“She was a stranger in her own life, a tourist in her own body.” - Melissa De La Cruz
Introduction
Dissociation refers to a state of being cut off from people, the environment, or oneself. The phrase "dissociative disorders" refers to a long-term mental condition characterized by sensations of disconnection from reality, being outside one's own body, and memory loss (amnesia). An individual’s memory, identity, emotion, perception, conduct, and self-awareness are all impacted. Every aspect of mental functioning can be harmed by dissociative symptoms. Everyone is affected, regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, or financial status. Women have a higher risk of being diagnosed than males.
Causes
Dissociative disorders are often the result of a catastrophic event or long-term stress, abuse, or trauma. This is especially true if the incidents occur in the early years of a child's life.
A coping method that helps one avoid suffering in the short term is mentally removing oneself from a terrible circumstance, such as an accident, natural disaster, military battle, becoming a crime victim, or recurrent physical, mental, or sexual abuse. It becomes an issue if it continues to detach the individual from reality over time and erases memories of entire periods.
Symptoms
Memory loss of certain events, time periods, personal information, or amnesia.
A feeling of being cut off from yourself and your feelings wherein one feels disconnected from their own body and surroundings.
A distorted and surreal perspective of the people and things around you as one loses the sense of self and who they are.
Mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts start to emerge in a person which tends to increase with time.
The person is unable to deal with personal and professional stress and also, they start to feel less or no physical pain.
Prevention
Grounding Techniques
Maintain your focus on the current moment. This is a fantastic way to stay awake. Engaging all senses mindfully observe five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one item you can taste by using all five senses.
Take Care of Your Body
Eating healthily, getting adequate sleep, and staying active can all improve your mental health. Exercise releases endorphins, which enhance mood, energy, and attention. Feeling well physically can help you feel good psychologically, reducing the likelihood of dissociation episodes.
Avoid Potential Triggers
You might already know what triggers dissociative episodes if you've had them before. So, pay attention to your triggers and try to make changes when necessary.
Talk To a Therapist
It's undoubtedly the greatest option if you can see a mental health specialist. A therapist can help you unravel your symptoms and work with you on methods to stop dissociating, especially if your dissociation is tied to another mental health condition.
Conclusion
Getting therapy and support if you have a dissociative disorder is crucial to your rehabilitation.
Speaking with your spouse, family and friends about how your past events have affected you can help you come to terms with what happened while also allowing them to understand how you feel. If you're concerned that someone you care about is experiencing dissociation, attempt to get them to express their feelings. The greatest approach to assist is to simply listen. Avoid giving advice and refrain from passing judgment. You can talk with a member of their care team for assistance and guidance if they have previously been diagnosed with a mental health illness, such as depression.
Reference
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