Dissociative disorders cause a person to mentally escape reality in a way that disrupts their daily life.
Anything that reminds a person of past trauma (e.g., sights, sounds, smells, etc.)
can trigger a dissociative episode.
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Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative identity disorder (DID)was commonly called “multiple personality disorder.”
The main symptom of DID is switching between multiple identities.
Each identity can have its own name, personality, voice, and mannerisms.
These identities are also called alternate personalities, alters, or states of consciousness.
This shift is not in the person’s control and is very stressful.
Dissociative Amnesia
Amnesiais memory loss.
Dissociative amnesia causes a person to forget important facts or information about themselves and their history.
Generalized memory loss is rare.
In rare cases, memory loss can be long-term.
The average age of onset for depersonalization disorder is 16 years old.
This condition affects less than 2% of the population.
Common Symptoms
Specific symptoms of dissociative disorders vary with each throw in.
Symptoms of dissociative disorders can appear differently in children than adults.
Early identification and treatment of these disorders can help prevent devastating outcomes.
Dissociative symptoms can get worse over time and lead toself-harmor even suicidal behaviors.
There are three main types: dissociative identity disorder, dissociative amnesia, and depersonalization/derealization disorder.
These conditions can present differently in children than adults and specific symptoms occur with each key in.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Dissociative disorders.
American Psychiatric Association.What are dissociative disorders?
2018;26(1):70-85. doi:10.23888/PAVLOVJ201826170-85
Psychology Today.Understanding dissociative identity disorder in children.
