u/nothere00

I feel things so intensely. I rarely fall in love. I usually just go on about my own business.

There is a certain unavailable individual who has become a subject of my obsession because they were kind to me and I felt so uniquely understood and seen by them. Maybe they felt it too. I don’t know. It’s unethical for me ever to pursue them. Time and again they show up in my dreams. I can’t stop daydreaming and thinking about them. My mind! It’s so damn annoying. I think I’m addicted to how I feel when I think of them. How do I let go of them from my mind?

This is not about me but someone close.

The doctor mentioned dissociation and I’d like to understand it better. I’m curious if you can actually tell when you are losing memory or forgetting how to think. Does someone experiencing dissociation have any insight or awareness? The person I’m talking about never actually suffered memory loss or lost their ability to think but they feared they would. Their fear was all consuming.

What I read is that someone going through dissociative amnesia typically doesn’t know what they forgot but only realises when they notice gaps in their timeline or recollection of events. So, it wasn’t adding up.

This is not about me but someone close.

The doctor mentioned dissociation and I’d like to understand it better. I’m curious if you can actually tell when you are losing memory or forgetting how to think. Does someone experiencing dissociation have any insight or awareness? The person I’m talking about never actually suffered memory loss or lost their ability to think but they feared they would. Their fear was all consuming.

What I read is that someone going through dissociative amnesia typically doesn’t know what they forgot but only realises when they notice gaps in their timeline or recollection of events. So, it wasn’t adding up.

I was severely dysregulated, experiencing palpitations, muscle tension, involuntary jaw clenching, insomnia, an overactive mind, jittery restlessness and more.

I am currently on lexapro but was previously on a sleep aid which I no longer take. I do not want to become dependent on sleep medication. I work in a high-stress job and still not completely regulated.

I have been experimenting with non-medication techniques to manage nervous system dysregulation. Some techniques help maintain a baseline while others provide grounding when I am spiralling. I would love to hear what works for you and would be happy to borrow your tips and techniques.

Instant grounding:
- Cold water splash or dipping face in a bowl with ice and water: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Warm water bath: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- 54321 technique, Identifying 5 things you see, 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- I keep the above simple and only focus on listing colours around me: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- General mindfulness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- listening to music: ⭐️⭐️
- reading or watching anything: ⭐️⭐️
- looking out of window: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- box breathing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Baseline:
Somatic yoga : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pranayama: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Progressive muscle relaxation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Full body mobility focused workout: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Strength training: ⭐️⭐️
Walking quietly: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gratitude/journalling: ⭐️⭐️⭐️