[Wynne]

Hi, new here, lurked a little, had a question. Sometimes when someone's talking to me, my mind just goes completely blank. I can't remember what we were talking about, though if I think back a little I can generally piece it together really quickly - quickly enough that most folks don't even know it's happened (generally because they're still talking). This has even happened a few times in therapy. Since I've been paying attention to it, I've noticed it more - I'd say it happens several times a day if I'm stressed or talking about serious issues, though it's never the same topic twice (so far). Does this happen to anyone else? Is this a Thing? Or is it just, I don't know, like a brain twitch or something?

[mick07]

I have that happen also. I've never really given it too much thought-- although lately I'm having a more difficult time being able to piece it together. I'm having more trouble hiding it. People seem to notice more often. It's been awkward at times. I just seem to space out for a bit. I don't know why it happens-- I'm more curious about it now that you mention it

[phoenix7]

Hi Wynne,

I have the same thing happen, it's not that im not paying attention its that ive switched off for a moment - i used to hide it but now i just own up and say "sorry just zoned out for a moment, what did you say?" generally they just laugh because i have made a joke of it - but it happens most when im stressed or if i catch movement out of the corner of my eye i am immediately attentive to that and totally lose whatever i am talking about - that happens too , I can be in the middle of a conversation starting to say something and i forget half way through a sentence - i put it down to my mind being so stressed out that it just stops and takes a breath before continuing - it's similar to when my words stop and i have to close my eyes to cut out all the other visual input so that i can get the word out of my head - somtimes its just a long blink other times longer - and yes it makes me feel like im going crazy but i know (maybe) that it's just my minds way of coping - hope this is not too confusing - take care P7

[gimmeice]

Hello wynne, I do this a lot too. I haven't really thought much about why but I guess it's probably a form of dissociation, which I believe is common with ptsd.

[Wynne]

S'good to know that it happens to other folks, too. I haven't got diagnosis-in-hand; my T generally mutters something about the DSM-IV being pathologizing and some such thing. What he has said is that I have "trauma issues," and I'm trying to figure out all the reasonable things that might be connected to that.

I was wondering if it was like dissociation...

Big thanks to you mick, gimmeice, and phoenix for letting me know that it happens to you, too.