dissotsiatsioon

Dissotsiatsioon is a psychological term referring to a disconnection between thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity. It is a defense mechanism that can occur when a person experiences significant trauma or stress. This detachment allows the individual to distance themselves from overwhelming emotions or disturbing experiences.

There are various forms of dissociative experiences. Some common ones include dissociative amnesia, where a person cannot recall important personal information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature. Another is depersonalization, characterized by a feeling of detachment from oneself, as if observing one's own life from outside the body. Derealization involves a sense of detachment from one's surroundings, where the external world seems unreal or dreamlike.

Dissociative disorders are a spectrum of conditions characterized by profound disturbances in memory, consciousness, identity, and perception. Dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is one of the most severe forms, where an individual exhibits two or more distinct personality states.

While dissociation can be a normal response to trauma in the short term, persistent or severe dissociative symptoms can indicate a dissociative disorder. These disorders are often linked to severe childhood trauma, such as abuse or neglect. Diagnosis is typically made by mental health professionals through clinical interviews and psychological assessments. Treatment often involves psychotherapy, with a focus on trauma processing, developing coping mechanisms, and integrating fragmented aspects of the self.