What are Dissociative Disorders?
Dissociative disorders are psychological disorders whereby the individual feels he or she is not connected or identified with her or his thoughts, identity, memories of his life, and the environment. These disorders are likely to be a survival strategy of excessive stress, trauma or abuse. Patients with dissociative disorder can experience a lack of connection with reality or forget about some things or even invent another personality as a way to cope with the traumatizing experiences.
Learning about what dissociative disorders are is significant because it can have an impact on the normal life, interpersonal relationships and mental condition. In contrast to stress, which may involve dissociation as a short-lived phenomenon, dissociative disorders are chronic and disruptive and cannot be treated in the long run.
Types of Dissociative Disorders
The dissociative disorders also possess many different types and each of them is distinctive in its own way. The main categories include:
- Dissociative Amnesia
- Characterized by memory loss that cannot be imagined by ordinary forgetfulness.
- A person may lose personal data, he/she may be traumatized or even lose a part of his/her life.
- Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
- Previously referred to as multiple personality disorder.
- It is a situation which entails the co-existence of two or more identities or personalities, which dictate the way a given individual acts at different time.
- Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
- People obtain a feeling of alienation to themselves (depersonalization) or the world around them them (derealization).
- They can discuss life like they are in a dream or like they are looking at their own bodies, like they are foreigners.
- Other Specific Dissociative Disorder (OSDD).
- Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD)
- Symptoms of dissociation are also present, but those are not fully compliant with the above categories.
The symptom interpretation and treatment planning are advantageous when the nature of dissociative disorders is recognized.
Who do Dissociative Disorders Affect?
Dissociative disorders do not discriminate in the aspect that it can be experienced by anyone regardless of age, gender and background. They are, however, predominant in individuals who have experienced severe trauma, especially in childhood. The danger can be severe due to physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, carelessness, and exposure to violence.
How Common are Dissociative Disorders?
Since it is researchable, the rate of dissociative disorders is approximated as 1 percent and 3 percent of the total population of the world, but even more because of underdiagnosis. It is also common that most of the victims experience the symptoms over a period of years until they seek medical attention, simply because they would have confused the symptoms with anxiety, depression, and other illnesses.
What are the Symptoms of Dissociative Disorders?
Dissociative disorders have unlike symptoms based on the type, although there are some common symptoms:
- Issues of memory or lack of forgetfulness that cannot be linked to normal forgetfulness.
- Feeling alienated with thoughts, feelings or the environment.
- Living of multiple identities or personality states.
- Distortion in time, place or self.
- Issues with daily living, interpersonal relationships or employment.
- Having the feeling of the world not being real or dreamy.
Early diagnosis and treatment of dissociative disorders is brought about by the identification of the symptoms.
What Causes Dissociative Disorders?
Dissociative disorders are closely related to the cause of trauma. Among the main ones, one can single out the following factors:
- Childhood trauma: Childhood physical/sexual/emotional abuse and long-term abuse are among the most potent risk factors.
- Severe stress/traumatic experiences in adult life: e.g. war, accidents, natural disasters.
- Neglect: This are the lack of loving and caring at a young age.
- Processes and strategies that the brain has to take: The brain can dissociate the painful experiences from the conscious memory to assist the individual.
The causes of dissociative disorders are known to facilitate the treatment and the help.
How are Dissociative Disorders Treated?
The treatment processes of dissociative disorders are usually performed as a blend of therapies so that the people could be able to handle their trauma and acquire control over their identity and memories. Common approaches include:
- Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy): This is the most widespread therapy form that includes a therapist of the dissociative disorders assisting the subject to examine traumatic experiences as well as learning how to cope and apply dissociated self-units.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): It is applied to overcome distorted thought and can manage other symptoms which can be accompany the dissociation e.g. anxiety or depression.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): It might be applied during the treatment of dissociated traumatic memories.
- Medication: No particular medication is applied in the treatment of dissociative disorders, but, comorbid depression, anxiety, or mood alteration can be treated using medication.
- Supportive Care: The episodes can be minimized by developing effective support systems, mindfulness sessions, and stress management.
With proper management of dissociative disorders, a good number of people can live good and stable lives.
Conclusion
Dissociative disorders are convoluted mental disorders whose cause is predetermined by traumatic, stressful, or neglected conditions. They can have an enormous impact on recall, sense of self, and everyday performance. Having known the symptoms of dissociative conditions, their causes, and the possibilities of treatment, people would be able to take the steps toward the direction of the cure.
You are advised to seek the services of a therapist of dissociative disorders (as one of the first steps to recovery) in case you or a loved one is experiencing some symptoms. We have a personalized treatment in Florida Atlantic Coast Treatment Solutions using a caring approach and solution to help people take charge of their lives.
Today, give us a call at (844) 643-2287 and better know us in relation to how we can efficiently treat dissociative disorders.
FAQs
What are the 4 dissociative disorders?
These are four very general ones, including Dissociative Amnesia, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder and Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD).
How to tell if someone is dissociating?
It has symptoms such as blank stares, forgetting something abruptly, forgetting his or her own persona, and adopting a different personality without being able to remember the act at a later stage in his or her life.
What is the most common form of dissociative disorder?
It is said that the most widespread one is Dissociative Amnesia and is mostly associated with stressful or traumatic events.
What are the 5 stages of dissociation?
These consist of absorption, depersonalization, derealization, identity confusion and identity alteration.
What can be mistaken for dissociation?
The dissociation may be occasionally mixed with such conditions as depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), epilepsy and even substance use disorders.
