Posted by Pfinstegg on February 13, 2005, at 9:23:40
In reply to Re: :-) » Pfinstegg, posted by Dinah on February 13, 2005, at 2:28:28
I thought Alexandra gave an excellent overview of dissociative disorders on a gradient from minimal to severe. I'm sure she's right that it's a coping mechanism for ANY kind of trauma- neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse as well as sexual abuse. If any of those causes overwhelming distress, the response could be to dissociate- leaving a younger part of ourselves to bear the fear and sadness, so that an older part can go out in the world with enough confidence to do well. I am so astounded to be just now remembering sexual abuse that occurred when I was six that I think I over-emphasize that as a necessary causative factor. I guess the best way to look at dissociation is as a generalized brain response to overwhelming stress suffered by a child, adolescent, or adult (war veterans).
If you are beginning to suspect that you do dissociate, are you getting a helpful response from your T? I 've found that the T needs to be confident in his own mind that you have it, in order to deal with with the adult part which keeps saying, "never! Of course not!" as well as the child part, which keeps remembering and forgetting, then remembering again.
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:456369
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050211/msgs/457102.html