Have you ever felt detached from reality or found yourself confused when others have brought up details of a significant event that you experienced? There is a chance that you may have experienced a psychological term known as dissociation.
Dissociation is a protective mechanism that our brain uses as a form of survival during distressing or traumatic events. Dissociation creates dysregulation in regions of the brain responsible for emotion regulation, memory, reflection and assessments of danger. In this article we will review common types of dissociation as outlined by Dr. George A Fraser in a version of an assessment called the Dissociative Experiencing Scale (DES).
- Absorption- This type of dissociation relates to becoming absorbed in an external stimuli such as music, a movie, a book, ect. which results in a lack of awareness of current surroundings.
- Amnesia- This common type of dissociation relates to memory gaps in reference to or as a result of a traumatic or overwhelming event or period of life.
- Depersonalization/Derealization- This type of dissociation refers to detaching from your body and reality and has been associated with feeling like an “out of body experience”. In Depersonalization, there is a sense of detachment from your body, thoughts and feelings. In derealization, there is a detachment from your surroundings.
- Fantasy Prone- This type of dissociation includes detachment from a stressor or trauma through an alternate reality or fantasy.
- Influence of Ego States- This type of dissociation refers to the various egos that an individual may have. The theory of ego states considers that a person is made up of various parts that are integrated and function together when in a healthy environment. When there is a traumatic or distressing event, there may be part of our ego that becomes separated from our general personality.
While dissociation is a defense mechanism, it is important to acknowledge the root of why you may have experienced dissociation. Therapy is a great place to process traumatic and distressing experiences and work towards processing and healing.
If you have experienced dissociation or want to explore therapeutic interventions that can support you, please do not hesitate to reach out for a consultation.
