DISSOCIATION

SYMPTOMS

Dissociation is a disconnection between one’s conscious awareness and aspects of one’s environment, experiences, or perceptions. Dissociation is very common, so much so that some claim that it is the third most common mental health symptom. Individuals can experience dissociation for many reasons. Causes or triggers can vary from temporary stress to clinical anxiety to chronic childhood trauma. In some cases, dissociation can serve as a coping mechanism and buffer individuals from overwhelming life circumstances. However, when dissociation is severe or long lasting, it can be disabling.

DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER (DID)

Out of all of the dissociative disorders, DID is perhaps the best known and yet the most poorly understood. Previously known as multiple personality disorder, DID is plagued by myths and misconceptions that are spread by the media, general public, and professionals alike. Though a wealth of evidence supports that the disorder results from repeated childhood trauma, DID is frequently portrayed as the result of fantasy, the need to repress socially unacceptable desires, a single moderately traumatic childhood experience, or adult trauma.Though DID is in no way related to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, the media consistently confuses these conditions. Focus is always aimed at the most unique aspect of dissociative identity disorder, the numerous alternate personalities that it results in, but attention is rarely given to symptoms of derealization and depersonalization, to co-morbid posttraumatic stress disorder or depression, or to the intense feelings of denial, shame, betrayal, and isolation that are so common among survivors. Time loss is a well known symptom of DID, but passive influence is not. Doubt in the disorder is treated like a personal position on the validity of a myth instead of a sign of pervasive ignorance that emphasizes the need for current research to be more widely shared and understood.