Dissociative disorders
A patient suffering from dissociative disorder unintentionally and unhealthy escapes from reality. The affected person is unable to think normally and has problems with memory, environment, behavior and identity.
The symptoms of dissociative disorder depend on the form of the disease and can be manifested in many ways, e.g. in the form of amnesia or by changing identity Dissociative symptoms often develop as a result of psychological trauma, in order to protect oneself from unpleasant emotions and memories Periods of stress may temporarily worsen symptoms Dissociative disorders cause problems in the patient's daily life
Treatment of dissociative disorders includes counseling therapy (psychotherapy) and medication. Although dissociative disorders are difficult to treat, many people manage to lead productive, healthy lives.
Dissociative disorders are mainly formed when the patient tries to cope with the stress caused by the trauma. The disease often occurs in children who have been victims of sexual, physical or emotional abuse for a long time In rare cases, dangerous or unpredictable circumstances and situations at home may trigger the development of the disorder. Stress caused by war or natural disaster sometimes causes dissociative disorder.
Personal identity continues to be formed during childhood Therefore, it is easier than an adult to detach a child from himself, as if the trauma and stress are happening around another person A child who learns to dissociate to cope may use the same mechanism to avoid stressful problems throughout life.
Symptoms of dissociative disorders:
- Forgetting (amnesia) of some periods, events and people
- Mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and attempts
- Feeling of separation from oneself
- Unreal perception of things and people around you
- Difficult perception of identity
- Stress or problems in relationships, work or other important life circumstances
There are three main forms of dissociative disorders:
The most common symptom of this form is memory loss, which is more severe than normal forgetfulness The patient cannot recall information about himself, events or people from his life, especially after a traumatic event Dissociative amnesia can cause you to forget specific facts, such as a serious fight In rare cases, during amnesia, a person completely forgets information about himself In dissociative amnesia, the patient sometimes suddenly begins to travel or walk (dissociative fugue). An episode of amnesia may last minutes, hours, or in rare cases, months or years
Dissociative identity disorder This form is characterized by a change in identity The patient may feel that there is more than one person in him, living and talking in his head A person has a feeling that he is obsessed with someone else's personality All these identities have different names, personal histories and characteristics They also differ in voice, gender, mannerisms or sometimes even physical characteristics such as the need to wear glasses. The degree of similarity between these identities also varies The condition of patients with dissociative identity disorder is often accompanied by dissociative amnesia and dissociative fugue. Depersonalization-derealization disorder This form involves a persistent or episodic sensation in which the patient feels disconnected from himself. The patient observes his feelings, behaviors and thoughts from a distance, like a movie (depersonalization Other people and objects seem unreal, vague to him, as in a dream (derealization). The patient may experience depersonalization, derealization, or both Symptoms may last for a few minutes, but sometimes symptoms can last for years When to consult a doctor If someone close to you has the mentioned symptoms, consult a doctor Treatment is possible
