Dissociation is a person’s temporary disconnection from reality, which can cause memory loss, a feeling of unreality, distorted perceptions of the environment and a sudden change in personality.
Dissociation typically occurs due to frequent stress, traumatic events, and excessive alcohol and/or drug use, but it can also indicate psychiatric problems, such as a dissociative disorder. Find out what dissociative disorder is.
If dissociation is suspected, especially if symptoms are frequent, it is important to consult a psychiatrist. Treatment for dissociation depends on its cause, and may involve relaxation measures, psychotherapy and medication, such as antidepressants or anxiolytics.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of dissociation are:
- Not remembering personal informationsuch as your name, age, close family members, life history and events you were present at;
- Forgetting how to perform usual taskshow to read, drive and use the computer;
- Discover evidence of actions you don’t remember doingsuch as finding objects that you don’t remember putting in your shopping bag or among your belongings;
- Going places and forgetting how you got thereand in these moments you may not remember who you are and your goals;
- Feeling that the world around is unrealbeing able to see objects changing size, shape and/or color, perceiving the environment as if it had no life, feeling people as if they were robots or living in a dream;
- Altered perception of selfas if you were seeing yourself from outside or floating away from your body;
- Act as if you were someone elsebeing able to speak with different voices or use other names;
- Difficulty talking about yourselfyour tastes, beliefs or opinions and the type of person you are, for example.
A person with dissociation may also suddenly experience sensations related to past trauma, which is called flashbackespecially when you notice something that reminds you of that traumatic situation.
Furthermore, these triggers and flashbacks They can also trigger symptoms of dissociation when they arise.
Personality dissociation
Personality dissociation, or dissociative identity disorder, is when a person has 2 or more personality states that alternate, which can cause them to not remember events that have occurred or witnessed, adopt different names and act as if they were someone else. Understand better what dissociative identity disorder is.
Which doctor to consult
In case of symptoms of dissociation, it is recommended to consult a psychiatrist, who is the best doctor to evaluate these symptoms and rule out illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, which can cause similar symptoms.
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Sometimes, the doctor may also recommend tests, such as an electroencephalogram and measurement of vitamin B12 and/or thyroid hormones in the blood, in addition to follow-up with a psychologist to confirm the diagnosis.
Possible causes
The main causes of dissociation are:
- Frequent stress;
- Excessive alcohol consumption;
- Use of illicit drugs, such as marijuana and ecstasy;
- Traumatic events in the past;
- Psychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and dissociative disorders;
- Some cultural and/or religious practices.
Thus, dissociation is not always indicative of a psychiatric disorder and is sometimes not considered a problem, especially when caused by stress or related to cultural and religious practices.
How the treatment is carried out
Treatment for dissociation may vary depending on the cause. When it is associated with frequent stress, it may be advisable to get enough rest and exercise regularly, or reduce alcohol consumption in case of excessive intake.
If it is caused by dissociative disorders, dissociation can be treated with psychotherapy sessions, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, and hypnosis therapy, with the aim of learning to deal with traumatic memories. See how cognitive behavioral therapy is done.
In the case of other psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, it is important to undergo treatment according to the doctor’s instructions, and medications, such as antidepressants and/or anxiolytics, may be indicated to prevent dissociation.
