PTSD can result in a disconnection from our sense of self.

The person with PTSD will often show little activation of the brain regions responsible for our sense of self. This is due to the disassociation that many people with PTSD experience. It is a learned response and can become a default state for many people.

By disconnecting from ourselves, we can avoid some of the pain that comes from traumatic memories. Some of our sense of self comes from our perception of our senses, and our emotions are closely connected. [2] So by disconnecting from ourselves, we are not only disconnecting from our emotions, but from our senses. Some individuals are so disconnected they may have difficulty telling you where you are touching them.

Disconnection from senses can cause many problems. It will hamper their sense of agency, as an individual who ignores their senses will fail to learn what their bodies messages mean, which gives them limited control over their responses to stimuli. Disconnection from ourselves also severs the emotional connection we have with others as if we cannot understand our own emotions, it will be difficult to understand others. [1]

References

[1]: The Body Keeps Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

[2]: Emotion and Our Senses | Emotion, Brain, & Behavior Laboratory (tufts.edu)