Trauma affects people differently, and some cope by dissociating — disconnecting from distressing experiences. Dissociative disorders disrupt memory, identity, emotions, and perception, often making daily life and relationships challenging.
At Otter House Wellness, we provide specialized treatment to help people with dissociative disorders regain control, rebuild their lives, and work toward meaningful recovery.
About Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative disorders are mental health disorders that affect 1% to 5% of the global population, often arising from severe trauma or stress in childhood. Adult trauma, such as wars or natural disasters, can also contribute.
At Otter House Wellness, our specialists use trauma-informed approaches to provide effective treatment. We make sure our clients feel seen, heard, and supported throughout their recovery journey.
Key Facts on Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative disorders are complex and often misunderstood. These key facts highlight their prevalence, causes, and challenges:
- 12%–13.8% of psychiatric patients have dissociative disorders.
- Women are more likely to be diagnosed with dissociative disorders than men.
- Around 90% of those who develop dissociative disorders have been victims of child abuse and neglect.
- Dissociative disorders often co-occur with depression, anxiety, substance use disorders (SUDs), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Mental health professionals often misdiagnose people with dissociative disorders as having schizophrenia (with voices mistaken as psychosis) or borderline personality disorders.
What Causes Dissociative Disorders to Form?
Dissociative disorders, like other mental health conditions, result from a combination of risk factors. These factors interact in complex ways and people who have experienced traumatic events may be even more vulnerable.
Risk factors for developing a dissociative disorder include:
- Severe trauma or abuse: Childhood physical, emotional, or sexual abuse often fragments memories, leading to dissociation.
- Chronic stress or neglect: Long-term exposure to stress or neglect disrupts a person’s coping mechanisms and emotional regulation.
- Natural disasters or war: Experiencing catastrophic events like disasters or war can lead to dissociation as a psychological escape.
- Genetic and biological vulnerability: A family history of mental health conditions may make some people more likely to develop dissociative disorders.
- Cultural and social influences: Stigma, isolation, or lack of social support can prompt symptoms.
Symptoms of Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative disorders cause a wide range of symptoms that make life difficult, strain relationships, and impact your personal well-being. These disorders manifest differently depending on the subtype.
Symptoms common among the disorders include:
- Memory loss, including forgetting personal information or traumatic events
- Feeling detached from reality or yourself
- Difficulty maintaining a consistent sense of identity
- Emotional numbness or a lack of connection to surroundings
- Persistent confusion or disorientation
Types of Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative disorders fall into three main categories, each with distinct characteristics:
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Previously known as multiple personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder (DID) is characterized by the presence of two or more different identities or personality states, often referred to as “alters.”
These distinct identities may differ in age, gender, preferences, and mannerisms and may take turns controlling the individual’s behavior. People with DID often experience disruptions in their sense of self, memory, and reality.
DID affects approximately 1.5% of the population and is strongly associated with severe, repeated childhood trauma or abuse. The disorder is thought to develop as a coping mechanism to manage overwhelming distress by compartmentalizing memories and emotions into separate identities.
Key symptoms include:
- Memory gaps
- Sudden changes in behavior
- Uncertainty about one’s identity
Dissociative Amnesia
Dissociative amnesia makes it difficult for the person to recall important personal information, often related to traumatic experiences. This memory loss goes beyond typical forgetfulness and can vary in scope, from a specific event to large parts of the person’s life or identity.
In some cases, dissociative amnesia may include episodes of dissociative fugue, where the person travels or wanders without memory of how they arrived at a particular location. These episodes can last for hours, days, or even longer, depending on the severity of the condition.
Common symptoms include:
- Inability to recall personal details or events
- Forgetting entire periods of time
- Dissociative fugue
Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
Depersonalization/derealization disorder leads to persistent feelings of detachment, either from yourself (depersonalization) or the surrounding environment (derealization).
People with this disorder often describe these experiences as feeling like an outside observer of their own life, or as though the world around them is unreal or distorted.
These sensations can be fleeting or chronic and may get worse during times of stress, trauma, or fatigue.
Symptoms include:
- Feeling a disconnection from your body or emotions
- Perceiving the world as dreamlike or unreal
- Episodes often triggered by stress or fatigue
Complications of Untreated Dissociative Disorders
Untreated dissociative disorders can lead to a number of complications that greatly impact a person’s mental and physical health, as well as their daily functioning.
Potential complications include:
- Mental health issues: People with dissociative disorders may develop additional mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, eating disorders, and personality disorders.
- Sleep disorders: Problems like nightmares, insomnia, and sleepwalking are common among those with dissociative disorders.
- Substance use issues: There is an increased risk of developing problems related to alcohol and drug use.
- Self-injury and suicidal behavior: People with dissociative disorders are at a higher risk of engaging in self-harm or having suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
- Physical symptoms: Some may experience physical issues such as lightheadedness or medical conditions like non-epileptic seizures.
- Sexual function problems: People may experience problems with performance, sex drive, or desire.
- Relationship issues: Significant problems in personal relationships, at school, and at work are common due to how the disorder causes a person to act.
- Impaired daily functioning: Memory gaps, confusion, and identity disruptions can affect a person’s ability to work, study, or carry out daily tasks.
Dissociative Disorder Treatment at Otter House Wellness
Otter House Wellness offers specialized treatment designed to help our clients regain a sense of control over their lives, manage symptoms, and find emotional stability.
Outpatient Treatment Programs
Outpatient programs at Otter House Wellness offer an alternative to inpatient care. Our programs provide intensive support while allowing our clients to live at home and maintain personal responsibilities.
These programs are tailored to different levels of care to meet individual needs:
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): PHP provides structured, full-day care for clients needing intensive support. Our health care providers ensure a coordinated and effective treatment approach. Combining evidence-based therapies and mindfulness practices, PHP is ideal for those transitioning from residential care who need a highly supportive environment.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): IOP offers flexible, part-time care, allowing our clients to balance recovery with work, school, or family obligations. It includes group and individual therapies focusing on coping strategies and emotional regulation.
- Outpatient Programs: These programs provide less-intensive support for clients in the later stages of recovery. Weekly sessions help maintain progress, address triggers, and strengthen long-term recovery strategies.
Talk Therapy
Otter House Wellness offers a range of talk therapy options to address dissociative disorders, each tailored to support emotional healing and behavioral changes:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Teaches clients how to identify and replace harmful thought patterns with healthier alternatives.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Helps clients improve interpersonal relationships and learn emotional regulation strategies.
- Individual therapy: One-on-one sessions provide a safe space to explore personal challenges and recovery goals.
- Motivational interviewing: Enhances clients’ motivation to embrace and sustain recovery.
- Family therapy: Involves family members and loved ones in the healing process to rebuild trust and foster support.
- Group therapy: Builds peer connections, offering shared insights and mutual encouragement.
- Alternative therapies: Includes art therapy, music therapy, mindfulness, meditation, and yoga to promote holistic healing.
Medication Management
Medication management allows us to monitor medication use. The idea is to avoid unwanted or harmful side effects, to ensure medications are working effectively, to make sure you get the right dose, and more.
Commonly prescribed medications for dissociative disorders include antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers, which address symptoms like anxiety, depression, and mood instability.
Our clinicians ensure that every aspect of your treatment aligns with your needs and recovery goals.
Regain Control with Dissociative Disorder Treatment
Dissociative disorders can make you feel disconnected from your identity, memories, and daily life, leaving you detached and isolated.
Through comprehensive treatment, Otter House Wellness helps our clients regain control, rebuild their sense of self, and find emotional stability.
Take the first step in managing your mental health. Contact Otter House Wellness today to learn how our specialized programs can help you reclaim your life.
