Living in a fog: Fragmented Minds, Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders

Repeated and systematic exposure to threat and distortion of reality seen in childhood sexual, physical or narcissistic abuse can lead to chronic dissociation in childhood and adulthood. While dissociation is an adaptive response to trauma, it can lead to a range of dissociative disorders including amnesia, depersonalisation, derealisation and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). As dissociation separates the mind from the body, it prevents the integration of experiences, feelings, and thoughts which hijacks  emotional and cognitive functioning. This gives rise to a range of symptoms such as amnesia and memory lapses, trance like states and slowed down responses, rapid shifts in mood and behaviour, confusing shifts in access to knowledge, memory and skills, disturbances in sense of self,  auditory and visual hallucinations, and  imaginary companions. As clients emotionally shut down they become disconnected, and experience a deep sense of emptiness, numbness or deadness, which can make them seem unreachable, even in therapy. They also…