Posted by Dinah on July 29, 2009, at 15:41:32
In reply to Dissociate, posted by emilyp on July 28, 2009, at 21:51:07
Dissociation happens along a continuum. The mildest form is when you drive home without really paying any attention. You might not be able to remember anything at all of the trip home, but suddenly you're there.
Have you ever been in an accident or had a traumatic experience? Sometimes people who have been through something traumatic feel like everything is dreamlike. They might respond to questions, arrange for what needs to be done, and yet later not remember anything at all about that time. They appear normal, but they're totally checked out. It's a pretty normal experience.
If someone experiences long term trauma, or if they have a talent for that form of defense, it can happen more and more frequently, or since it's not under conscious control, at inconvenient times. If it gets to be a problem with a person's functioning, it is considered a disorder.
Furthest along the spectrum would be DID or MPD.
poster:Dinah
thread:909090
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090706/msgs/909182.html