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Introduction
Ever found yourself lost in a daydream, completely absorbed in a movie or book, momentarily forgetting your own name? It’s a familiar experience for many, a fleeting escape from reality. But what happens when this detachment intensifies, intruding upon your daily life, disrupting your very sense of self? Welcome to the complex world of dissociative disorders
Dissociative disorders, a realm where one’s thoughts, memories, and identity become fragmented, disconnected from reality. What begins as a coping mechanism for overwhelming experiences can spiral into a debilitating condition, impacting various facets of one’s existence. Let’s embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries of dissociative disorders, exploring their symptoms and types to shed light on this often-misunderstood aspect of mental health.
This disorder is oftentimes associated or triggered by stressful or traumatic experiences such as abuse, violence, accidents or disasters that overwhelm the individual’s ability to cope. Dissociation can help a person cope with overwhelming or painful events by pushing them away from consciousness. However, this can also lead to problems with memory, identity, emotion, perception, and behavior.
There are three main types of dissociative disorder namely;
I. Dissociative identity disorder (DID);
When we talk about this disorder it is the most severe and complex form of dissociation. DID was formerly known as multiple personality disorder. When we talk about this disorder it involves a person having two or more distinct personalities or identities that take control of their behavior at different times. Each identity also called an altar, has its own personal history, traits, likes and dislikes. The individual may not be aware of all or some of their alters and may experience gaps in memory, and changes in mood, preferences and abilities. Let take this example; you feel like you are a different person at home, work or with different people and you switch between them without being aware why or how.
II. Dissociative amnesia
With this kind of disorder, it involves the inability to remember important personal information which is usually related to a traumatic or stressful events such as abuse, torture, war, natural disasters and many more. This memory loss is more severe than the normal forgetfulness and cannot be explained by a chemical condition. The person may also experience dissociative blackout, which is a sudden, unplanned travel or wandering away from one’s usual surroundings, accompanied by confusion about one’s identity or history. With this the individual may black out the painful event as a way of coping with the emotional distress. Dissociative amnesia can also be influenced by biological, social or environmental factors.
III. Depersonalization/ derealization
Depersonalization involves a recurrent feeling where an individual feel detached from their thoughts, feelings and body. While derealization is when one is detached from their surroundings. With this the individual may feel numb, unreal or unable to control their actions. It feels like the person is an observer of their own thoughts, feelings, and actions or like they are in a dream or a movie. The individual may also have distorted perceptions of time, space or reality.
Importance of dissociative disorder
One may ask why the importance of dissociative disorder? It is important because it affects millions of people around the world and can have a significant impact on their mental and physical health, as well as their social and occupational functioning. According to the American Psychiatric Association, about 2% of the general population and 10% of psychiatric patients have some form of dissociative disorder. Dissociative disorder can also increase the risk of developing other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Symptoms of dissociative disorder
Some common symptoms of dissociative disorder are;
1. Forgetting about certain periods, events and personal information
2. Having multiple distinct identities
3. Have mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
4. Feeling uncertain about who you are
5. Having headaches, seizers or fainting spells
6. Feeling that things around you are unreal
Demerits of dissociative disorder
When we talk about demerits, they are the negative consequences that result from the loss of connection with one’s self and reality. Some of the demerits of dissociative disorder are:
1. Experiencing distress, confusion, or fear about one’s symptoms or identity
2. Having difficulty trusting or opening up to others
3. Feeling isolated, lonely, or misunderstood
4. Repeating unhealthy patterns or behaviors
5. Having trouble remembering or concentrating
6. Facing stigma or discrimination
7. Having legal, financial, or interpersonal problems
8. Eating disorders
9. Post-traumatic stress disorder
10. Sleep disorders such as insomnia, nightmares and sleepwalking
Treatment
The treatment for dissociative disorder depends on the type, severity, and cause of the symptoms. The main goal of treatment is to help the person integrate their dissociated parts and cope with their trauma in a healthy way. The most common forms of treatment are:
1. Psychotherapy: This is the main treatment for dissociative disorder. It involves talking to a mental health professional who can help the person understand their condition, explore their trauma, and develop coping skills. Psychotherapy can also help the person improve their self-esteem, relationships, and functioning. There are different types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and hypnotherapy.
2. Medication: There is no specific medication for associative disorder, but some drugs may be used to treat the co-occurring symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, or psychosis. These may include antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. Medication should be used in combination with psychotherapy and under the guidance of a doctor.
3. Support groups: These are groups of people who share similar experiences and challenges with dissociative disorder. They can provide emotional support, information, and advice to each other. Support groups can be found online or in person, and may be led by a professional or a peer.
Conclusion
Dissociative disorder is a mental health condition that involves losing connection with one’s thoughts, memories, feelings, surroundings, and identity. It is often caused by trauma and can affect every aspect of mental functioning. Understanding dissociative disorders is essential for promoting empathy, effective treatment, and a supportive environment for those affected. Dissociative disorder can be diagnosed and treated with psychotherapy, medication, and support groups. The recovery process may be long and difficult, but many people with dissociative disorder can lead fulfilling and productive lives. Acknowledging both the importance and challenges associated with dissociative disorders is a crucial step towards destigmatizing these conditions and fostering a more compassionate approach to mental health.
ARTICLE BY: Celestina Prah Mensah
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