[JaneC]

This is something my therapist said to me today. (I'm so glad his leave got delayed and he offered me an earlier appointment!)

He was describing for me what he observed of me last week when I kind of checked out because of being triggered into a trauma memory.

So, he was explaining to me that trauma memories, trauma re-experiencing, kind of lives on a separate time zone to real life, and that when triggered it has this huge and strong gravitational pull. He was explaining that you get dragged back, against your will, to a different time.

He said that it looked like I had both feet firmly planted within the time zone of the trauma, and that it looked completely terrifying for me. He said that it is going to be so important for me to try to be able to visit that place, but find ways to keep one foot firmly planted, grounded, in the now....the current time zone.

This was the first time that he has seen me quite like that, and neither of us know what it was that triggered such a strong response. He said that he had been thinking about it, but doesn't know. Neither do I.

I don't want to go there again, but of course I probably will have to....need to.

What do you think about trauma having it's own time zone? Is this how you experience it? Or how your therapist may have spoken about it, or somehow differently?

[ThingWithFeathers]

My t talks about different trauma 'parts' in a similar way. It's like different parts of the self have been compartmentalised, shut off, hidden etc. There's a self that presents to the world and parts of the self I hide from the world. Then there's the parts I'm not even aware of - the ones that take over when I'm triggered. I think that's different, but similar to you t"s perspective.

[Ididitmyway]

Trauma does have its own time zone generally speaking, but "trauma" is a broad concept. There are different types of trauma and plus trauma itself is a very complex phenomena. It sounds like your trauma response is dissociation, since you said you "checked out". Dissociation is one of the post-traumatic symptoms, but not in all cases. Trauma works differently in different people. Unfortunately, it hasn't been researched as much as it needs to be and the overall body of knowledge about trauma among professionals isn't big, and, also unfortunately, they are not exactly honest about the limitations of their knowledge. If you want to learn more about trauma, I suggest you to read "Trauma and Recovery" by Judith Hermann.

[JaneC]

TWF...yes my therapist has spoken about parts before also. Some of my 'parts' are basically coping strategies, probably similar to how you describe the parts that take over when you are triggered.

Idid...yes, I do dissociate to different degrees. Many people talk about that book, I really must get it. Thank you. My therapist is great in that he knows the limitations of research and keeps a close watch on it. He has great hopes for future treatment of trauma, once more neurologically based research is completed.

[ThingWithFeathers]

Yeah, some parts are coping strategies, some are feelings, some are thoughts, some are memories. I have a disconnect between by body, emotions and thought. It's weird, because it's as though there are categories and also subcategories.

My t had also recommend and referenced J. Herman's work in understanding trauma.

[Ididitmyway]

I've heard some good things about EMDR from those who've had it done on them. The idea of EMDR is exactly that of being in two time zones at the same time. You basically are made to process the traumatic event or events by recalling them in such way that you don't leave the present situation. You are able to recall events while being aware of where you are right at this moment, which makes the recollection process safe. During the procedure you are listening to a bilateral sound that goes from one ear to another back and forth, which is what keeps you in the present and what presumably builds the connections between two hemispheres of the brain. As a result, you should be able to recall the events in the future without fear or any strong emotions attached. This, again, is what I've heard people say about the procedure, but I haven't experienced it personally, so I would neither recommend it nor discourage from trying. This is just an info. You may want to talk to your T about it.

[MoxieDoxie]

I did EMDR for traumatic memories. It does not make,you forget the memories it just moves it to a part of the brain that can process it and it does not cause flashbacks and feelings in the body anymore. It worked for specific events but not for a life time of emotional neglect and the effects it has on the personality and maladaptive thinking.

[Ididitmyway]

Originally Posted by MoxieDoxie

I did EMDR for traumatic memories. It does not make,you forget the memories it just moves it to a part of the brain that can process it and it does not cause flashbacks and feelings in the body anymore. It worked for specific events but not for a life time of emotional neglect and the effects it has on the personality and maladaptive thinking.

I didn't say it makes you forget the memories. I said it helps you recall and process events safely. And, yes, it works on the specific events, not on the prolonged abuse and/or neglect.

[MoxieDoxie]

Originally Posted by Ididitmyway

I didn't say it makes you forget the memories. I said it helps you recall and process events safely. And, yes, it works on the specific events, not on the prolonged abuse and/or neglect.

I did not say you did. I am mentioning that aspect of it. The post was not about you. It was just an overall response to the thread.

That's why it's called pstd

this is very very true for me.

check out this blog- the T talks in several articles about how trauma affects us
Discussing Dissociation | Thoughts from a Trauma Therapist?.

[Depletion]

I really need to get my other foot back into reality too.

[Open Eyes]

Yes Jane, I agree with your T, that is what I experience too. I found it very confusing and extremely hard to explain to others. I am not always exactly sure what triggers an episode, I often have to rethink everything that was being said before I got drawn into one.

What I have noticed is that if I can talk about it and acknowledge it, whatever it is gets weaker at pulling me away from the now.

[JaneC]

Originally Posted by Depletion

I really need to get my other foot back into reality too.

And my therapist said that eventually that is what happens. I was demanding like a stroppy child that he take the whole past away....

Originally Posted by Open Eyes

Yes Jane, I agree with your T, that is what I experience too. I found it very confusing and extremely hard to explain to others. I am not always exactly sure what triggers an episode, I often have to rethink everything that was being said before I got drawn into one.

What I have noticed is that if I can talk about it and acknowledge it, whatever it is gets weaker at pulling me away from the now.

When I was in it this time, I could not speak, even though I wanted to. My therapist explained that when the brain is in "trauma time" certain processes and functions are down regulated, or do not function so well.....and speech is one of them. I also asked if that was why it is so important to put words to what you experience and feel. Doh....of course it is! (that wasn't his response of course!)

Trauma time........sounds like a bloody game show!

[Open Eyes]

Yes, that is what happened to me too. I have a hard time talking, it happened during my deposition and there I was at a table with my lawyer the opposing lawyer and the court recorder woman, just stuck but I could feel the tears running down my cheeks, yet I just could not talk or even look up at anyone. I should not have been alone like that, I did not even have a therapist then to talk to either. I had it happen in front of my mother too, I could not talk and it was weird because I was right in a flashback but could see my mother across the room and she kept talking to me and was worried, but I could not talk it was like a stroke in a way. I did not have a therapist or even PC at the time either, I was totally on my own.