Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone have difficulty with feeling things crawling only to find out there’s nothing there…like some sort of insects or the like? I have this experience a lot. It drives me bats when it goes on. I’ve never thought of it as weird or as a body memory. I’ve always thought it was just dry skin or even something to do with nerves in the body. I’d like to hear any other ideas on this. Bye, Hope ***For the Light at the End of the Tunnel***
For the benefit of those of us who are like Thena or Sara, here’s the ‘technical’ explanation of all of this. According to research into traumatic memories and how the body deal with stuff biochemically… when a person has chronic anxiety (ie PTSD!) tons of chemicals like adrenalin are dumped into the body’s system on a regular basis. Because of what adrenalin does, nerve endings in the skin are activated and a tingling or itching feeling can happen. This is also seen in DT’s from alcohol and involve another chemical I’ve temporarily forgotten but one that is involved in the PTSD stuff. Also, histamines do this and are produced in great amounts during anxiety. If anyone wants to test these theories out here are two possibilities: take something like Benadryl. This is converted into adrenalin in the body (well, close enough:) and often produces a tingling or flushed feeling. For the histamine thing get your feet cold and then plunge them into fairly hot/warm (don’t scald yourself!) bathwater and take them out. Chances are good your feet will get very red and begin to itch like crazy! This is because of a histamine reaction going on inside. Unfortunately, you will have to just cope until it goes away unless you want to take an antihistamine to turn it off:) (whatever you do _don’t_ rub your feet, this produces more histamines and will be crazy making!!!!) Obviously, you are all intelligent adults so don’t do these ideas if they would be bad for you 
Now, during times of high anxiety the brain also releases various chemicals, one of which can cause hallucinations (and is probably involved in schizophrenia). So, your body is producing adrenalin which can cause your skin to tingle/itch and your mind is producing a chemical that can cause you to mis-see your environment. Now, add to that your awareness is on hyper alert which means your peripheral vision is really sharp (again, thanks to brain/body chemicals) and, being a human being, your mind is reflexively tuned to try to see patterns in things (ie cloud pictures). So, your skin is crawling, your mind is set to hallucinate, your peripheral vision (which is great at seeing movement of any sort, like dust floating, those ‘floaters’ in your eye, or even the blood moving in your eye capillaries) is going turbo speed, _and_ your brain is trying to see a pattern in whatever it catches out of the corner of your eye! Got it? Here’s the more understandable version of all of this for everyone else here: when I’m freaking out my mind goes crazy and speeds up so that anything I imagine or think I see I can’t ignore and it gets blown out of proportion. Then, my skin starts to crawl and I imagine the worst, which for me is ants *shudder* followed closely by spiders *ick* so I feel the bugs and I _almost_ see them, which causes me to freak even more! ARGH But the worst thing about all of this is when I tell my therapist, he just agrees with me that this is terrible and common with survivors like me. ARGH I don’t _care_ if it’s common, I just want it to STOP! Rainbow Colors (brought to you by Jill, Thena, Lora, and the memory of Sara) — I choose to post non-anon because my abusers are afraid. They would have to admit something happened in order to confront me; this they will never do. They are the only people who will be upset if they know who I am, and they are too afraid to admit to what they did. Black of Rainbow Colors
Response:
Yeah, I use to all the time. I don’t so much anymore. My therapist said that I’m not feel bugs, but I’m having a creepy feeling because it was creepy when "he" would touch me. I like that explanation. Linda
Response:
Does anyone have difficulty with feeling things crawling only to find out there’s nothing there…like some sort of insects or the like?
I do quite a bit. Usually when certain types of memories are coming up. Also happens in certain situations, but havent tracked down what because I am usually pretty dissociated by that time.
Response:
Does anyone have difficulty with feeling things crawling only to find out there’s nothing there…like some sort of insects or the like?
Yes, sometimes I think bugs are crawling on me. drives me bananas. Just the other night one of the imaginary bugs didn’t just crawl , it bit me! I wonder what that’s all about. Never thought of it as a body memory. hmmmmmm puzzles is off to ponder that one — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:
Response:
Does anyone have difficulty with feeling things crawling only to find out there’s nothing there…like some sort of insects or the like? I have this experience a lot. It drives me bats when it goes on.
I’ve never thought of it as weird or as a body memory. I’ve always thought it was just dry skin or even something to do with nerves in the body. I’d like to hear any other ideas on this. Bye, Hope ***For the Light at the End of the Tunnel***
Response:
Does anyone have difficulty with feeling things crawling only to find out there’s nothing there…like some sort of insects or the like?
Response:
Does anyone have difficulty with feeling things crawling only to find out there’s nothing there…like some sort of insects or the like?
Yes. But I thought maybe it was a common feeling. Or is it a body memory? Host — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:
Response:
Oh boy! I want you to know that you aren’t the only one! I have had many different spots on my body where it feels like there are ‘things’ crawling on my skin. Different ones of us have different spots on the body that ‘feel’ things. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a therapist yet that can help me work through it all. I do however, go to a great Massage Therapist who knows about the DID and works with me on the painful areas. If I have a problem with her touching a particular area (such as my face) then I tell her and she dosen’t work on that area. I have retrieved some memories through massage therapy and found relief from some real intense pain. But, again- yes. There are others out here that experience what you are going through and it can be stressful. Just remember when you feel these things- YOU ARE NOT CRAZY!!! GREAT DAY TO YOU- JEANIE
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