by salukigirl

I noticed from your profile that you are almost 60 which is about the age that the first signs of Alzheimer's start to appear. My grandma is 87 now but several years ago when she first started experiencing the symptoms we would be talking and all of a sudden she would look around and not know where she was. I remember one time she started telling me a story about someone she knew when she was in her 30's and when I asked her what year she thought it was she said "Isn't it 1956?"

I don't know much about dissociative disorders so it could possibly be that. Just what you describe sounds like what my grandma went through when she started having signs of Alzheimer's and 60 is about the age they start.

You know, salukigirl, I have thought about this soooo often, because it has been so long since I've truly felt good enough to be able to think clearly like I used to.

However, I do have some good news. A little history, for the past two years, I've experienced some repeated traumatic events and for some reason, never was quite able to get completely over them and back to my normal self. Plus, my meds were never working right. The past six months have been horrible. Several family incidents and lots, I mean LOTS of stress.

Well, recently, I finally took the advice of my doctor and agreed to try an atypical antipsychotic.....a very low dose added to my antidepressant (I'm bipolar II) and this was three weeks ago. I'm telling you guys, it's like I have my old self back. My head is clear, I can focus, suddenly I woke up!

I fought it for a long time because I just didn't want to go that route medication wise. Well, that was a stupid decision of mine. I feel so much better. And I can think! I am functioning, my humor is back, my energy is back, my concentration is back, I can remember things, I have interest in my old hobbies...........

I'm back!!!!