Dissociative disorders

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Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative disorders (/dɪˈsoʊʃiˌeɪtɪv dɪsˈɔːrdərz/) are a group of mental disorders characterized by an involuntary escape from reality characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness and memory.

Etymology

The term 'dissociative' is derived from the Latin word 'dissociare', which means 'to separate'. This refers to the separation of normal cognitive processes that usually work together.

Types of Dissociative Disorders

There are several types of dissociative disorders, including:

  • Dissociative Amnesia: This is characterized by an inability to recall important personal information that would not typically be lost with ordinary forgetting.
  • Dissociative Identity Disorder: Formerly known as multiple personality disorder, this disorder is characterized by "switching" to alternate identities.

Symptoms

Symptoms of dissociative disorders can include:

  • Memory loss (amnesia) of certain time periods, events, people, and personal information
  • A sense of being detached from yourself and your emotions
  • A perception of the people and things around you as distorted and unreal
  • A blurred sense of identity

Causes

Dissociative disorders usually develop as a way to cope with trauma. The disorders most often form in children exposed to long-term physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

Treatment

Treatment for dissociative disorders may include psychotherapy, medication, and hypnotherapy.

External links

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