Description

Dissociative disorders are mental health conditions that involve experiencing a loss of connection between the thoughts, the memories, the feelings, the environment, behavior, and identity. These conditions include escape reality in ways that are not wanted, and not healthy. This causes problems in the management of everyday life.

Dissociative disorders usually arise as a reaction to the shocking, traumatic or painful events and help push out difficult memories. The symptoms depend in part on the type of dissociative disorder and can range from memory loss to offline identities. In moments of stress can worsen the symptoms for a time, making them easier to see.

Treatment for dissociative disorders may include talk therapy, also called psychotherapy and medicine. The treatment of dissociative disorders can be difficult, but many people learn new ways of coping and their lives improve.

Symptoms

The symptoms depend on the type of dissociative disorder, but may include:

  • A feeling of being detached from yourself and your emotions.
  • Thinking that the people and things around you, are distorted and not real.
  • A blurred sense of its own identity.
  • Severe stress or problems in relationships, work or other important areas of life.
  • Not being able to deal well with emotional or work-related stress.
  • Memory loss, also called amnesia, of certain time periods, events, people and personal information.
  • Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

The American psychiatric Association defines three major dissociative disorders: Depersonalization/derealization disorder, dissociative amnesia, and dissociative identity disorder.

Depersonalization/derealization disorder

Depersonalization involves a sense of separation from one's self, or to feel as if he were outside of himself. You may feel as if you are watching your actions, feelings, thoughts, and self from a distance, as if you were watching a movie.

Des-realization involves the feeling that other people and things are something separate from you and seem to fog or a dream. The time may seem to slow down or speed up. The world may seem unreal.

You can go through depersonalization, derealization, or both. The symptoms, which can be very painful, can last hours, days, weeks, or months. They can come and go over many years. Or may become in course.

Dissociative Amnesia

The main symptom of dissociative amnesia is memory loss that is more severe than usual forgetfulness. The loss of memory can not be explained by a medical condition. You may not remember information about you or the events and people in her life, especially from the time that he felt the shock, the anguish or the pain. An episode of dissociative amnesia usually occurs suddenly. It can last minutes, hours, or rarely, months or years.

Dissociative Amnesia may be specific to the events in a given time, such as an intense combat. More rarely, it may involve the complete loss of memory about yourself. Sometimes it can involve travel or confused wandering away from your life. This confused wanderer is called dissociative fugue.

Dissociative identity disorder

Formerly known as multiple personality disorder, this disorder involves "change" to other identities. You may feel as if you have two or more people talking or living inside your head. You may feel as if they were possessed by other identities.

Each identity can have a unique name, personal history and characteristics. These identities are sometimes include differences in voice, gender, gestures, and even the physical qualities as the need for glasses. There are also differences in how each family identity it with others. Dissociative identity disorder usually also includes episodes of amnesia, and it often includes times of confusion wanderer.

When to see a doctor

Sometimes dissociative disorder symptoms occur in a situation of severe crisis or impulsive behavior. People with these symptoms need most urgent attention, and in an emergency department in a hospital, when safety becomes a concern.

If you or a loved one has less urgent symptoms that may be a dissociative disorder, contact your physician or other health care professional for help.

Suicidal thoughts or behavior

If you have thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else, call 911 or the local emergency number immediately, or go to the emergency room.

Share your concerns with a trusted relative or friend. Or in contact with a direct line of suicide:

  • In the united states, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or the use of the lifeline Chat 988lifeline.org/chat/ . The services are free and confidential.
  • If you are a U.S. veteran or service member in crisis, call 988, and then press 1, or text 838255. Chat or the use of veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/chat/ .
  • The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the united states has a Spanish language of the phone line in 1-888-628-9454 .

Causes

Dissociative disorders usually begin as a way to cope with a shocking, traumatic or painful events. The most frequent disorders in children that are going through the long-term physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Less frequently, the disorders of the way in which the children who have lived in a home where they went through scary times, or never knew what to expect. The stress of war or natural disasters may also cause dissociative disorders.

When you are going through an event that is too much to handle emotionally, you may feel that you're stepping outside of yourself and see the event as if it is happening to another person. Mentally escaping in this way can help you to get through a shocking, painful or painful time.

Risk factors

You are at greater risk of having a dissociative disorder if you have had a long-term physical, sexual or emotional abuse during childhood.

Other shocking, traumatic or painful events can also cause dissociative disorders to arise. These might include war, natural disasters, kidnapping, torture, the broad principle of the life of the medical procedures, or other events.

Complications

Have a dissociative disorder increases the risk of complications and have other mental health conditions. These may include:

  • Depression and anxiety.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • Sleep disturbances, including nightmares, insomnia, and sleepwalking.
  • Physical symptoms such as dizziness or seizures that are not due to epilepsy.
  • Eating disorders.
  • Problems with sexual function.
  • Problems with the use of alcohol and drugs.
  • Personality disorders.
  • The main problems in personal relationships, in school and at work.
  • Self-injury-or high-risk behavior.
  • Suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Prevention

Children who are physically, emotionally, or sexually abused are at greater risk of developing mental health conditions, such as dissociative disorders. If the stress, or other personal problems that affect the way you treat your child, seek help.

  • Talk with a trusted person, as a friend, your health care professional or a leader in your community of faith.
  • Ask for help to find resources such as parenting support groups and family therapists.
  • Look for churches, other faith-based groups, and community education programs that offer classes to parents, which also can help you learn more healthy style of parenting.

If you or your child was the victim of abuse or went through another shocking, embarrassing, or painful event, consult a doctor or other health care professional immediately. Your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional who can help you or your child recover and learn coping skills healthy. Or you may be able to contact with mental health services directly.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis usually involves talking about their symptoms and to rule out any medical condition that could cause the symptoms. Tests and diagnosis often include a reference to a mental health professional to make a diagnosis.

The diagnosis may include:

  • Physical exam. Your health care professional will examine, talk about your symptoms and review your personal history. Certain tests can rule out physical conditions that can cause symptoms such as memory loss and feel separated from reality. Examples include head injuries, certain diseases of the brain, a serious lack of sleep and the use of drugs or alcohol.
  • The Mental health examination. Your mental health professional to talk with you about their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and your symptoms. With your permission, the information of the members of the family or other persons that may be useful.

Treatment

Dissociative disorders treatment can vary depending on the type of disorder you have. Generally, treatment includes talk therapy and medicine.

Talk therapy

Also called psychotherapy, talk therapy is the primary treatment for dissociative disorders. This type of therapy involves talking about your disorder and related issues with a mental health professional. Look for a therapist with advanced training or experience in working with people who have suffered trauma.

The therapist works with you to help you understand the cause of your condition. Your therapist can also help to develop new ways of dealing with stressful situations. With time, the therapist can help you talk more about the shocking, traumatic or painful events that happened. Usually this happens after you have a trusting relationship with the therapist, and coping skills to safely have these conversations.

Medicine

Although there are no medications that specifically treat dissociative disorders, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or antipsychotic medications. These may help with mental health symptoms that are part of the dissociative disorders.

Preparing for your appointment

As a first step, your doctor or other health care professional may suggest that you have a health exam to rule out possible causes of your symptoms. In some cases, you may be referred immediately to a mental health professional. You may want to take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember information.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment, and what to expect.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • The symptoms you have, including any recent behavior that caused confusion or concern for you or your loved ones.
  • Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes. Also keep in mind the events of his past, including his childhood, which caused physical or emotional problems. If you can't remember some periods of your life, keep in mind that the time frame and anything that you can remember about the period that leads to his loss of memory.
  • Your medical information, including other physical or mental health condition you have. Include any medications, vitamins, herbs, or other supplements you are taking and the dose.
  • Questions to make the most of your appointment.

Some questions may include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
  • What are other possible causes?
  • How are you going to decide about my diagnosis?
  • Is my condition likely to be short-term or long-term?
  • What treatments are recommended for my condition?
  • How much can I expect my symptoms improve with treatment?
  • How are you going to monitor my progress?
  • I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • You should see a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have?
  • What sites do you recommend?

Feel free to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care or mental health professional is likely to ask several questions. For example:

  • What are the symptoms of concern to you or your loved ones?
  • When you or your loved ones first notice your symptoms?
  • There are periods of time in your life don't you remember?
  • Have you ever found yourself at a certain distance from your home or work, and it is not known how you got there?
  • Do you ever feel as if you are outside your body, to see yourself?
  • Do you feel as if there is more than one person, or maybe many people, who live inside your head?
  • What other symptoms or behaviors are causing you or your loved ones distress?
  • How often do you feel anxious or depressed?
  • The symptoms caused problems in their work or in their personal relationships?
  • Have you ever thought of harming yourself or others?
  • Do you drink alcohol or use drugs?
  • What now serving in the armed forces? He has served in the past?
  • Have you ever been touched against their will?
  • They were physically abused or neglected as a child?
  • It was someone from his family mistreated during their childhood?
  • She is currently receiving treatment for any medical condition, including mental health conditions?

Be prepared to answer these questions will save you time to talk about what is important to you.

Symptoms and treatment of Dissociative disorders