Dissociation is a mental process that involves disconnecting from your own sense of self: thoughts, sensations within your body, feelings, memories, or personal identity, often in response to a traumatic event. It can cause you to:
- Believe that the world around you is distorted or unreal
- May have gaps in memory surrounding a painful event or for a timeframe thereafter
- Experience sudden mood swings
- Have trouble concentrating, remembering things, or handling intense emotions
- Experience anxiety or depression
- Behave much differently than you normally would, possibly doing things that you would usually find offensive
The 3 Types of Dissociative Disorders
Although dissociation can resolve on its own without the need for professional treatment, in some cases it can develop into a dissociative disorder. The mental health community classifies dissociative disorders into the following three types:
- Dissociative amnesia (also known as psychogenic amnesia) – You can’t remember the details of a traumatic event, but you’re aware that you’re experiencing memory loss.
- Depersonalization disorder – You feel detached from your surroundings, as if you’re watching what’s occurring around you on television.
- Dissociative identity disorder – You have two or more personalities, with each one possibly having its own tone, body language, outlook, and memories.
Dissociation Treatment
If you think you may be experiencing dissociation, contact us today. I work with individuals that have experienced dissociation due to trauma (Childhood abuse, childhood sexual abuse, traumatic crashes, sexual assault or witness to trauma). Once we meet and have an understanding as to the symptoms and experiences that you’ve been dealing with, I can identify what may be causing the problem and recommend a course of treatment that’s customized to your specific needs. I look forward to meeting with you and helping you take the next step toward relief.
Leave a Reply