“I went to the doctor today. I mentioned that I have out-of-body experiences and have had them since I was ten. Now, on top of bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, she thinks I have dissociative issues. I have gone to her three times and I now have three diagnoses. How can she say that? Do they just look for things to diagnosis you with?” vents StolenChild, a member of our forums. Another member of our forums responded with excellent information regarding dissociative disorders.
Another member of our forums responded with excellent information regarding dissociative disorders. Nanajly answers, “This is what the DSM-IV-TR says,
- The essential feature of the Dissociative Disorders is a disruption in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. The disturbance may be sudden or gradual, transient or chronic. The disorders are:
- Dissociative Amnesia (formerly known as Psychogenic Amnesia)
- Dissociative Fugue
- Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder)
- Depersonalization Disorder
- Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (NOS)
“The term dissociative disorder is generally used when the client or patient has symptoms for the disorder, but does not meet the criteria for a specific disorder. So, that is why it is stated as "just" Dissociative Disorder.
“Dissociations are experiences with which many people have suffered. It could be the out-of-body experience someone with bipolar disorder feels when she (or he) goes on a rage or she is in a deep depression, or what a person with post traumatic stress disorder feels when she sees something that causes a flashback. These experiences are not anything to worry about unless they affect your ability to function or cause severe distress to the person experiencing them.
“As for dissociative disorder, depersonalization disorder, and dissociative identity disorder, there is quite a distance between these three.
“From what I have been taught, stating a person has dissociative disorder is stating that a person has some of the symptoms, but not enough to give a specific ‘label.’ It says the person suffers from some of the symptoms, but she doesn’t meet all the criteria to be listed with one specific form over another. Further, she may never have the final, major symptoms, and it will all ‘go away’ after the trauma, stress, or whatever it is setting off the problem is finished.
“Dissociative identity disorder is what was previously termed multiple personality disorder, and it is a severe condition. The person will have at least one (usually 3-5) other personalities. She will lose control of herself and become another person, and, in most cases, she will never remember what the other personalities have done. The movie Identity shows a good example of a person with severe, dangerous DID.
“As for depersonalization, according to my DSM, it is a feeling as if you are out of your body, detached from yourself. You may have no control of yourself. It is commonly associated with panic and stress disorders and is ‘caused’ by a severe stressful or traumatic event.
“Many disorders sound frightening, but they do not have to be. They come from an experience in life that is stressful - divorce, moving, death of a loved one, promotion or not getting a promotion, being diagnosed with another disorder and confused by it all. This has happened to most of us when we found out we had bipolar disorder or some other condition. It doesn't mean that we are more ‘warped,’ just that the stress is getting to us (no joke or surprise there!). Learning stress management techniques or behavior modification helps a lot."
