Feeling like you're in a dream or disconnected from reality after experiencing trauma is a relatively common response and is known as "dissociation." Dissociation is a defense mechanism that the mind uses to cope with overwhelming or traumatic experiences. It's a way of mentally detaching from the distressing or traumatic event, which can create a sense of emotional numbness and make the experience feel unreal, distant, or like a dream.
There are different levels of dissociation, ranging from mild detachment or spacing out to more severe dissociative experiences where individuals may feel like they are watching themselves from outside their bodies or have no memory of the traumatic event at all.
Feeling like you might wake up and be back in the traumatic experience is related to the sense of unreality that dissociation can bring. It's crucial to understand that this is a normal response to trauma, and your mind is trying to protect itself from the full impact of the distressing event.
If you are experiencing these feelings after trauma, it's essential to seek support and professional help. Talking to a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or therapist experienced in trauma and dissociation, can provide you with coping strategies and emotional support to navigate these feelings.
Here are a few coping strategies that might help:
Grounding Techniques: Practice grounding exercises to help you feel more connected to the present moment and your surroundings. These may include deep breathing, focusing on physical sensations, or using grounding objects (e.g., holding something with a specific texture).
Self-Care: Engage in self-care activities that bring you comfort and relaxation. This might include spending time with loved ones, engaging in hobbies, or spending time in nature.
Limit Exposure to Triggers: If certain situations or stimuli trigger feelings of dissociation or bring back memories of the traumatic event, try to limit your exposure to them until you feel more stable.
Seek Professional Help: Don't hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional for support. Trauma-focused therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), can be beneficial for processing and healing from trauma.
Support Groups: Consider joining a support group for trauma survivors. Talking to others who have experienced similar feelings can be validating and provide a sense of community.
Remember that healing from trauma is a process, and it's okay to take the time you need to recover. With the right support and coping strategies, it is possible to work through the dissociative feelings and reduce their impact on your daily life.