Symptom 6: The Time Traveller: The Involuntary Shuffling of Time Perception
Another symptom that surfaces in the stormy seas of dissociative amnesia is the involuntary shuffling of time perception. Individuals might lose track of time, with hours, days, or even weeks seeming to slip away without their knowledge. This symptom turns them into involuntary time travellers, adrift on the sea of time, with no control over their temporal journey.
This distorted perception of time can have a disorienting effect, blurring the boundaries between the past, present, and future. For instance, an individual might feel as though a recent event occurred a long time ago, or that a distant memory happened just yesterday.
This temporal dislocation can bring about a sense of unreality, with the individual feeling detached from their timeline. It’s like being stuck in a time loop, where the sequence of events is constantly shifting and changing, leaving the person disoriented and confused.
Imagine waking up and not knowing whether it’s Monday or Friday, or finding yourself unable to recall what you did just a few hours ago. This confusing scenario paints a picture of what life can be like for someone dealing with a shuffled perception of time.
The time traveller symptom underscores the multi-dimensional impact of dissociative amnesia. Not only does it interfere with memory and emotional connection, but it also distorts one’s perception of time, adding another layer to an already complex condition. (6)
