A dissociative episode can feel like a dream, where everything that is happening around you is less vivid and less real. You may feel detached from your own physical body and feel almost like an outside observer, watching yourself without feeling connected to what is happening.
This can be accompanied by feelings of confusion and foggy thinking, and you may feel a disconnection between your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. You may experience a discrepancy between physical movement and internal feelings of stillness, as though your body were performing certain movements, but your mind was somewhere else entirely.
Other common feelings and sensations associated with dissociative episodes are depersonalization, a sense of being “spaced out” or “in a daze,” being unable to recognize familiar people or objects, temporary paralysis and numbness, and detachment from one’s own voice as if it weren’t your own.
How do I know if I am dissociating?
Dissociation is a symptom of mental health concerns—like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression—so the first step in determining if you are dissociating is to recognize the signs and symptoms.
Common signs of dissociation include detachment from reality, feeling disconnected from your thoughts, feelings, memories, actions, or identity, or experiencing a sense of “unreality. ” Other signs can include feelings of numbness, confusion, spaceyness, dissociative amnesia, altered states of consciousness, depersonalization, derealization, out of body experiences, or time distortions.
If you think you may be exhibiting signs of dissociation, it’s important to speak to a doctor or mental health professional. They can help you determine if what you are experiencing is dissociation, and will recommend the best care plan for your mental health needs.
What does it feel like when you dissociate?
Dissociation is a psychological term that describes a feeling of disconnection from one’s body, thoughts, emotions, or environment. It is a form of coping that is often experienced in response to traumatic events, but can also be triggered by a range of things, such as stress, anxiety, or depression.
When someone is dissociating, they might feel like they are removed or detached from reality or their body, or have difficulty connecting or understanding their thoughts and emotions. This can cause a person to feel like they’re watching their own life from a distance and are unable to control it.
Other times, a person might feel like they are completely disconnected from where they are and their surroundings, as if they’re dreaming or living in an alternate reality.
A person might also feel confused, lost, or out of touch with other people and reality. They might feel like their mind has gone blank or fuzzy, or that time is speeding up and slowing down in odd ways.
A person might become disconnected from their physical sensations, too, making them feel numb or as if they’re outside their own body.
Dissociating can overwhelm a person and cause them to experience a significant decline in functioning and quality of life. If you are feeling disconnected or distant from reality, seeking professional help is strongly recommended.
Am I zoning out or dissociating?
It can be difficult to tell the difference between zoning out and dissociating. Zoning out can happen during everyday life, in situations when someone is paying very little attention to what is happening around them.
Dissociating, however, is a more intense form of disconnecting from reality. It’s often a symptom of things like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, or depression. If you feel like you’re frequently zoning out and it’s interfering with your daily functioning, it’s possible you are actually dissociating.
Major signs of dissociation include feelings of disconnection from your physical environment, feelings of being outside of your body, difficulty concentrating, confusion, and a feeling of unreality. If you suspect you may be dissociating, it’s important to speak to a medical professional about it.
What triggers dissociation?
Dissociation is a coping mechanism that can be triggered by a wide variety of experiences including physical, emotional, and psychological trauma. Physical trauma can include accidents, physical or sexual abuse, or a medical procedure.
Emotional trauma can include a wide variety of stressful experiences like the death of a loved one, relationship problems, or bullying. Psychological trauma can include experiences like a difficult childhood, an abusive relationship, or a challenging work or school environment.
Other triggers of dissociation include certain drugs and alcohol, or even meditation and spiritual rituals. Most cases of dissociation are associated with one or more of these experiences. No matter the cause, when someone is experiencing a traumatic event, their mind can become overwhelmed and they may begin to dissociate to protect themselves from the intense emotions.
It is important to speak to a mental health provider if you are experiencing dissociation, as the underlying trauma needs to be addressed in order to move forward.
Can you be aware of dissociation?
Yes, you can be aware of dissociation. Dissociation is a mental process in which a person experiences a disruption in their conscious experience; people may feel disconnected from their body, emotions, and thoughts, creating a sense of unreality.
Awareness of dissociation can be helpful in recognizing the experience and identifying situations or triggers that may evoke this response. It is important to recognize that dissociation is a normal and adaptive response to distress, and does not necessarily point to a diagnosis.
The more familiar you become with the experience, the more likely it is that you will be able to recognize it and intervene when it occurs. Knowing what to do during a dissociative episode and having a safety plan ready can help you cope during and after dissociation.
A safety plan might include identifying calming activities such as deep breathing, grounding oneself in the present moment, engaging in creative activities, or talking to supportive people. Additionally, talking to a mental health professional can help to develop strategies to manage dissociation and the associated distress.
Is dissociating painful?
No, dissociating is not painful in itself and is often described as feeling disconnected, numb, or detached. However, depending on what caused the dissociative experience, such as a traumatic event, there may be pain associated with the event itself.
Dissociating serves as a way to protect oneself from the emotional and physical distress of the event. While dissociating can be an overwhelming and uncomfortable experience, it is not necessarily painful.
It is important to talk to a therapist if you have had any experiences with dissociative episodes or if you experience dissociative episodes that are becoming disruptive to your functioning. A therapist can help to provide further insight into the causes of your dissociation and help to create a plan to reduce or manage them.
How long do dissociative episodes last?
The duration of a dissociative episode varies and can range from a few minutes to several hours or even days. Some people experience episodes frequently, while others have them infrequently. However, it’s important to note that any single episode may also have a lasting impact on a person’s life.
For instance, it can cause significant confusion, intense fear, and changes in how a person perceives reality. Additionally, someone who experiences frequent dissociative episodes might find it difficult to carry out their day-to-day activities.
Therefore, it is important to seek professional help and support when experiencing a dissociative episode.
Do dissociative disorders go away?
Dissociative disorders can be difficult to diagnose and treat, and the symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. However, with the right intervention and treatment, a person can often be very successful in managing their disorder and reducing the intensity of their symptoms.
Although dissociative disorders are not necessarily curable, they can be successfully managed. It is important to remember that while these disorders can cause extreme distress, they can be treated and individuals can learn how to manage their symptoms in order to live a full and normal life.
In terms of treatment, dissociative disorders are typically approached through a combination of talk therapy and medication. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, psychotherapy is the primary treatment for dissociative disorders, focusing on helping the individual make sense of their experiences and gradually move forward in life.
This can take many forms including individual and group therapy, and sometimes hospice or inpatient treatment depending on the severity of the disorder. Medications such as antidepressants and other anti-anxiety drugs are commonly used to alleviate the symptoms of dissociative disorders, but they are not intended to treat the root cause.
Ultimately, while dissociative disorders may not go away completely, with the right treatment, a person struggling with these issues can still find long-term relief. There are also lifestyle changes one can make that can help to manage the symptoms such as finding ways to reduce stress and improving overall health and wellbeing.
For those who are struggling with dissociative disorders, seeking help from mental health professionals and developing strategies to cope with the symptoms is the best course of action.
What happens to the brain during a dissociative episode?
During a dissociative episode, a person’s brain will enter a dissociative state, where they feel disconnected from their own consciousness and the world around them. This can involve feelings of disconnection from one’s body, emotions, and even their own identity.
The person may also experience blotches of memory loss or gaps in their memory where it is difficult to recall certain events or even their own personal information. Dissociative episodes can range from mild, fleeting episodes of depersonalization or derealization, to more extreme and frequent episodes of dissociative identity disorder (DID).
The exact mechanisms that occur in the brain during a dissociative episode are still not fully understood, however, researchers believe altered brain activity is involved. Brain imaging studies suggest that during a dissociative state the brain functions differently, which is thought to lead to changes in memory formation and recall.
Alterations in metabolic activity have also been noted in some studies, where there is elevated activity of glutamate, an excitatory neural transmitter, and decreased activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
The exact cause of dissociative episodes is still a mystery, but many experts believe that they are caused by an automatic brain mechanism that helps a person to cope with psychological stress. Childhood trauma and extreme life events are thought to play a role, as well as genetic vulnerability, because of potential disruption in the normal functioning of the brain’s neuronal pathways and networks.
Although there is no single cure for dissociative episodes, various treatments are known to be effective in helping people manage and cope with them, such as psychotherapy, medications and different self-care techniques.