h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What is a dissociative fugue?

Good, helpful entry, BTW!

Glad you like the entry. This one was my first effort.

The term 'dissociative fugue' was actually added by the subeditor, who picked up on some of the peer review discussion.

Within the context of a person who is triggered, a dissociated fugue is where that person retreats so far within hirself that there is, very literally, 'nobody home'. A triggered person in a dissociative fugue isn't likely to run out into traffic in a panic, but could easily wander out into traffic without noticing that there IS traffic.

Also, a person who had been in a dissociative fugue will not remember anything seen, done, heard, said, etc while in that state. It's a blackout, even though the body is awake.

My dictionary (American Heritage) gives the following definition of 'fugue'.

'A pathological amnesiac condition during which the patient is apparently conscious of his actions but on return to normal has no recollection of them'.

Origins are traced to the Latin for 'flight'.

Thanks, NBY.

I have been in treatment for 6 years for PTSD and Depression, the critial event happening in 1997 enough for most to suffer PTSD however in my situtition, I have suffered from major depression and PTSD since the age of 3 and had continued exposure of extream sexual physical and child slaverly issues, which for 14 years I had fuctioned as a "normal adult" at the time of the trauma in 1997 which included extream physical, torture, mental and physical abuse, by authroity figures, again, and again admission of criminal action, and again dropping of criminal charges, and again monentary loss, yet this time as a innocent adult at 35 well it caused me to fuge i think, because I forgot about everything else until just recently, of course that is a main issue for me right now and I am being continually triggered, trying to explain to my Dr that I was losing time, I have never befor heard the phrase dissociative fugue, so I feel better because each situation I can now trace to a cause and have better understanding, I thought I was going insane, yet I see that naturally that is why I have limited my exposer to stimuli and isolate like I do it seems to help, playing spades on the internet helps, it must have something to do with the change of focus, I am recovering memories of trauma of the assult in 97 with previous assults and abuses of the same type and nature, and i dont even think I told my treating Dr's of the previous torture and trauma events, My main concern is the ability for me to maintain control with the consistant unavoidable enviroment I am in at this time? I am undergoing current opression again triggering childhood slavery emotions am i getting better or is this a warning sign?

it seems the medical trend is to stack
up and creat more illness on the PTSD like manic-depressive, and then .........
I cannot help but wonder after years of treatment that no one has mentioned the effect of this fugue state,At one point in treatment i was told i accuried a dissociative disorder from the medication I was taking, after a while i stoped the medication and the triggers stopped for a while as well
then they came back the triggers, with almost methotical planning soon after i noticed simple fuge states , leaving food out of the frige, putting coffee in the freezer, losing keys, fogetting converstations, irritability, so I went back on medication rittlin and serzone and valium for the depression and anexity, it dosent seem to help as long as triggers are super-imposed, so I isolate myself from others, I definately don't belive in exposer therapy for PTSD when one is a victim to current conditions of helpless exposer, what is the cure here, more essential why do Dr's keep symptom information and education about normal events like fuge states from being available to patients that is the part that concerns me, how am I to identify besides living with the results of to many triggers, the corrective measures to take before major deteratorion of depression sets in? I have since 1997 main-stayed the DX of PTSD and Depression-sever also had added by others borderline-personality disorder, manic-depressive disorder,
I would think since suffering major trauma by age 3 of three households and sever physical abuse, then having loss of mother and stability again at 6 (PTSD) loss of father (10) (PTSD) physical and emotional and sexual torture from 10-14 then living under street control as child labor until 19
I could go into more detail but I think the gist is here
I built a normal life and was a crime Victim in 1997 by authroity figures as a innocent victium that is when I recived the dx of PTSD
I think right now at this point in my life 6 yrs later Its like I am waking up from a nightmare
that has been my life before and after the current trauma
its like the years in the middle where I was normal and sucesfull from 23-35 have turned into nothing and reality has truned into a really not fun place to be

I'd like to extend sympathy and a warm hug {} to anyone who has suffered psychological problems here.

I would just like to give examples of what helped me to get through a number of very disruptive and hurtful events, which led me to have memory blackouts, very poor short-term memory, and some repetitive behaviour, which all crop up from time to time if I feel upset or too sad.

Firstly, I went to see spiritual healers (free of charge) - who treated me as a whole person, and tried to communicate some kind of unconditional love by gently putting hands around (but not on)me.

Next, I started to use essential oils such as Attar of Rose, to try and induce good memories and feelings of well-being. I also especially love exotic smells, such as Cedar wood .

I've also found out about Holographic Repattering, which is a system of reprogramming the mind and body at the same time, using movement and positive affirmations. Also, colour and gentle sound.

Finally, I think a very good film, such as `The Fisher King' or `Sixth Sense', which involve facing fears, as well as having a few humorous and empathic moments, can be very healing because they deal compassionately with so many aspects of human suffering. Making sense with STORIES is something which I think is terrifically important. Also, many strands of spirituality - for me it was mainly Buddhism a bit if Christianity, and a little bit of Pantheism (nature-worship etc) are worth investigating.

There are healers who work on the internet free of charge, and even if you are sceptical, just the feeling of someone sending you an email saying that you are on their healing list can be a wonderful boost to your spirits.

Aolha, mahalo . G

I was diagnosed with ptsd in april of 2000,this is the first time I have ever "met" any-one with the condition.
I am more or less back to "normal" I am not on any medication, I came off Venlafaxine march 2005. I had previously been on olanzapine on two seperate occasions. I have had two "episodes" [as my mental health nurse called them] Hospitalised 6 week first time and just a week 2nd time [caught quickly ?] mind you the second time I got sectioned under the mental health act and had to resort to getting a solicitor to get me out of hospital!
I looked at this page as I thought about two weeks ago I was "going" again. This feeling seems to coinside with my menstrual cycle for want of a better word.I'm 46 so my periods are a bit odd to say the least, 2 weeks ago then the time before that was July last year, nine months previous.
I enjoy writing so have quite a good reference for my state of mind etc as I wrote in what you call "The fugue" state when I was ill. No I don't remember most of it and can't recall writing it down either but it's there and I look at it now and again[can't read it too often as some bit's really upset me,I have never got all the way through it all either]some of its funny in an odd sort of way.
Sorry can't go on. It upsets me to think of it but I needed to ask;
Would I be right in Thinking I feel as I do because of my "cycle" or would it be just coinsidence ?
Could I actually trigger an "episode" [attack I wrote first without even thinking?]by writing about it as I do get very emotional???
Would be gratefull of any feed-back.
Sorry about grammar and spelling can't find a spell checker and too lazy to look up in dictionary, also I feel a lot better now, at least I stopped blubering...B.

Hmm,
I guess that depends on who decides to say what's normal.

Is forgetting the plot of `Neighbours' dissociative behaviour, when to me it's impossible to understand or care enough about to remember why? Sorry, any soap fans out there.
How much of one's ordinary life is one supposed to remember? i read once that we have about a million thoughts a day...

Happy thought for the day - People don't seem to crash as often as computers, and they seem to have, well, `recall'...