Dissociative disorders are characterized as a group of mental health conditions in which a person may experience a sense of detachment from themselves and reality. This can sometimes involve disruptions within aspects of their consciousness. It might include identity, memory, perception, emotion, motor control, and behavior. The sort of detachment brought about by this type of disorder can be unhealthy and can make it difficult for the individual to function throughout their daily lives.
Living with a dissociative disorder can be associated with many different challenges. However, the good news is that there are some treatments available that are known to be effective. At Wisconsin Wellness in Appleton, Wisconsin, we recognize that experiencing a mental health disorder like this can be isolating. However, we are here to guide you and will ensure you know all of your options when it comes to treatment.
Understanding Dissociative Disorders
Like is the case with many other types of mental health disorders, many people don’t fully understand what dissociative disorders are or why some people experience them. As a result of their lack of understanding, they may hold somewhat of a negative judgment or stigma toward those who may be struggling with this kind of condition. Negative stigma toward those who are struggling with mental health disorders can be very damaging. It may even cause some people to hesitate to get the help they need because they are afraid of how they will be received.
The best way to combat any negative stigma surrounding mental health disorders is through education and spreading awareness. This is why it is important to learn exactly what dissociative disorders are and how they may affect people in different ways.
What Is a Dissociative Disorder?
There are different types of dissociative disorders. They include depersonalization disorder, derealization disorder, and dissociative amnesia.
A patient with depersonalization disorder or derealization disorder experiences reoccurring feelings of being detached from themselves. In the case of depersonalization disorder, the individual feels as if they are looking at themselves from outside of their body. However, in the case of derealization disorder, the individual feels as if the world around them and life as they know it is unreal.
With dissociative amnesia, the individual will experience unexplained memory loss. They may have trouble recalling critical information, even personal information about themselves and their experience. This is typically related to a stressful or traumatic event and can last anywhere from hours to multiple days at a time.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative disorders can present themselves in different ways. These symptoms can also vary depending on what type of dissociative disorder an individual has been diagnosed with. However, in general, some common signs and symptoms to look out for when identifying a dissociative disorder include:
- Feelings of numbness, detachment, or dissociation
- Identity confusion, feeling an altered sense of self
- Trouble remembering personal information or past events beyond just normal forgetfulness (particularly in the case of dissociative amnesia)
- Confusion about what one’s role or purpose in life is supposed to be
- Feeling or acting robotic or as if one’s actions are no longer within their control
- Trouble coping with intense emotions
- Difficulty concentrating
- Unexpected shifts in mood or behavior
- Having little or no recollection of one’s own actions during a particular time period
- Struggles with anxiety or depression
- Unexplained physical symptoms such as pain or numbness
- Experiencing flashbacks, particularly related to past traumatic events
Common Myths and Misconceptions About Dissociative Disorders
There are quite a few untrue myths and misconceptions about dissociative disorders that can contribute to the negative stigma surrounding this type of disorder. Spreading correct information and awareness about dissociative disorders can help debunk these myths.
#1. One myth is that this type of disorder is very rare and that only an extremely small percentage of people actually experience it. This is untrue. These types of disorders are typically more common than most people realize. While it is not a mental disorder that is commonly diagnosed, some studies have found that at least 10% of people may experience some form of dissociative thoughts throughout their lifetime.
#2. Another myth is that those with dissociative identity disorder are just “faking” their symptoms. Unfortunately, this myth can be attributed to a lot of different mental health or personality disorders. However, it is important to acknowledge that those with dissociative disorder do not choose to experience a shift in their identity, nor are they doing anything to fabricate their symptoms. Rather, this shift likely occurred as a result of some type of traumatic event.
#3. Yet another very damaging myth about dissociative disorder is that those who struggle with this are violent or dangerous. False portrayals of dissociative disorder in movies or TV shows can play a role in contributing to this untrue belief. Just because someone is diagnosed with this disorder does not make them inherently dangerous. In many cases, someone with this disorder is more likely to be a danger to themselves than to other people as a result of their symptoms.
#4. Another common myth about dissociative disorders is that they are the same as schizophrenia or psychosis. These are different mental health disorders and are diagnosed and treated in different ways. They do share some common symptoms, including a disconnection from reality. However, schizophrenia is also associated with hallucinations or delusions while dissociative disorder involves alterations in memory or identity.
What are the Causes of Dissociative Disorders?
Mental health professionals do not know the exact reasons why some people experience thoughts of dissociation and others do not. However, there are some key factors that are believed to often play a role. They include the following:
#1. Childhood Trauma and Abuse
Childhood trauma and abuse is believed to be one of the main causes of the development of dissociative disorders. This could be any form of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. It could also be a result of experiencing any sort of neglect or emotional abuse. In some cases, the individual may not have been the direct recipient of the abuse but watched it happen to someone else and experienced lasting trauma because of it.
Because children are still cognitively developing, they do not yet have the coping mechanisms to deal with intense pain or fear. Thus, if they experience something traumatic their automatic response may be to try to bury the memories or pretend as if it never happened. They may also try to dissociate to escape from stressful circumstances or traumatic memories. This could continue for years and can lead to lasting mental health problems if it is not addressed.
It’s important to note that not everyone who experiences traumatic events will later be diagnosed with this type of disorder. However, if a child has experienced trauma, getting them access to therapy as soon as possible could prevent them from experiencing dissociative thoughts later on. It is also important to note that having a strong and healthy support system at the time of the traumatic experience could also help the child avoid dissociative thoughts.
#2. Genetic and Environmental Influences
Other factors that could play a role in the development of dissociative disorders are genetic or environmental influences. Some people may have a genetic predisposition for this type of mental health disorder because a direct family member also struggled with it. There may also be certain aspects of their brain chemistry that make them more vulnerable to developing a dissociative disorder.
Environmental influences that could play a role include a stressful living situation, especially during childhood. This could also be living in a community that is often affected by violence, crime, poverty, or lack of stability.
How Substance Use Affects Dissociative Disorders
Substance use can play a major role in the way that an individual experiences symptoms of a dissociative disorder. It can also complicate treating this kind of disorder, especially when an individual is experiencing what is known as a dual diagnosis. Someone with a dual diagnosis is struggling with two disorders simultaneously. For example, this could be alcohol addiction and dissociative amnesia. Treating someone with both a substance use and mental health disorder simultaneously is a very delicate process.
Let’s first consider how using certain substances while living with an untreated dissociative disorder can make the dissociative disorder worse. There are certain drugs like hallucinogenics, stimulants, and even alcohol that can make symptoms of memory loss or depersonalization worse. Thus, it can be difficult to determine which of an individual’s symptoms are being caused by their mental health disorder and which are being caused by a substance.
In addition, trying to effectively treat a dissociative disorder while the person is still in active addiction can be very difficult. Sober participation is critical in many treatments like counseling or talk therapy. If a person is unwilling to seek treatment for their addiction as well, they will be less likely to find improvements in their other symptoms.
Finally, it is also important to note that struggling with an undiagnosed dissociative disorder can make an individual more likely to develop substance use disorder. People often turn to substance use to cope with mental health struggles. They may be convinced that this is their only option to find relief. In reality, it will only exacerbate their condition.
Effective Treatments for Dissociative Disorders
The good news is that there are a variety of different treatments that can be used to effectively reduce the symptoms of dissociative disorders.
Brainspotting
Psychotherapy approaches like brain spotting can be a useful treatment option. Dissociative disorders are often caused by stored trauma. Brain spotting helps individuals determine what specific places in their body they are storing their trauma. These places are called “brainspots.” Once they locate these brainspots, they can then work towards releasing that trauma.
This can be an especially popular treatment method because it doesn’t involve the individual having to verbalize their thoughts and emotions about their trauma. It can also help them to relieve the anxiety they may have toward certain trauma triggers. In addition, brainspotting can be empowering by helping the individual to feel more in control of their own emotional responses.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Another treatment sometimes used to treat dissociative disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy, or (CBT). CBT helps an individual better understand why they respond to certain triggers in certain ways. For example, there could be a particular experience or emotion that causes them to experience dissociative thoughts. Once they have a better understanding of this, they will be better able to regulate their emotions in the future.
CBT is often used alongside other more traditional forms of therapy such as talk therapy.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
A treatment that can also be effective in treating dissociative disorders is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). DBT is focused on helping people to build resiliency by developing effective strategies to manage intense emotions. Once an individual has a better understanding of why they are experiencing certain emotions, they can then learn how to deal with it in a healthier way. This can help them to avoid developing a dissociative response to this type of emotion in the future.
DBT can also play an important role in strengthening relationships and social connections. Because having a strong support system is critical in recovery, this can be a particularly helpful benefit.
Somatic Experiencing
Another treatment could be somatic experiencing, which can be used to help connect the body and mind. This type of reconnection can make a person more grounded in reality and less likely to experience dissociative thoughts. It can also be used to effectively release stress that is being stored in the body. This can further help the individual to heal and begin to move on from their trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Finally, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) can be an effective way to treat those with dissociative disorders. EMDR helps people to process traumatic memories in an environment where they feel safe and mentally secure. Some people may worry that they will become more traumatized by recalling past experiences. However, EMDR is a gradual process that is structured in phases.
With the help of a mental health counselor, an individual can slowly work through traumatic memories in a way that does not cause any more unnecessary distress. It also focuses on grounding and the development of healthy coping skills which is important for someone who may be experiencing a dissociative disorder. EMDR can help the individual develop a greater sense of self-compassion and more positive beliefs about themselves. This process can aid in letting go of any self-blame or shame they feel toward what they have experienced.
Finding Treatment for Dissociative Disorder at Wisconsin Wellness
Living with an untreated or undiagnosed dissociative disorder can feel very debilitating. It is difficult for the person going through it and is also often difficult for their loved ones. When left untreated, dissociative disorders can really make it difficult to keep up with daily life. If this is your current situation, our team at Wisconsin Wellness in Appleton, Wisconsin, can help.
At our treatment facility, we understand that everyone heals in different ways. Thus, we offer a variety of treatment options, including a combination of both holistic and traditional treatments. Some cutting-edge treatments we have available include brainspotting and somatic experiencing.
We understand that making the decision to seek treatment for a mental health or substance use disorder can be very intimidating. It can also be difficult to not know exactly what to expect. Rest assured that our team is composed of compassionate and expertly trained staff. They will walk with you every step of the way, ensuring you always know what your options are and what to expect.
We have a community-based environment at our facility where those seeking treatment can connect with their peers. This can allow for better healing and growth while forming lasting social connections.
Living with an undiagnosed or untreated mental health disorder like a dissociative disorder can feel very isolating. Many people struggle in silence because they’re not aware of what their treatment options are. In some cases, they may have already tried seeking treatment but did not experience the results they were hoping for. This can be very disheartening and frustrating for the person struggling and those closest to them. If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health disorder, our team at Wisconsin Wellness in Appleton, Wisconsin, is here to help. Give us a call at (920) 404-2100 to learn more about the types of services that we offer.