In last week’s post I mentioned how cotton wool came over me before my surgery last year. None of you wrote describing your cotton wool moments. Perhaps my example was too extreme.
Here’s a more usual Cotton Wool Monday Moment:
At my regular afternoon appointment with my analyst, I couldn’t think of anything to say. Everything that came to mind, I deemed unworthy.
I wasn’t aware of this at the time: I was wrapped in cotton wool. The thing is, there were questions and there were incidents to report. But similar to how Dani Shapiro described Virginia Woolf’s cotton wool state, I was dazed and unfocused.
If you are looking for a foolproof solution to guarantee this will never happen to you – I don’t have it.
The reason I share my D & U moments with you is that when you feel D & U, you won’t feel alone. These feelings are part of being human.
Thanks for exploring the mystery – Nicky Mendenhall
8 comments
I can experience cotton wool moments when I'm overwhelmed. Virginia Woolf's 'time collapse' doesn't resonate with me, but when I'm in a large group (especially of of family members) I can feel like I'm wrapped in cotton wool. I'm present physically but my brain does not connect.
Sorry I wasn't able to thank you for your comment earlier – I was out of town for the day. Yes, I think that the overwhelmed feeling brings on the cotton wool feeling in various disguises. The next time I feel overwhelmed I will call it being in cotton wool and think of you.
The feeling you describe with your family where you are present but not connecting might be the time collapse? I'm not sure. To be present physically but not using our brains may be another way of describing the cotton wool feeling.
At any rate, thanks so much for reading and for thinking about this and making good distinctions.
Hi Nicky, I don’t remember what I wrote last week other than enjoying your blog and never feeling that it was too long. I had the same issue with google when sending my reply and my reply disappeared. Most of my D & U moments happen when I’m doing something mindless. Usually involving my iPhone or watching TV.
Thanks Nolan – sorry you had trouble last week. Bummer.
I hope your D & U moments don't happen too often. At least you will know you are not alone!
Lisbeth and I just read your post and loved it!
Can't think of anything else to say. That's OK, right?
Miss you,
Dear Mason and Lisbeth,
YOur message made my day!
It is most definitely ok not to be able to think of anything else to say!
Love to you both,
I spent all of last week sick with the flu. I rarely get sick. Yet I knew in my body I would get sick and I knew what I had to do. My body shut down and I did what my body told me. For five days, I functioned in a cotton wool state. Neither here nor there yet acutely aware of my symptoms. I don’t remember much except drinking liquids and staring out the picture window at the elementary school. I was really sick but I knew this is what my body needed to do. I felt strangely cocooned in a shroud of cottony gauze. I am still recovering and spend a part of each day in the cotton realm as my body recalibrates.
Thank you for your lovely description of the uses of cotton wool or as you named it – cottony gauze. I am strangely moved by your words and when I am sick, hope to remember them.
I send you healing energy. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Comments are closed.