Understanding Dissociation: A Closer Look
Dissociation is a disconnection between a person’s sensory experience, thoughts, sense of self or personal history
The American Psychological Association defines dissociation as a “defense mechanism in which conflicting impulses are kept apart or threatening ideas and feelings are separated from the rest of the psyche”
The disconnection can be apart of the disorder or be a symptom of another mental health issue
People with borderline personality disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia experience dissociation
What Dissociation can feel like:
Might feel a sense of unreality and lose connection to time, place, and identity
Dissociation disrupts 4 areas of personal functioning that work together smoothly and automatically
These areas are:
Consciousness
Identity
Memory
Self awareness and awareness of surroundings
Breaks in this system can cause dissociation
Dissociation ranges from feeling a mild sense of detachment (daydream like) to a more severe disconnection from reality (feeling as though the world is unreal)
Types of Dissociation:
The DSM identifies 3 types of dissociative disorders:
Depersonalization-derealization disorder (DPDR): involves feeling detached from one’s own body and thoughts
May feel like they are observing their own lives as outsiders or feel disconnected from their surroundings
Dissociative identity disorder: previously known as multiple personality disorder
Characterized as two or more persistent personality states (ex: split personalities)
Dissociative amnesia: characterized as forgetting one’s personal information
Losing or not recalling past events
Symptoms:
“Blanking out” or being unable to remember anything for a period of time
Experiencing distorted or blurred sense of reality
Feeling disconnected or detached from your emotions
Feeling like you’re briefly losing touch with events going on, like daydreaming
Feeling numb or distant from yourself and surroundings
Feeling that the world around you is unreal and distorted
Having an altered sense of time and place
Having flashbacks of traumatic events
Memory loss about specific events, people, information, or timeframes
Possible to experience dissociation without being aware of it
Causes of Dissociation:
Trauma:
Occurs as a way to keep memories of traumatic event from feeling overwhelming
Helps the person distance themselves from the situation
Assault, abuse, accidents natural disasters, and military combat are all sources that can cause dissociation
Drug use:
Experiences with dissociation and trauma can predict the potential for addiction
A study found relatively high levels of dissociation among women with both substance use and PTSD
Treatment of Dissociation
Cognitive behavioral therapy: focuses on helping people identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors
Dialectical behavioral therapy: helps people learn skills that allow them to better manage emotions and harmful behaviors
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: utilizes CBT with visual exercises to help reduce psychological distress
Medications: may be prescribed antidepressants, sleep aids, or anti-anxiety drugs to manage dissociation symptoms
Coping with Dissociation:
Eating a healthy diet to lower stress levels
Enough sleep
Regular exercise
Identifying and avoiding or managing dissociation triggers
Practicing grounding techniques to help you be back in the present moment
Using relaxation strategies to reduce anxiety