[ret]

the things we do while we're Dp'd?

Discuss...

 

[Sojourner]

Yes. DP is not psychosis; reality checking is intact; the difference between right and wrong is known; a person with DP is trying to avoid responsibility for his or her life, perhaps, but he or she would need different symptoms to be regarded as not responsible legally or morally for what he or she does when feeling depersonalized.

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Which reminds me of my father. He used to call after us as we left the house for school, "Don't burn down the school!"

He was funny. To a kid, rolling one's eyes was a skill developed early in life. We used to sit together and watch Bonanza, or some other morality play on TV, and when the commercial would come on, he'd click the remote control, and sometimes we'd sit there in silence. After a few minutes, he'd say, "Bonnie?!?" And I'd say, "Whateeeee??" And he'd say, with his booming, falsely serious voice, "It's ALLLLL YOUUUURRRRR FAULTTTTT!!!!" Bonnie would shake her head and roll her eyes and wish her dad wasn't so corny. :lol:

He used to call my oldest sister "Unconscious." She hated it sooo much. She was nearly twenty and I guess was a bit scatter-brained.

Anyway, I hated it when he said "It's all your fault." because I still had a child's concept of humor and while I knew he wasn't serious, I didn't really GET the humor, and so I felt awkward, like "Why is he saying this to me?"

But today, of course, I miss those moments with all my heart and thank God I have those few memories of him teasing me and trying to make me laugh.

 

[Lilymoonchild]

Yup. Just cuz it feels like we're out of control doesn't mean we are. And even if we're not in control, there are certain societal standards that hold us responsible regardless.
Out of curiosity, why do you ask?

 

[ret]

Cos I just killed someone.

All jokes aside, I was thinking of more the way we talk to people and treat people, becuase of our lack of empathy (emotions) rather than a legal point of view.

 

[peacedove]

Here it is again. I have empathy towards others. I am extremely sensitive. But I suffer from DP constantly. I'm confused. I wish I couldn't feel... then I wouldn't feel pain. Lilymoonchild u r right. Fear most be more than a feeling.

 

[Guest]

All jokes aside, I was thinking of more the way we talk to people and treat people, becuase of our lack of empathy (emotions) rather than a legal point of view.

I have always wondered about this. My dp often goes along with physical problems. I wish people, especially those closest to me, could get into my mind and body. If they could actually feel the way I feel, then they would know why I am acting the way I am.

 

[peacedove]

I do act distant though. People are always asking me what's wrong, why I'm not smiling, talking, etc. Maybe people just can't feel any good emotions while DPd, but the bad ones thrive.

I don't think we should be held accountable for these actions and I don't think anyone else would either if they felt what we felt. Who knows. Sorry my mind is scattered, I will go now.

 

[Kerio]

I think the issue is whether or not DP is exposed enough to be used as a plausible excuse when we behave in seemingly bizarre fashions.

I could be cold and distant with no hint of emotion on my face while I struggle in a kaleidoscope of emotions within and be totally unjustified to explain myself when I don't reply to a friends' question even after he repeats it several times.

I could say 'I'm thinking', but because of the depth of our thoughts, it's beyond what they normally experience, so there's no way they can understand it, resulting in them thinking that we're just being jerks.

In a job, when we screw up because of DP in a stressful situation, we can't blame it on DP because that would be akin to screaming out that we're mentally troubled. And everyone knows that every mental condition which is not well known equates to "Insanity" in layman's terms.

So to put it all simply, it's not whether or not we should be held accountable for our actions - we have no choice. If we can't tell people we have DP (Prospective employers, for instance), we can only take whatever comes our way and just live as we are, defective people in a defective society.

 

[berlin]

reticent I think I understand that although reality testing remains intact ( therefore we still know what is right and wrong), having no empathy means that we may be less likely to uphold the moral values we once did.
For example, I was previously VERY sensitive . I would do all I could to avoid taking the life of an animal while driving, and if the worse were to happen I was distraught and the incident would haunt me for days. Now however it would be a case of '*[email protected]' happens, and it would be forgotten.

My experience of dissociation is such that I have no emotional depth and while I would never go out of my way to hurt someone I dont feel the same responsibility for others feelings/wellbeing which I once did. This really freaked me in the begining when I considered 'what use am I as human being when I no longer have this distinctly human quality?'. But as Ive disscussed before even the anxiety and fear diminished and my resolution was that at least I would qualify well to be an assasin! LOL.

I dont believe that this mental 'state' could excuse us from a wrongful act against another but it may go a way to explaining why a human being could hurt another living thing (ie not everyone feels the responsibility or reverence of another life.)

Whats your thoughts :wink: