Question:
I haven’t heard of anything specifically like this but I have done a practice called Authentic Movement which is often used as one of many approaches to Dance/Movement therapy, which you might find of use. It helped me understand some of the movements that I make, and also allowed some of them to know they had their "time and place" so that they were less disruptive at other times. Will be interested in anything else you learn about this symptom. (me)
Response:
can anyone identify w/ or offer ideas to deal w/ what one text calls autistic trance states? I become almost or completely catatonic under extreme emotion, or have almost uncontrolled movements of my hands. sometimes I can see that it is reversion to a childlike protective posture into a flashback, even tho I am aware of where I am and who is w/ me. sometimes it happens and is accompanied by thoughts I don’t recognize as my own. this is making me look NUTS in group therapy, and any other time I feel anything powerful. for example, it happens when I go to weddings. at times I can’t get up out of my seat! I really hate this- does anyone have explanations or ideas??? cathy
Response:
can anyone identify w/ or offer ideas to deal w/ what one text calls autistic trance states? I become almost or completely catatonic under extreme emotion, or have almost uncontrolled movements of my hands. sometimes I can see that it is reversion to a childlike protective posture into a flashback, even tho I am aware of where I am and who is w/ me. sometimes it happens and is accompanied by thoughts I don’t recognize as my own. this is making me look NUTS in group therapy, and any other time I feel anything powerful. for example, it happens when I go to weddings. at times I can’t get up out of my seat! I really hate this- does anyone have explanations or ideas??? cathy
Dear cathy, I suffer from ptsd and panic disorder w/agoraphobia. One of my symptoms is dissociation. While I am under extreme anxiety/panic I also tend to go catatonic. I’ve never heard the term "autistic trance state", I just know it is very frightening to feel so helpless. In my situation the only reason I can possibly come up with as to why this happens is a reverting to the infant state (scary things happened back then and maybe I never have resolved them all). I am so terrorized (fear of the fearful feelings/thoughts at the time) that I can feel myself automatically sinking into the infantile state. Explanations and/or what to do? I have absolutely no idea and await others’ responses. I just wanted to post and let you know you’re not alone (and I am glad I’m not either). gisela angelina — gisela angelina barborka sit.flux enterprises Without opening your door, you can open your heart to the world. – Lao tzu
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : can anyone identify w/ or offer ideas to deal w/ what one text calls : autistic trance states? I become almost or completely catatonic under : extreme emotion, or have almost uncontrolled movements of my hands. : sometimes I can see that it is reversion to a childlike protective posture : into a flashback, even tho I am aware of where I am and who is w/ me. : sometimes it happens and is accompanied by thoughts I don’t recognize as : my own. I wish I had caught this thread and read your original lletter. I too have this…I call it my locked up or frozen state. I do it when things are completely overwhellming. I learned (or began) to do it as a child as an escape from the abuse. Got sent to the hospital thiss falll when it happened in session and couldn’t get out of it. The ER doctor called it ‘waxy catatonia’. I will maintain anyy position I’m put in unless gravity is able to affect the limb, position, etc. I cannot move voluntarily and my involuntary movements (knee jerk reflex, pain reflex, etc) are almost absent. I remain fully aware of everything. As time passes, I usually get control over my breathing and can change rate/depth and "communicate" with my therapist that way…then comes my eyes and then my body returns usually head to toe order. When I wrote in August about my hospital trip, several people wrote saying they experience similar events. Wish I knew a quick fix…recognizing the "early warning signs" of an event and stopping whatever is going on seems to help. Also, I get up and move around…seems the activity blocks some of the freezing…. Once "frozen", I come out fastest when I do meditation type focusing… working to get completly calm and relaxed. Luck!
Hey! We do this!!! I never thought other people did it too. That frozen state but still aware.. no reflexes, our vitals drop too (one of the hospitals we’ve been at were just facinated). And if it goes on to long we feel sick and hung over for a while after… and tierd. Once when it happened during a session my therapist MSW went next door to the M.D.s and our Doc gave us zanax. I thought it was so weird to treat a completely still person with an anti-anxiety agent. But it worked!! so weird. But what you said about getting out of it quickest if you do meditation working on being calm and relaxed is similar huh? So that’s all we have to add…. yes we do it, yes it confuses lots of people, and the quickest fix ever was the zanax…. I’m fortuanate that at that time my therapist and Doc worked out of the same office… If he couldn’t have helped I was on my way to the hosp in the ambulance.
Response:
: can anyone identify w/ or offer ideas to deal w/ what one text calls : autistic trance states? I become almost or completely catatonic under : extreme emotion, or have almost uncontrolled movements of my hands. : sometimes I can see that it is reversion to a childlike protective posture : into a flashback, even tho I am aware of where I am and who is w/ me. : sometimes it happens and is accompanied by thoughts I don’t recognize as : my own.
I wish I had caught this thread and read your original lletter. I too have this…I call it my locked up or frozen state. I do it when things are completely overwhellming. I learned (or began) to do it as a child as an escape from the abuse. Got sent to the hospital thiss falll when it happened in session and couldn’t get out of it. The ER doctor called it ‘waxy catatonia’. I will maintain anyy position I’m put in unless gravity is able to affect the limb, position, etc. I cannot move voluntarily and my involuntary movements (knee jerk reflex, pain reflex, etc) are almost absent. I remain fully aware of everything. As time passes, I usually get control over my breathing and can change rate/depth and "communicate" with my therapist that way…then comes my eyes and then my body returns usually head to toe order. When I wrote in August about my hospital trip, several people wrote saying they experience similar events. Wish I knew a quick fix…recognizing the "early warning signs" of an event and stopping whatever is going on seems to help. Also, I get up and move around…seems the activity blocks some of the freezing…. Once "frozen", I come out fastest when I do meditation type focusing… working to get completly calm and relaxed. Luck!
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