Dissociation: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Common Terms]]
'''Dissociation''' is the state of disconnected from one's thoughts, surroundings, identity, consciousness, or memory. It often functions as a coping mechanism to protect the individual from overwhelming experiences, but can become maladaptive. Dissociation exists on a broad spectrum, encompassing common occurances like "highway hypnosis"<ref>https://archive.ph/xck8y</ref> to [[Dissociative Identity Disorder]] and [[Otherwise Specified Dissociative Disorder]], and can last minutes or days. It can be found in other disorders like ADHD<ref>https://www.verywellmind.com/adhd-symptom-spotlight-dissociation-5270278</ref>, anxiety<ref>https://www.verywellmind.com/dissociation-anxiety-4692760</ref>, eating disorders<ref>http://estd.org/eating-disorders-and-dissociation</ref>, and borderline personality disorder<ref>https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder/index.shtml</ref>, or during substance use.


Chronic '''dissociation''' describes a state of being in which one or more individuals experience symptoms including but not limited to:<ref>https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Dissociative-Disorders</ref>
==Symptoms==
 
There are five main categories of dissociative symptoms<ref>https://www.isst-d.org/resources/dissociation-faqs/</ref>:
* Significant memory loss of specific times, people and events
* ''Depersonalization'', or disconnection from the self, appearance, body, or thoughts; can also present as "out-of-body" experiences
* Out-of-body experiences, such as feeling as though you are watching a movie of yourself
* ''Derealization'', or the dissconnection from one's surroundings or life
* Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide
* ''Identity Alteration'', or the feeling of being an entirely different person than oneself
* A sense of detachment from your emotions, or emotional numbness
* ''Identity Confusion'', or the feeling of not having internal consistency or acting outside of one's character
* A lack of a sense of self-identity
* ''Dissociative Amnesia'', or forgetting critical personal information, chunks of time that can range from seconds to decades, or past emotions<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Mhr0pCB5us</ref>
 
The experience of dissociation is not limited to [[plurality]]; it is possible for anyone to go through a dissociative episode at any point in their lives, especially due to traumatic events and PTSD. It is also a common symptom of other conditions, such as [https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml ADHD], [https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder/index.shtml borderline personality], [https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml schizoaffective personality disorder], [https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/raise/what-is-psychosis.shtml psychosis], and more. Dissociation exists on a large spectrum, from simply zoning out due to loud noises to losing days at a time.


== Plurality ==
== Plurality ==
[[Plurality|Plural]] people often experience dissociation (notably in [[Dissociative Identity Disorder|DID]] systems or [[Otherwise Specified Dissociative Disorder|OSDD]] systems, but not exclusively to these types). Neurotypical [[Singlet|singlets]] may experience severe dissociation at one point or another in their lives, often connected to overwhelming stress or events.
[[Plurality|Plural]] people often experience dissociation (notably in [[Dissociative Identity Disorder|DID]] or [[Otherwise Specified Dissociative Disorder#OSDD-1a|OSDD-1]], but not exclusively to these types). In DID, all five forms of dissociation are present (but not necessarily equally), while in OSDD-1, four forms are present. [[Alter|Alters]] are typically holders of dissociated memories, traits, or ideas that other alters could not [[integrate]]; work towards [[integration]] can minimize day-to-day dissociative symptoms, though. Trauma may be hidden behind [[amnesic barriers]], only to be uncovered later when the individual or [[system]] feels safer.  
 
Chronic and severe dissociation itself is a temporarily-lasted symptom of certain disorders or conditions; headmates themselves should not be considered as a dissociative symptom. It is possible for a [[headmate]] or [[system]] to originate from or due to dissociation, but this distinction is significant.


== Grounding ==
== Grounding ==
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Asking for another person to help coach them through their actions and do grounding techniques along with them may help dissociative individuals to better ground themselves.
Asking for another person to help coach them through their actions and do grounding techniques along with them may help dissociative individuals to better ground themselves.


== Related Terms ==
==Related Terms==
[[Depersonalization]] and [[derealization]] are two subtypes of dissociation.
There are three major dissociative disorders in the [[DSM|DSM-V]]: [[Dissociative Amnesia]], [[Depersonalization]]/[[Derealization]] Disorder, and [[Dissociative Identity Disorder]]. Additionally, [[Unspecified Dissociative Disorder|Unspecified Dissociative Disorder or UDD]] and [[Otherwise Specified Dissociative Disorder]] are used for cases where the symptoms do not fit in the earlier three, or it cannot be determined.  


[[Integration]] can be considered the opposite of dissociation. It is the process of bringing together memories & feelings across dissociative barriers.
== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:Psychiatric Terms]]
[[Category:Psychiatric Terms]]

Revision as of 01:44, 24 September 2022


dissociation ( n., v.)
Other formsdissociative (adj.), dissociate (v.)
Applies tosystems, headmates
OriginPsychiatric Term

Dissociation is the state of disconnected from one's thoughts, surroundings, identity, consciousness, or memory. It often functions as a coping mechanism to protect the individual from overwhelming experiences, but can become maladaptive. Dissociation exists on a broad spectrum, encompassing common occurances like "highway hypnosis"[1] to Dissociative Identity Disorder and Otherwise Specified Dissociative Disorder, and can last minutes or days. It can be found in other disorders like ADHD[2], anxiety[3], eating disorders[4], and borderline personality disorder[5], or during substance use.

Symptoms

There are five main categories of dissociative symptoms[6]:

  • Depersonalization, or disconnection from the self, appearance, body, or thoughts; can also present as "out-of-body" experiences
  • Derealization, or the dissconnection from one's surroundings or life
  • Identity Alteration, or the feeling of being an entirely different person than oneself
  • Identity Confusion, or the feeling of not having internal consistency or acting outside of one's character
  • Dissociative Amnesia, or forgetting critical personal information, chunks of time that can range from seconds to decades, or past emotions[7]

Plurality

Plural people often experience dissociation (notably in DID or OSDD-1, but not exclusively to these types). In DID, all five forms of dissociation are present (but not necessarily equally), while in OSDD-1, four forms are present. Alters are typically holders of dissociated memories, traits, or ideas that other alters could not integrate; work towards integration can minimize day-to-day dissociative symptoms, though. Trauma may be hidden behind amnesic barriers, only to be uncovered later when the individual or system feels safer.

Grounding

A dissociative state is often unpleasant and can last for any amount of time. Not knowing how long a dissociative episode may continue could cause further distress to the dissociative person(s). A common recommendation for persisting through the event is to attempt grounding exercises.

Popularly effective grounding techniques include:[8]

  • Engaging the body's sensory abilities, such as describing objects around oneself, smelling a comforting scent, and massaging limbs or the scalp
  • Pacing, especially while also listening to lyrical music through headphones
  • Using ice or another cold substance on the body's surfaces, such as rubbing an ice pack over the skin
  • Counting backward from a high number
  • Reading a written work, such as a poem or short story, out loud
  • Narrating one's situation and the things around oneself
  • Petting and talking to a docile, nearby animal

Asking for another person to help coach them through their actions and do grounding techniques along with them may help dissociative individuals to better ground themselves.

Related Terms

There are three major dissociative disorders in the DSM-V: Dissociative Amnesia, Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder, and Dissociative Identity Disorder. Additionally, Unspecified Dissociative Disorder or UDD and Otherwise Specified Dissociative Disorder are used for cases where the symptoms do not fit in the earlier three, or it cannot be determined.

Integration can be considered the opposite of dissociation. It is the process of bringing together memories & feelings across dissociative barriers.

References