Why are there moments where I feel like I'm not in control of my body?

I feel like I'm losing control of my mind. I catch myself saying and doing things that aren't a part of my daily life and I don't feel like I can stop it. It feels like who I really am is just being dragged along while my body does what it wants.
Asked by Oliver
Answered
11/15/2022

We can have moments in our lives where we can feel like we are not in control of our bodies and minds.  And moments when we make decisions that are not right for us. This can leave us feeling disconnected to who we are and in turn may leave us feeling isolated, scared, and lonely. 

We may have disconnected from our bodies or minds as the emotions or events feel like they are too much to manage, we may be feeling, low in mood, stressed, anxious or overwhelmed. We may have also disconnected from our own body or mind as we feel we need to put others before ourselves or feel a need to please them.

When we feel disconnected, we may have lost touch with who we really are and begin to find that each day, week, month becomes almost like an auto pilot, we are plodding along or feeling like we are being dragged in a direction, but we may not even be sure that this is the right direction or know the direction at all. Before we realize it, we are already on our way in that direction and it may feel hard to gain control, think about the right direction and move forwards in the right way for us.

When we come to therapy and begin to talk and think about our daily life, we begin to connect again with experiences that are real to us and be in the moment with experiencing them.  An example of this might be that we stop and think and make an active decision or spend time allowing a feeling that we may have denied before.

When we are able to share how we feel and how we think this understanding can help us to feel more in control and things may begin to feel a little easier to manage and understand. It can also help us connect with others, feel less lonely and isolated.

An example of connecting with others so we feel more in control might be to use assertive communication to share how we feel and what feels right for us, so that we have a choice.