Switching off from reality is a normal defence mechanism that helps the person cope during a traumatic time. It's a form of denial, as if "this is not happening to me". It becomes a problem when the environment is no longer traumatic but the person still acts and lives as if it is, and has not dealt with or processed the event. A GP may examine you and do some tests to check if another illness might be the cause of your symptoms.
They may also refer you to a mental health specialist for a full assessment. The specialist who carries out your assessment should have a good understanding of dissociative disorders. It's important to be honest about your symptoms and not to feel ashamed or embarrassed, so you can receive the help and support you need.
Many people with a dissociative disorder make a full recovery with treatment and support. The aim of talking therapies such as counselling is to help you cope with the underlying cause of your symptoms, and to learn and practise techniques to manage the periods of feeling disconnected. There's no specific medicine to treat dissociation, but medicines like antidepressants may be prescribed to treat associated conditions like depression, anxiety and panic attacks.
If you have thoughts about taking your life, it's important you ask someone for help. It's probably difficult for you to see it at this time, but you're not alone or beyond help. Find out more about getting help if you're feeling suicidal. If you're worried that someone you know may be considering suicide, try to encourage them to talk about how they're feeling.
Listening is the best way to help. Try to avoid offering solutions and try not to judge. If they have previously been diagnosed with a mental health condition, such as depression, you can speak to a member of their care team for help and advice. Donate Now. Dissociative disorders are characterized by an involuntary escape from reality characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness and memory.
People from all age groups and racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds can experience a dissociative disorder. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with a dissociative disorder. The symptoms of a dissociative disorder usually first develop as a response to a traumatic event, such as abuse or military combat, to keep those memories under control. Stressful situations can worsen symptoms and cause problems with functioning in everyday activities.
However, the symptoms a person experiences will depend on the type of dissociative disorder that a person has. Treatment for dissociative disorders often involves psychotherapy and medication.
Though finding an effective treatment plan can be difficult, many people are able to live healthy and productive lives. The symptoms of dissociative disorders depend on the type of disorder that has been diagnosed. Dissociative disorders usually develop as a way of dealing with trauma. Dissociative disorders most often form in children exposed to long-term physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
Natural disasters and combat can also cause dissociative disorders. Doctors diagnose dissociative disorders based on a review of symptoms and personal history. A doctor may perform tests to rule out physical conditions that can cause symptoms such as memory loss and a sense of unreality for example, head injury, brain lesions or tumors, sleep deprivation or intoxication.
If physical causes are ruled out, a mental health specialist is often consulted to make an evaluation. Evaluation may include: Physical exam. Your doctor examines you, asks in-depth questions, and reviews your symptoms and personal history. Certain tests may eliminate physical conditions — for example, head injury, certain brain diseases, sleep deprivation or intoxication — that can cause symptoms such as memory loss and a sense of unreality.
Psychiatric exam. Your mental health professional asks questions about your thoughts, feelings, and behavior and discusses your symptoms. With your permission, information from family members or others may be helpful. Diagnostic criteria in the DSM Your mental health professional may compare your symptoms to the criteria for diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5 , published by the American Psychiatric Association.
More Information Cognitive behavioral therapy Hypnosis Psychotherapy. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. And people may minimize the importance of memory loss about a particular event or time.
Both acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD may involve dissociative symptoms, such as amnesia and depersonalization or derealization. View More. I agree. The distinct identities are accompanied by changes in behavior, memory and thinking. The signs and symptoms may be observed by others or reported by the individual.
The symptoms cause significant distress or problems in social, occupational or other areas of functioning. Risk Factors and Suicide Risk People who have experienced physical and sexual abuse in childhood are at increased risk of dissociative identity disorder.
People may feel as if they are outside their bodies and watching events happening to them. People may feel as if things and people in the world around them are not real. Dissociative Amnesia Dissociative amnesia involves not being able to recall information about oneself not normal forgetting. This amnesia is usually related to a traumatic or stressful event and may be: localized — unable to remember an event or period of time most common type selective — unable to remember a specific aspect of an event or some events within a period of time generalized — complete loss of identity and life history rare Dissociative amnesia is associated with having experiences of childhood trauma, and particularly with experiences of emotional abuse and emotional neglect.
Patient Stories: Dissociative Disorders Read patient stories about dissociative disorders and learn how to share your story.
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