| Dissociative Disorders |
Dissociation can be summed up with the word disconnection. The disconnection can be mental, emotional, or physical and it can be a separation from feelings, current experiences, past experiences, actions, and so on. The disconnection can be partial or complete, therefore, most professionals believe that dissociation exists on a continuum ranging from normal and mild, as in daydreaming, to abnormal and extreme, as in multiplicity. At the most extreme end of that continuum, disconnecting from the self or circumstances can help one survive an actual or perceivably unlivable situation and/or get in the way of their ability to function in day-to-day life.
Dissociative Disorders
- Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality)
- Dissociative Amnesia
- Dissociative Fugue
- Depersonalization Disorder
- Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
There is no medication for dissociation, although some symptoms of dissociation can be successfully reduced or eliminated by various medications if deemed necessary, prescribed, and monitored by a qualified professional. There is much debate about preferred methods of treatment for the dissociative disorders themselves (especially Dissociative Identity Disorder) within the professional community. Most professionals seem to agree, however, that the ultimate goal of treatment for dissociatives whose levels of disconnection fall outside the realm of normalcy is to greatly reduce their tendencies to dissociate.
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| Dissociative Identity Disorder |
Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly called Multiple Personality Disorder) is the diagnosis given to people who have at least two distinct personalities which alternately control the actions of the shared body. The personalities commonly act, feel, and think differently from one another. Information such as feelings, experiences, thoughts, and memories may or not be shared between the personalities. If there is little or no sharing of information then there can be significant memory loss. There are many theories regarding the potential cause(s) of DID. At this time, it appears to be most widely accepted, within the professional community, that DID is a result of severe and/or recurrent trauma that occurs in early childhood before the personality is "fixed".
More Information: "How Do I Know If I Have Multiple Personalities?"
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| Dissociative Amnesia |
Dissociative Amnesia is the diagnosis given to people who have a sudden (usually partial) lack of memory about themselves that cannot be explained by any other means (such as a blow to the head or a physical illness).
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| Dissociative Fugue |
Dissociative Fugue is the diagnosis given to people who suddenly lose their lifetime of memories and leave their lives (jobs, families, homes) behind to start a completely new life in a different location with a new identity.
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| Depersonalization Disorder |
Depersonalization Disorder is the diagnosis given to people who repeatedly experience a change or loss of their reality so extreme that it impairs their ability to function normally.
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| Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified |
Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified is the diagnosis given to people who display a significant number of dissociative symptoms but do not fit into any of the current dissociative diagnoses.
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| Symptoms of Dissociation |
- Depression.
- Mood swings.
- Suicidal tendencies.
- Sleep disorders (insomnia, night terrors, and sleep walking).
- Panic attacks.
- Phobias.
- Flashbacks (reactions to stimuli or "triggers").
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
- Compulsions.
- Rituals.
- Psychotic-like symptoms (including auditory and visual hallucinations).
- Eating disorders.
- Headaches.
- Amnesia.
- Time loss.
- Trances.
- "Out of body experiences".
- Self-persecution.
- Self-sabotage.
- Self Inflicted Violence.
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| Dissociative Disorders Sources |
- Dr. John Grohol's Psych Central
- Enpsychlopedia.Com
- Mental Help Net
- Soul's Self-Help Central
- American Psychiatric Association
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR™)
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