Dissociative Disorder
Understanding and Navigating Dissociative Dissorders
Dissociative Disorders Treatment for Professionals
Dissociative disorders are often trauma-related, which is why our curriculum at Thrive is trauma-informed. Fill out the short form below, or give us a call, to learn how we support people with dissociative disorders.
Dissociative Disorders Treatment with Thrive
Thrive provides targeted support for complex mental health challenges with a virtual IOP for teens and young adults, blending evidence-based practices and creative therapies in a supportive community.
How does Thrive treat Dissociative Disorders?
Thrive employs an affirming approach to treat dissociative disorders, focusing on respect, belief, and personalized care. We aim to enhance stability and security, facilitating co-communication within the host system, pinpointing triggers, and imparting coping strategies for past traumas. Our commitment lies in a trauma-informed framework, recognizing the trauma roots of dissociative disorders and incorporating advanced, trauma-aware methods to optimally assist our clients.
What are the best therapy options for Dissociative Disorders?
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IFS therapy focuses on understanding and working with different parts of an individual’s personality and inner experience. This approach can help individuals with dissociative disorders by addressing internal conflicts between these parts and establishing a strong and centered self. Through internal dialogue and healing, IFS aims to resolve conflicts between parts and process traumatic memories. Creating a safe and nonjudgmental environment is essential, along with teaching self-soothing and grounding techniques to manage distress.
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TF-CBT is a specific therapy designed to help people who have experienced traumatic events cope with trauma-related symptoms. While not typically the primary treatment for dissociative disorders, TF-CBT can still help address certain symptoms and co-occurring mental health issues. Specifically, TF-CBT helps those with dissociative disorders learn about trauma, manage emotions, change negative thoughts, stay grounded, and understand their experiences.
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DBT skills, initially developed for borderline personality disorder, are adaptable for various complex mental health conditions, including dissociative disorders. While not the primary treatment for dissociative disorders, DBT skills can complement specialized therapies. For those with dissociative disorders, DBT skills can improve mindfulness, emotion and crisis management, and identity perception.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by a disconnection or fragmentation of one’s consciousness, identity, memory, or perception of reality. These disruptions in normal psychological functioning can lead to symptoms such as amnesia, identity confusion, and a sense of detachment from oneself or one’s surroundings.
- Depersonalization: Feeling disconnected or detached from one’s own body, thoughts, emotions, or experiences.
- Derealization: Experiencing the external world as unreal, dreamlike, or distorted.
- Amnesia: Significant gaps in memory, which may be related to personal information, events, or periods of time.
- Identity confusion: A sense of not knowing who one is or having multiple, distinct identities or personality states.
- Emotional disturbances: Intense and often rapid changes in mood.
- Dissociative identity disorder (DID): Formerly known as multiple personality disorder, DID is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identity states that control a person’s behavior, consciousness, and memory. Each identity state may have its own unique traits, memories, and behaviors.
- Dissociative amnesia: This involves significant gaps in memory not explained by other medical conditions, often related to traumatic events or stressors.
- Depersonalization-derealization disorder: This disorder is marked by recurrent experiences of depersonalization (feeling detached from oneself) and derealization (feeling disconnected from or that the world is unreal or distorted).
- Other specified dissociative disorder (OSDD): This category includes dissociative disorders that don’t fully meet the criteria for the above three disorders but still involve significant dissociative symptoms.
- Unspecified dissociative disorder: This category is used when the symptoms and experiences of dissociation are present but do not fit the criteria for any specific dissociative disorder. It can be used for atypical dissociative disorder cases or for people who have dissociative symptoms but not to the extent required for a formal diagnosis.
Compared to many other mental health conditions, dissociative disorders are generally considered rare. Dissociative identity disorder (DID) and depersonalization-derealization disorder each affect around 1% of the population, at most. However, the conditions are likely underdiagnosed since the symptoms overlap with other mental health conditions.
- Trauma and abuse, including a history of severe trauma, childhood abuse, physical or sexual abuse, emotional neglect, or witnessing violence
- Disruptions in childhood attachment and development or a lack of a secure emotional bond with caregivers
- Genetics and family history
- Certain personality traits, such as a tendency to be highly suggestible or to engage in dissociative coping strategies, may increase vulnerability to dissociative disorders
- High levels of chronic stress or exposure to multiple stressors
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