What is Trauma Related Dissociation?

Dissociation describes the act of disconnecting from your thoughts, feelings and sense of self. This phenomenon is a common response to trauma, especially when you encounter triggers that remind you of past disturbing experiences. Dissociation is a protective mechanism to minimize the overwhelming feelings associated with a traumatic event or trigger. It's the mind’s way of creating a mental escape when physical escape is not possible.

Symptoms of Trauma Related Dissociation

Encountering stimuli or sensations that remind you of a traumatic event can trigger dissociation. Below are common symptoms experienced during dissociation:

• Derealization or feeling things around you aren’t real
• Difficulty concentrating
• Not recalling what you did earlier that day
• Forgetting large parts of your childhood
• Feeling emotionally or physically numb
• Having intense emotions that don’t feel like “yours”
• Hearing a voice
• Having strong critical thoughts about yourself
• Brain fog
• Depersonalization or not feeling that you are real
• Spacing out
• Lacking a sense of self/identity confusion
• Sudden shifts in mood
• Feeling as if you are viewing things through a foggy tunnel

How Therapy Can Help with Trauma Related Dissociation

Psychotherapy can help you recognize and manage dissociative symptoms. There are a variety of assessments your therapist can administer to determine if dissociation is something you’re struggling with. 

Through psychotherapy you can:

• Become more present
• Enhance self identity
• Learn to regulate emotions
• Understand how memory gaps are effecting you
• Learn to manage and decrease dissociative symptoms
• Get connected to and start to heal your inner child wounds

I specialize in helping individuals recover and heal from complex trauma and trauma related dissociation. Contact me today to get started with Complex Trauma Therapy.