dissociative disorder
Fractured sense of self
A dissociative disorder is a mental health condition involving disruption in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception of the environment.
The category includes dissociative amnesia, where traumatic memories become inaccessible, and dissociative identity disorder, formerly called multiple personality disorder, where distinct personality states alternate control.
Dissociation typically develops as a response to severe trauma, allowing the mind to distance itself from overwhelming experiences.
Detachment from one's identity
- derealizationPerception that surroundings aren't real
- amnesiaPathological loss of recall
- switchingChanging from one to another
- altersMakes something different
fugue state · out-of-body experience · detachment · numbness · unreality · discontinuity · autopilot · trance states
Pathological loss of recall
- blackoutComplete power loss
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
- memory gapMissing piece of recall
- memory blockInability to recall something
Lasting psychological wound
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- childhood traumaHarmful early life events
- neglectFailure to provide care
- complex PTSDExtended maltreatment's psychological legacy
war trauma · sexual abuse · emotional abuse · chronic stress
Treatment through guided conversation
- EMDRTrauma therapy using eye movements
- integrationCombining into a whole
- grounding techniquesTools for present-moment awareness
- stabilizationProcess of becoming steady
DBT · journaling · art therapy
Formal identification of mental disorder
- DSM-5Psychiatric diagnosis guidebook
- mental illnessDisorder affecting cognition or mood
- psychopathologyStudy of mental disorders
- differential diagnosisSystematic comparison of possible conditions
comorbidity · assessment · screening · MID · treatment planning · prognosis
depersonalization
Detachment from one's identity
- derealizationPerception that surroundings aren't real
- amnesiaPathological loss of recall
- switchingChanging from one to another
alters · fugue state · out-of-body experience · detachment · numbness · unreality · discontinuity · autopilot · trance states · identity confusion
amnesia
Pathological loss of recall
- blackoutComplete power loss
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
- memory gapMissing piece of recall
trauma
Lasting psychological wound
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- childhood traumaHarmful early life events
- neglectFailure to provide care
complex PTSD · war trauma · sexual abuse · emotional abuse · chronic stress
split personality
Fragmented identity disorder
- multiple personalitiesDissociated identity states
psychotherapy
Treatment through guided conversation
- EMDRTrauma therapy using eye movements
- integrationCombining into a whole
- grounding techniquesTools for present-moment awareness
psychiatric diagnosis
Formal identification of mental disorder
- DSM-5Psychiatric diagnosis guidebook
- mental illnessDisorder affecting cognition or mood
- psychopathologyStudy of mental disorders
differential diagnosis · comorbidity · assessment · screening · MID · treatment planning · prognosis
- mental healthpsychiatry, psychotherapy, mental illness, psychiatrist, therapist
- Mental Disordersschizophrenia, depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD
- cognitive disordersdementia, Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, vascular dementia
- psychosomatic disordershypochondriasis, somatization, hysterical blindness, neurasthenia, health anxiety
- social disordersselective mutism, relationship anxiety, fear of judgment, fear of embarrassment, avoidance behavior
dissociative disordermental health
Emotional and cognitive well-being
mental wellness · health · wellness · psychological health · sound mind
dissociative, dissociate, dissociated, dissociating, dissociation, associate, associated, associating, association