Dissociative disorders
What's the cause?
Many people with a dissociative disorder will have experienced a traumatic event in the past.
Often, this traumatic event will have been physical, sexual or emotional abuse suffered during childhood, although some people 'dissociate' after experiencing war, kidnapping or even an invasive medical procedure.
Switching off from reality is a normal defence mechanism that helps the person to cope during a traumatic time it's a form of denial, as if "this isn't happening to me".
It becomes dysfunctional when the environment is no longer traumatic but the person still acts and lives as if it is, and hasn't dealt with or processed the event.
So, a dissociative disorder is the result of the brain adapting to a difficult early life environment.It is not:
- to do with genes
- the result of another medical condition
- the result of ahead injury
- the result of drug or alcohol abuse (although many people with dissociative disorders misuse alcohol or drugs to cope)
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
A dissociative disorder is a mental health condition that alters a person's sense of reality
What is dissociative amnesia?
Someone with dissociative amnesia will repeatedly have periods where they cannot remember information about themselves or about events in their past life. They may also forget a learnt talent or skill
What is depersonalisation-derealisation disorder?
'Depersonalisation' means feeling detached from yourself, observing yourself and your feelings and thoughts as if they belong to someone else you are watching in a movie. Some of the typical symptoms
What is dissociative identity disorder?
Dissociative identity disorder, or 'multiple personality disorder', is the most extreme of the three types. If you've been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, you may feel uncertain about
What's the cause?
Many people with a dissociative disorder will have experienced a traumatic event in the past. Often, this traumatic event will have been physical, sexual or emotional abuse suffered during childhood,
What are the some of the associated conditions?
Someone with adissociative disorder may also suffer from: post-traumatic stress disorder depression mood swings anxiety and panic attacks suicidal tendencies and/or self-harm headaches
How are dissociative disorders treated?
If you have been diagnosed with a dissociative disorder, a mental health specialist will want to ask you more questions about how you are feeling and find out whether you suffered any trauma in the pa
Subscribe
Ask the doctor
Rate this article
Find products