What is Dissociation?
Dissociation is a mental process where a person disconnects from their thoughts, feelings, memories, or sense of identity. It is a common and natural coping response to stress or trauma and a normal part of human experience. Most people have moments of feeling distracted, disconnected, or not fully present.
Dissociation becomes more serious when it happens frequently or intensely, you feel detached from yourself or your surroundings, you lose time, memory or a sense of identity, or it interferes with daily life or relationships.
Author: Sophia Robson
Common Signs of Dissociation
- Feeling spaced out, numb, or “not here”
- Losing time (not remembering parts of your day)
- Feeling disconnected from your body
- Feeling like the world around you isn’t real
- Trouble recalling important events or information
- Switching between different emotional states or identities (in more severe forms)
Why Does Dissociation Happen?
Dissociation is often a survival strategy. It is part of our brain’s natural fight-flight response. When something feels too overwhelming (and often if we feel like we cannot escape that overwhelm) our brains may “disconnect” to protect us. It is not something we consciously choose to do.
Some people may have learned to dissociate as children during difficult or unsafe situations. This was their brain’s best way of psychologically protecting them as they may not have been able to fight or flee the situation. Because this coping mechanism worked well in childhood, it may then have continued into adulthood, even when the original danger is no longer present.
Is Dissociation a Mental Health Disorder?
Dissociation exists on a spectrum and can occur in many different mental health conditions, most commonly those related to trauma, stress, or anxiety. When frequent and intense, it is like a “red flag” indicating that the brain is trying to cope with something overwhelming. Examples of some mental health conditions where dissociation might feature include:
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Complex PTSD
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depression
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Dissociation can also be the primary feature of certain disorders such as:
- Depersonalisation/derealisation
- Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Dissociative Amnesia
How is Dissociation Treated?
Healing from dissociation often involves building safety and grounding skills, including learning to stay present and connected, as well as understanding and processing trauma. Therapy can help you understand your experiences and regain a stronger sense of self and control.