Dissociative Trauma: Signs, Remedies, Strategies for Cope, and Additional Info
In Germany, some of the leading centers for treating Dissociative Disorders can be found at the Heiligenfeld Clinics, a renowned psychosomatic medical group with nine clinics at five locations. Specializing in comprehensive psychosomatic care, they offer a wide range of treatments for those struggling with dissociation and related trauma.
Elsewhere, the Traumaambulanz (trauma outpatient clinic) at the University Medical Center Mainz provides early psychotherapeutic treatment, including diagnosis, counseling, and crisis intervention for trauma victims. This is particularly relevant for those dealing with dissociative disorders stemming from trauma.
For those in the United States, the American Psychological Association's Psychologist Locator can be a useful tool for finding a therapist familiar with trauma.
Treatment options exist for all forms of dissociative disorders, and various therapies can help manage the mental and physical effects of trauma. These include psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), support groups, and somatic therapy.
It's important to note that dissociation is often a component of borderline personality disorder (BPD). If you're experiencing dissociation and are considering self-harm or suicide, help is available right now. You can reach out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat at 988Lifeline.org, or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
Dissociation usually occurs due to trauma, such as abuse, sexual assault, natural disasters, accidents, or military combat. It's an involuntary detachment from reality, often experienced as a disconnect from one's sense of self, thoughts, and memory. Dissociative disorders include Depersonalization/derealization disorder (DPDR), Dissociative identity disorder (DID), and Dissociative amnesia.
Derealization is a form of dissociation where one feels as if the people and things around them are unreal, while depersonalization is a form where one feels as if they're watching themselves as an actor in a movie. Both can cause problems in daily life, such as emotional detachment, lack of identity, forgetting events or personal information, and feeling little physical pain.
Episodes of dissociation vary in length, and can last a few hours, days, weeks, or even months. During trauma-related triggers, dissociation can occur as a way to cope with the physical sensations that occurred at the time of the trauma.
Trauma-focused therapy can be especially helpful for people living with trauma-related dissociation. Mindfulness is a valuable resource for mental well-being and can teach your body to be present in the moment, helping to manage dissociation. Deep breathing strategies and grounding techniques can also help deescalate severe moments of dissociation that result in anxiety or stress.
For a deeper understanding of how trauma affects the mind and body, including dissociation and dissociative disorders, several books offer valuable insights. These include "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk, "Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors" by Janina Fisher, "Trauma and Recovery" by Judith Lewis Herman, "The Complex PTSD Workbook" by Arielle Schwartz, "Trauma and the Body" by Pat Ogden, and "What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing" by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey.
In conclusion, while dissociative disorders can be challenging to live with, there is hope. With the right treatment, support, and understanding, it's possible to manage and overcome these conditions. If you or someone you know is struggling with dissociation, remember that help is always available.
