Dissociative disorders are mental disorders that are characterized as experiencing a sense of disconnection from oneself or certain memories or experiences. Individuals experiencing these disorders are believed to have experienced something traumatic and wall off the trauma to cope and keep the extremely painful memories at bay.
Causes of Dissociative Disorders
Often, dissociative disorders have their onset in childhood when a person is still developing their personal identity. However, the disorder may also materialize in adulthood after a traumatic event. These disorders can be caused by the following:
- Sexual abuse or rape
- Physical or emotional abuse
- Trauma as a result of war
- Trauma after a natural disaster
- Kidnapping
- Torture
- Chaotic family life
- Traumatic injury
- Traumatic invasive medical procedure
Types of Dissociative Disorders
There are four distinct types of dissociative disorders, namely:
- Dissociative Amnesia – this type of dissociative disorder involves sudden extensive memory loss after a traumatic event. Usually, this is diagnosed in children. The patient blocks out the terror and extreme pain of the event along with an involuntary loss of memory.
- Dissociative Fugue – This is a rare type of dissociative disorder, which involves an escape from highly distressing events. Although it is temporary, it causes the patient to become confused with their own identities and perhaps assume new ones.
- Dissociative Identity Disorder – This is formerly known as multiple personality disorder. This disturbance involves the appearance of different identities to cope with unbearable stress.
- Depersonalization Disorder – This type of dissociative disorder makes the individual feel outside of themselves, observing their own behavior from a distance. This sense of detachment could come and go for years, disrupting a person’s daily life, work, and relationships, resulting in delusional thinking.
Symptoms of Dissociative Disorder
Signs and symptoms will depend on the type of dissociative disorder a person has. However, it includes the following:
- Blurred sense of identity
- Memory loss surrounding certain periods, events, or individuals
- Depression, anxiety, dread
- Detachment or depersonalization
- A sense that reality is distorted or unreal
- Inexplicable loss of periods of time
Treatment for Dissociative Disorders
When a patient is diagnosed with dissociative disorders, there are several options for treatment available to alleviate distressing symptoms. These include the following:
- Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Therapy
- Hypnosis
- Art Therapy
- Medications for Symptom Relief
Prevention of Dissociative Disorders
Early intervention, in the form of counseling or psychotherapy, can sometimes help prevent the formation of dissociative disorder. It’s healthy for the patient to deal with the trauma as soon as possible after its occurrence. For children, early intervention can be achieved through play therapy or art therapy.
Would you like to know more about dissociative disorders? Don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us today.
