The loss cannot be attributed to substance abuse, head trauma or cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s.ī) Dissociative identity disorder (DID) formally known as multiple personality disorder, is characterised by the existence of two or more distinct identities, with at least two of these identities taking control over the person’s behaviour.
DISSOCIATIVE AMNESIA STATISTICS MANUAL
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) identifies four (4) categories of dissociative disorders and one for atypical dissociative disorders – dissociative amnesia (DA), dissociative identity disorder (DID), dissociative fugue, depersonalisation disorder and dissociative disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS).Ī) Dissociative amnesia (DA) is characterised by an inability to recall personal information that is more extensive than simple forgetfulness. Children that learn to dissociate early in life and on a continual basis may utilise this coping mechanism in response to other stressful situations in their life whilst adults may develop dissociative disorders in response to severe trauma such as the experience of war, natural disasters, kidnapping, torture and invasive medical procedures (Mayo, 2009). Personal identity is still developing during childhood so a child is more adept at stepping outside themselves or dissociate from what is happening. Haddock (2001) describes this as dysfunctional dissociation and it is active when “an individual is not aware of or able to control dissociative responses the responses occur in inappropriate situations and the intensity and duration of the dissociation is disruptive to life” (p2).ĭissociative disorders are now acknowledged as fairly common effects of severe trauma in early childhood, most typically extreme and repeated physical, emotional and sexual abuse. It is more pervasive than a mere lapse in attention, as when daydreaming. These memories are not erased but rather buried and may resurface at a later time.Ī dissociative disorder involves a disturbance of “the normally integrated mental processes involved in memory, consciousness, identify and perception” (Ottmanns & Emery, 2010, p196). It is a mechanism that allows the mind to separate or compartmentalise certain memories or thoughts from normal consciousness. When faced with a threat and the inability to protect ourselves, the nervous system automatically switches into dissociative mode. It is a natural bodily response to life threatening situations or trauma. In a therapeutic sense, dissociation is a common defence or reaction to a traumatic situation (Steinberg, 2008). This is a very basic understanding of the concept however does explain the basic element of removal from self that underlies an awareness of dissociation.
DISSOCIATIVE AMNESIA STATISTICS MOVIE
There are times when many of us have experienced the sensation of being away from ourselves – so engaged in a book or movie that we lose track of time, or driving somewhere and having no memory of the journey. There are few constructs in psychology that are as misunderstood as those relating to dissociation. Perhaps we have co-tenants in this house we live in.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes “It is by no means certain that our individual personality is the single inhabitant of these our corporeal frames…We all do things both awake and asleep which surprise us.
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