~ Dissociation ~
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Dissociation (pronounced DIS-SOCIATION, there is no "a" after the "s" and before the "o") is both a disorder and, separately, a mechanism or process whereby parts of the brain are temporarily hijacked by an immediate alteration in neurochemistry. Dissociation occurs in the face of sudden and overwhelming psychological trauma in order to prevent the distortion and painful recognition of traumatic experiencing from taking place. Dissociation, especially when occurring for the first time, is a protective measure that is initially highly adaptive to the human psyche, but with continuation, prevents the integration of traumatic materials necessary for healthy functioning.
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Dissociation is defined as a constellation of symptoms that in sum, result in the alteration of memory, cognition, somatic sensation, distortions of time and place, and feelings of depersonalization and derealization. While dissociation as a process is initially protective, unfortunately, the altered brain becomes instantaneously hardwired to react to all stressors of extreme magnitude in much the same way as it did during the initial trauma. When dissociation occurs, a sort of temporary splitting off from the reality of the situation occurs. It is important to understand that dissociation is not in any way related to psychosis. People who are in the throes of a dissociative episode are very much aware of their surroundings yet at the same time tuned out to the emotionally painful specifics of the traumatic event as it is happening. Once the event is past, the brain returns to a normal non-dissociative state of functioning.
If you have ever experienced, or have witnessed someone else that has experienced a severe motor vehicle accident, for example, that left them conscious, what you would likely see (or feel, if you yourself was the victim) is that characteristic deer-in-the-headlight look. They appear at once to be operating in a type of slow-motion time warp, while able to see and hear everything around them, but experiencing things in a fuzzy manner that is often described as surreal.
Dissociation is a byproduct of the mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic systems that are commonly known to involve the reward system that is associated with feelings of euphoria, which often act in tandem with the endogenous opioids that mediate sensory processing such as, and especially, pain. A structure called the thalamus that sits atop the brain stem, in the back of the neocortex, and the networks associated with this brain structure play a pivotal role in eliciting dissociative states by effecting the access to sensory information being relayed to the other brain structures such as the hippocampus and amygdala. When this area is triggered during a traumatic event, it produces sensory distortions such as described above. It is not surprising given that this region of the brain is implicated in the modulation of sensory stimuli in non-dissociative dream states. Should a dissociative episode continually occur during future times of extreme stress, the process of dissociation then rises to the level of a dissociative disorder. Those that suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also suffer from dissociation.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a dissociative disorder and/or you would like more information, please contact Dr Ullman.
Please be mindful when using the information presented on this website when used to diagnose self or other by clicking HERE to read the important caveat.
If you have ever experienced, or have witnessed someone else that has experienced a severe motor vehicle accident, for example, that left them conscious, what you would likely see (or feel, if you yourself was the victim) is that characteristic deer-in-the-headlight look. They appear at once to be operating in a type of slow-motion time warp, while able to see and hear everything around them, but experiencing things in a fuzzy manner that is often described as surreal.
Dissociation is a byproduct of the mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic systems that are commonly known to involve the reward system that is associated with feelings of euphoria, which often act in tandem with the endogenous opioids that mediate sensory processing such as, and especially, pain. A structure called the thalamus that sits atop the brain stem, in the back of the neocortex, and the networks associated with this brain structure play a pivotal role in eliciting dissociative states by effecting the access to sensory information being relayed to the other brain structures such as the hippocampus and amygdala. When this area is triggered during a traumatic event, it produces sensory distortions such as described above. It is not surprising given that this region of the brain is implicated in the modulation of sensory stimuli in non-dissociative dream states. Should a dissociative episode continually occur during future times of extreme stress, the process of dissociation then rises to the level of a dissociative disorder. Those that suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also suffer from dissociation.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a dissociative disorder and/or you would like more information, please contact Dr Ullman.
Please be mindful when using the information presented on this website when used to diagnose self or other by clicking HERE to read the important caveat.