I tend to dissociate easily in sessions and don't realise til me T points out. What i haven't told him is sometimes I am sitting looking at myself talking and thinking "Who is this person and what are they talking about" Its kind of like I'm sitting beside myself but only recognise myself after a while. Is it something I should I bring up or does everyone do this? I've sort of done it all my life but can usually recognise I'm the person I'm looking at.

[tametc]

Originally Posted by Bipolarartist

I tend to dissociate easily in sessions and don't realise til me T points out. What i haven't told him is sometimes I am sitting looking at myself talking and thinking "Who is this person and what are they talking about" Its kind of like I'm sitting beside myself but only recognise myself after a while. Is it something I should I bring up or does everyone do this? I've sort of done it all my life but can usually recognise I'm the person I'm looking at.

No, not everyone does this. It is a type of dissociation, and I think it would be important and beneficial to tell your T. I dissociate also, but not in this particular way. One of the main reasons I audiotape my sessions is because I know that I miss bits and pieces of therapy, and moreso when I dissociate. Most Ts are not surprised to know that their clients dissociate to some extent, but find it helpful to know what to look for in that particular client.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by Bipolarartist

I tend to dissociate easily in sessions and don't realise til me T points out. What i haven't told him is sometimes I am sitting looking at myself talking and thinking "Who is this person and what are they talking about" Its kind of like I'm sitting beside myself but only recognise myself after a while. Is it something I should I bring up or does everyone do this? I've sort of done it all my life but can usually recognise I'm the person I'm looking at.

I've experienced that. Perhaps it's an indication that I'm saying stuff that I don't in my heart agree with.

I've done that. Alas as I've interested I am less able. I say alas because it was a close friend. But than not having the need to do it is freeing.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by Bipolarartist

I tend to dissociate easily in sessions and don't realise til me T points out. What i haven't told him is sometimes I am sitting looking at myself talking and thinking "Who is this person and what are they talking about" Its kind of like I'm sitting beside myself but only recognise myself after a while. Is it something I should I bring up or does everyone do this? I've sort of done it all my life but can usually recognise I'm the person I'm looking at.

Reading this again, it almost sounds like an "out of body" experience. Is that what happens?

[blur]

From what I've read everyone dissociates to a lesser or greater degree. I've not experienced what you describe but I do dissociate, especially if I'm depressed. I think I just get really in my head at times. I think it would be good to tell your T what you are experiencing as they can then help you to get more grounded or take things slower or do whatever would help you most at that time.

Originally Posted by Bipolarartist

I tend to dissociate easily in sessions and don't realise til me T points out. What i haven't told him is sometimes I am sitting looking at myself talking and thinking "Who is this person and what are they talking about" Its kind of like I'm sitting beside myself but only recognise myself after a while. Is it something I should I bring up or does everyone do this? I've sort of done it all my life but can usually recognise I'm the person I'm looking at.

Even if everyone did this, I'd still bring it up.

I do this to different extremes, only I am sometimes aware when it starts to happen. Other times I don't realize it until after the fact. I remember a whole session with my consciousness near the ceiling, looking down on me. Other sessions, I'd look at my limbs and freak out because it didn't look like they belonged to me.

There are different ways to explain it, I suppose, but I was told it's a reaction to extreme anxiety.

I think if you experience that extreme anxiety over and over, it eventually lessens in degree and you can begin to tolerate it better. It might be helpful to let your T know that this is happening.

[Ike McCaslin]

I find it helpful to lie on the couch and not look at PDOC. It helps keep me centered, if that makes any sense.

[ShaggyChic_1201]

I agree with above posters and you should discuss it with T.

I dissociated through most of my childhood, teens and twenties, which were very traumatic. Now in my late 40s, I'm trying very hard to cope with reality, which includes the reality of my traumas. Often in TT, I have a few moments where I know I'm going to split off, and the last 2 session I verbalized when I was feeling it. It feels AWFUL and is terrifying and I fear losing control but I'm trusting my Ts & Pdoc that this is the path to wholeness, integration and health.

Just reread this. I don't sound encouraging. I sound like misery loves company. I'm sorry.