Ambulance 912HAP 9252
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Dissociative disorder

In dissociation, the connection between thoughts, feelings, memories, the body, identity or surroundings feels temporarily disrupted. This can be a human response to being overwhelmed, but recurring severe difficulties may indicate a dissociative disorder. Professional assessment matters because physical, neurological, sleep-related and substance-related causes can produce similar symptoms.

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  • Dissociation means that parts of experience normally connected temporarily feel separated: consciousness, memory, perception, the body, emotion or identity.
  • Brief everyday absorption is normal. A disorder is considered only for clear, recurring disruption or limitations and after appropriate assessment.
  • Trauma may be an important background factor, but not everyone with dissociation has the same history and not every trauma response is dissociative.
  • Treatment usually starts with safety, explanation, emotional regulation skills and stability. Trauma processing is careful and never pressured.
  • Immediate danger, serious injury, unconsciousness or a seizure requires acute help; for a life-threatening situation, call Ambulance 912.

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Further reading

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G
GriefGrief is a personal response to loss, with no required stages or fixed end date. Sadness, anger, guilt, relief and physical symptoms may come and go. Severe difficulty coping, psychosis, substance misuse or suicidal thoughts calls for professional help.
F
ForgetfulnessForgetting things easily can relate to stress, lack of sleep, mood, medicines or physical illness, but sometimes to a memory disorder. Sudden confusion is different and needs prompt assessment.
S
StressStress is a normal physical response to demands. Prolonged tension without recovery can disrupt sleep, mood, the body and functioning. Management addresses both the sources and recovery.