Download Dissociative Disorder Reflection Paper

Danette Crandell
Intro to Community Mental Health
LP3- Dissociative Disorder Reflection Paper
February 15, 2015
What is Dissociation? How does one suffer from dissociation? People with mental
illnesses experience dissociation and disturbances of thinking, awareness, identity, consciousness
or memory. Dissociation is more severe than just ordinary forgetfulness and is also not
associated with any underlying cause of memory deficits or altered consciousness (neurological
illnesses, substance or alcohol abuse). Some people have dissociative events that last only
moments where as others experience extended periods of dissociation (National Alliance on
Mental Illness, 2015).
In some research I found, that some people experience having limited ability to regulate
their bodily functions and may feel like they are going crazy or are out of their body during
dissociative events. Other people may lose control of their emotions or actions during a
dissociative event and can do things that are otherwise quite unusual. Some people will have
limited memory of the dissociative event and may feel surprised or disoriented when it ends.
Many people may later recall what happened during their dissociation, but others may not be
able to remember significant parts of what occurred, sometimes for even for a time before they
dissociated. All of these combined make dissociation a very disturbing and frightening thing for
the people who experience it (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2015). I wasn’t aware of
dissociative disorders and did not know a lot of information regarding it.
There is an association between traumatic events and the process of dissociation. It may
be that dissociation is a way the mind/brain contends with overwhelming motivations. There is
much more to be learned about the process of dissociation and the best strategies to address it.
Dissociation can be part of a symptom of an existing mental illness. For example, many people
who have experienced a traumatic event, such as physical or sexual abuse, may have some aspect
of dissociation during the event itself and will be unable to recall details regarding their abuse
(National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2015).
In regards to dissociative disorders, such traumatic events can dissociate a person from
their mind and body. Dissociation consists of amnesia, in which a substantial block of time in
one’s life is forgotten. I have heard of blocking a traumatic event from one’s life because it’s
hard to cope. I also read some information from the text that explains some experiences on how
dissociation can affect someone. For example; amnesia; a substantial block of time in one’s life
is forgotten, depersonalization; which one feels detached from oneself, derealization; where the
world seems unreal to someone, identity confusion; confused about whom they are and identity
alteration; displaying a surprising skill that they didn’t know existed (Seligman, Walker,
Rosenhan, 2001). That said, experiences often trigger the real source of the disorder and in such
cases coexist with another. In discussion, dissociative amnesia is the most common of the
dissociative disorders, caused by severe trauma and limits a person’s ability from living a full
life. Such events would include; death of a family member, war, abuse, accidents or disasters,
that the person has experienced or witnessed. There also might be a genetic link to the
development of dissociative amnesia, since people with these disorders usually have close
relatives who have had similar conditions and is more common in women than in men.
The primary symptom of dissociative amnesia is the sudden inability to remember past
experiences or personal information. Some people with this disorder also might appear confused
and suffer from depression and/or anxiety. I know that anxiety plays a huge role in many
disorders. I also know that if symptoms are present, it’s better for one’s health and life to catch it
early on and seek professional help. One step for any professional is to begin an evaluation by
performing a complete medical history and physical examination. Although there are no
laboratory tests to specifically diagnose dissociative disorders, the professional might use various
diagnostic tests; such as X-rays and blood test to rule out physical illness or medication side
effects as the cause of the symptoms. Certain conditions, including brain diseases, head injuries,
drug and alcohol intoxication, and sleep deprivation can lead to symptoms similar to those of
dissociative disorders, including amnesia. If no physical illness is found, one might be referred to
a psychiatrist or psychologist, health care professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and
treat mental illnesses. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and
assessment tools to evaluate a person for a dissociative disorder (Cleveland Clinic, 1995-2014).
The first goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and control any problem behavior.
Treatment then aims to help the person safely express and process painful memories, develop
new coping and life skills, restore functioning, and improve relationships. The best treatment
approach depends on the individual and the severity of his or her symptoms. Treatments may
include the following: Psychotherapy for mental and emotional disorders uses, psychological
techniques designed to encourage communication of conflicts and increase insight into problems;
Cognitive therapy focusing on changing dysfunctional thinking patterns and the resulting
feelings and behaviors. Family therapy helps to teach the family about the disorder and its
causes, as well as to help family members recognize symptoms of a recurrence. Creative
therapies (art therapy, music therapy), allows the patient to explore and express his or her
thoughts and feelings in a safe and creative way. Clinical hypnosis a method that uses intense
relaxation, concentration and focused attention to achieve an altered state of consciousness
(awareness), allowing people to explore thoughts, feelings and memories they may have hidden
from their conscious minds, but there is controversial issue on the use of hypnosis for fixing
dissociative disorders because of the risk of creating false memories.
In conclusion, the outlook depends on several factors, including the person’s life
situation, the availability of support systems and the individual’s response to treatment. For most
people with dissociative amnesia, memory returns with time, making the overall outlook very
good. In some cases, however, the individuals are never able to retrieve their buried memories.
Immediate intervention after a traumatic event or emotionally distressing experience can help to
reduce the likelihood of dissociative disorders (Cleveland Clinic, 1995-2014).
References:
1) National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2015
http://www2.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Mental_Illness/
By_Illness/Dissociative_Disorders.htm
2) Cleveland Clinic, 1995-2014
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/neurological_institute/center-for-behavorialhealth/disease-conditions/hic-dissociative-amnesia
3) Abnormal Psychology Textbook, Fourth Edition,
Seligman, Walker, Rosenhan, 2001
4) http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dissociativedisorders/basics/symptoms/con-20031012
5) http://psychcentral.com/disorders/dissociative-amnesia-symptoms/