Dissociation is a mental process that involves disconnecting from your own thoughts, feelings, memories, or personal identity, often in response to a traumatic event. It can cause you to:

Believe that the world around you is distorted or unreal

Experience sudden mood swings

Have trouble concentrating, remembering things, or handling intense emotions

Experience anxiety or depression

Behave much differently than you normally would, possibly doing things that you would usually find offensive

The 3 Types of Dissociative Disorders

Although dissociation often resolves on its own without the need for professional treatment, in some cases it can develop into a dissociative disorder. The mental health community classifies dissociative disorders into the following three types:

Dissociative amnesia (also known as psychogenic amnesia) , You can’t remember the details of a traumatic event, but you’re aware that you’re experiencing memory loss.

Depersonalization disorder , You feel detached from your surroundings, as if you’re watching what’s occurring around you on television.

Dissociative identity disorder (previously known as multiple personality disorder) , You have two or more personalities, with each one possibly having its own tone, body language, outlook, and memories.

The Team to Choose for Dissociation Treatment

If you think you may be experiencing dissociation, contact us today. Our team regularly treats dissociation, and once we’ve spoken with you about the issues you’ve been dealing with, we can identify what may be causing the problem and recommend a course of treatment that’s customized to your specific needs. We look forward to meeting with you and helping you take the next step toward relief.

Written by Kim Michael, RP

Kim is a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO # 13293 ) and Certified Trauma Professional offering online individual therapy (https://thrive-through-therapy.vercel.app/individual-therapy) to people in Brampton and across Ontario.

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This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for professional care. If you’re in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada) or call 9-1-1.