Dissociation and dissociative disorders
Trauma is an emotional damage caused by, for example, an exceptionally shocking event. In dissociation, the human mind aims to protect itself from a traumatic issue by dividing so that it’s possible to continue life. It’s possible to get help with dissociative disorders.
It’s normal to react strongly to a traumatic situation or event. It’s often difficult for the human mind to understand and deal with shocking experiences, and no one needs to be able to do that alone.
In some cases, the mind may try to solve the continuation of daily life after a traumatic experience by dividing. Although short-term and occasional dissociative symptoms are normal, you should seek professional help if the symptoms are prolonged.
What is dissociation?
Our mind tries to protect itself from traumatic matters. Discussion means the situation when a person’s mind divides into two or more different parts, so to speak. One side bears the memory of the trauma on the emotional side, while the other side aims to live normal daily life, keep the memories out of reality and bury the trauma away. This way, in a sense, the trauma is carried by a different person. Dissociation allows life to continue despite unreasonably heavy experiences and events.
Dissociation causes interruptions between mental structures. Usually, a person’s emotions, memory, thinking, actions and identity are connected. In dissociative symptoms or disorders, the connection is broken temporarily or long-term.
Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma arises in a situation that is exceptionally shocking or involves an experience of uncontrollability or being in mortal danger. Such a traumatic situation may include the suicide of a friend or family member, serious illness, being bullied, an accident or becoming the victim of violence. Similarly, psychological trauma occurs when a person is left without something essential in their life. In other words, psychological trauma may be caused by, for example, having not received care and closeness as a child or having had to live in a family overshadowed by alcoholism.
Above all, the shock of the event but also personal factors affect how stressful the event is. Such factors include possible previous traumatic events and a lack of psychological resources. The experience of trauma is also influenced by personal factors, such as resilience, that is, the ability to cope with and recover from difficult experiences.
Trauma sometimes has a hiding character. Despite functioning daily life, the person may feel like an outsider, and there may be chaos in their mind. Connecting thoughts, emotions, observations and memories may be difficult. Sometimes, the trauma may emerge in adulthood, even if you don’t remember exactly what happened during childhood.
A distant memory and trauma can suddenly be brought back in a certain situation. These are called triggers, that is, trauma triggers and flashbacks. In this case, it often feels like repeating something from a previous traumatic situation or event. For example, punishment for crying and showing emotions experienced as a child may cause a deep feeling of terror and paralysis when your child cries – without you understanding why that happens. Emotions can also go into hiding for a while. A strong emotional reaction can only follow several days later and completely paralyse your functional capacity.
Traumas can be seen as a variety of symptoms at the physical, mental, emotional or interpersonal level. They do not go away on their own, but they can be helped.
What is dissociative disorder and what are its symptoms?
Dissociative disorders include dissociative identity disorder in which a person has separate areas of personality and states, which often vary suddenly. Dissociative memory loss and depersonalisation disorder, in which a person feels unreal, are also dissociative disorders.
The symptoms of dissociative disorder include inability to concentrate, memory disruptions, forgetfulness, paralysis of functional capacity, eating disorders, addictions, somatic pain, distrust in other people, numbness, depression, exhaustion and hallucinations.
What can help with dissociative disorder?
It’s important to be realise that short-term and random dissociative symptoms are normal. Treatment or assessment should be sought if the symptoms are harmful or if an actual dissociative disorder is suspected. The most important form of treatment for dissociative disorders is psychotherapy.
It’s individual what helps. The right measures depend on whether help is sought for memory problems, depression or distrust towards other people.
Dissociative symptoms may vary, making them easy to confuse with other mental health disorders. The treating party may also be confused when the symptoms vary and the treatment and medication are not effective. In this case, there is usually no information about the underlying trauma. If the focus is only on symptoms, the trauma will not be identified.
Recovery from dissociation disorder can take a long time, and in some cases it’s not possible to recover. However, it’s good to remember that correct treatment makes it possible to recover, and despite the symptoms, it’s possible to live a good life.
