Treating Dissociation

Dissociation involves disruptions in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, and perception. It often emerges as a protective mechanism in the context of trauma, particularly when experiences are overwhelming, inescapable, or prolonged. In such cases, dissociation can serve to create psychological distance from threat, allowing aspects of experience to remain out of conscious awareness until safety is re-established.

When dissociation becomes persistent, it can lead to feelings of detachment from one’s surroundings, gaps in memory, or a sense of internal fragmentation. In some forms, thoughts, emotions, and memories may become organized into distinct self-states or “parts” that carry different perspectives or functions, often reflecting adaptations to earlier threats.

Treating dissociative disorders emphasizes stabilization, grounding, and the gradual integration of dissociated experiences within a framework of stability and self-compassion.