Dissociative disorder

Dissociative disorders are characterized by an involuntary escape from reality characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness and memory. People from all age groups and racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds can experience a dissociative disorder.

1. What is an example of a dissociative disorder?
2. What triggers dissociation?
3. What is dissociative hysteria?
4. What happens in a dissociative state?

What is an example of a dissociative disorder?

Dissociative symptoms can potentially disrupt every area of mental functioning. Examples of dissociative symptoms include the experience of detachment or feeling as if one is outside one's body, and loss of memory or amnesia. Dissociative disorders are frequently associated with previous experience of trauma.

What triggers dissociation?

Triggers are sensory stimuli connected with a person's trauma, and dissociation is an overload response. Even years after the traumatic event or circumstances have ceased, certain sights, sounds, smells, touches, and even tastes can set off, or trigger, a cascade of unwanted memories and feelings.

What is dissociative hysteria?

Under the term of dissociative hysteria are described a set of clinical syndromes characterized by behavioral disorders and psychic activity anomalies. The nature of the symptoms seems very similar to hysterical conversion. Psychogenic amnesia, psychogenic fugues and multiple personality disorder are described.

What happens in a dissociative state?

Dissociation is a break in how your mind handles information. You may feel disconnected from your thoughts, feelings, memories, and surroundings. It can affect your sense of identity and your perception of time. The symptoms often go away on their own.