whats the difference between dissociating frequently and having a dissociation disorder?
Is the diagnosis important to support integration of the self and parts??
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Hi Emerald,
That's a good question and although I am no authority on it, from what I understand dissociation is a continuum. It starts at a level that we all do a little of like driving down a familar route and not remember how you got from point A to point B while you allow your mind to drift into your thoughts rather than paying close attention to your driving. I think Shrinklady mentioned it is also when we get lost in a good book or engrossed in a movie that we sort of lose awareness of our surroundings and time. Everybody does this on occasion.
When we dissociate as a result of trauma that usually classifies as a disorder and can be acute or chronic. As a continuum it can slide down the scale and become a little more complex the further it goes. When it can be said to be a disorder seems like it is when it is causing interference in your life which can also vary in certain degrees. When it is uncontrollable and disrupts your life it is probably a disorder and frequency may play a part in that as well.
I'm not sure if you were looking for such a simplistic answer to your question. You may have been aware of this longer than I and probably know much more than I do on the subject. Right now I am containing my desire to learn too much about this until my T determines where I fit into the continuum. You can only imagine how difficult this is for an information junkie (Yes HB you're not the only one)to resist researching something that personally affects them.
As for the importance of a diagnosis I think that is important in regards to determining the best treatment plans and to help with support and integration, but it should not be our primary focus. We had an intersting discussion on diagnosis. I don't know if you seen that:do you think having a diagnosis is good...
I don't know if any of this helps, but whatever we learn here is only a supplement to our therapy. So trust in whatever your T (T's) believe is best for you.
JM
That's a good question and although I am no authority on it, from what I understand dissociation is a continuum. It starts at a level that we all do a little of like driving down a familar route and not remember how you got from point A to point B while you allow your mind to drift into your thoughts rather than paying close attention to your driving. I think Shrinklady mentioned it is also when we get lost in a good book or engrossed in a movie that we sort of lose awareness of our surroundings and time. Everybody does this on occasion.
When we dissociate as a result of trauma that usually classifies as a disorder and can be acute or chronic. As a continuum it can slide down the scale and become a little more complex the further it goes. When it can be said to be a disorder seems like it is when it is causing interference in your life which can also vary in certain degrees. When it is uncontrollable and disrupts your life it is probably a disorder and frequency may play a part in that as well.
I'm not sure if you were looking for such a simplistic answer to your question. You may have been aware of this longer than I and probably know much more than I do on the subject. Right now I am containing my desire to learn too much about this until my T determines where I fit into the continuum. You can only imagine how difficult this is for an information junkie (Yes HB you're not the only one)to resist researching something that personally affects them.
As for the importance of a diagnosis I think that is important in regards to determining the best treatment plans and to help with support and integration, but it should not be our primary focus. We had an intersting discussion on diagnosis. I don't know if you seen that:do you think having a diagnosis is good...
I don't know if any of this helps, but whatever we learn here is only a supplement to our therapy. So trust in whatever your T (T's) believe is best for you.
JM
Hi emerald...
Just thought I'd add a nickel here...2 cents is just not enough these days.
First...anyone who sees a T, has a diagnosis. They have to write something down
My primary care physician even has a mental health diagnosis written in my chart. It's not the most accurate one but I had to tell her what my diagnosis was because she had to know...and if she knows...she has to document. We picked one that would not impact me socially but was still a part of the cluster that fit me. She tracks all my meds. She does not write my psych Rx's but because they are listed on my medical record there has to be a reason why. And it is important for ALL your meds to be listed with your primary physician. Land your @$$ in a coma someday and you will know why. *wry grin* BTW...the coma had nothing to do with my mental health...it was a post surgical complication.
ummmm....if you are dissociating frequently then technically you have a dissociative disorder. But there are, as JM said, many types of said disorder.
I think what you need to clarify (and correct me if I'm wrong) has to do with some other terms. Dissociation exists on a spectrum and is not always a disorder. (just echoing JM's post here.)
Check links on detachment...depersonalization, dissociation and dissociative fugue. Dissociation can exist as a symptom in many disorders.
As far as the diagnosis being important? I think that depends on if it is important to you and why you want to know. As JM said...you may just want to know in order to be more informed and know what you are working on.
Most T's will say it is not important. But know that it is important to them whenever they have to fill out any paperwork on you. So...you may want to discuss what diagnostic codes are being used by your T.
I don't know how old you are, but sometimes a label will follow you through your life when it may have nothing to do with the treatment you are requesting. (I am not trying to make you or anyone paranoid about this...I personally have had some negative experiences connected with my labels) So...with that said...I try to minimize labeling and just do the work. But, when I can, I try to have some control over what is being documented.
I personally believe that a diagnosis is much more important to a T than any of them would like to admit. They don't want to be judgmental but it is part of their job. In a way, isn't that what we all seek? Their judgment on whether or not we fit in? Are we normal? Do other people dissociate the way I do? Is dissociation normal?
These are nagging questions for those of us that are dissociative.
When I was diagnosed...and they way they went about it, (which is now considered "old school".) I took tons of tests that ran the gamut of written to physically invasive. I can tell you diagnosis was pretty important to all the Drs. observing. And it was pretty scary for me. I had a lot of trouble coming to terms with it. And yet...my gut knew they were right.
However...I NEEDED to know...I needed to know why I was doing the things I was doing. I wanted a concrete answer. The diagnosis did help me to understand the basis of my problems and gave me a direction to work.
Having a diagnosis is not going to fix the problems. A diagnosis is irrelevant because it is open to interpretation and can change. You still have to do the work and that is what most T's will focus on.
Does that make sense?
If your T is talking about integration of the self and parts. Then you have a diagnosis. You just need to decide if you want to know it. You also may not agree with the diagnosis and that is something you may want to discuss with your T.
SD
Just thought I'd add a nickel here...2 cents is just not enough these days.
First...anyone who sees a T, has a diagnosis. They have to write something down
My primary care physician even has a mental health diagnosis written in my chart. It's not the most accurate one but I had to tell her what my diagnosis was because she had to know...and if she knows...she has to document. We picked one that would not impact me socially but was still a part of the cluster that fit me. She tracks all my meds. She does not write my psych Rx's but because they are listed on my medical record there has to be a reason why. And it is important for ALL your meds to be listed with your primary physician. Land your @$$ in a coma someday and you will know why. *wry grin* BTW...the coma had nothing to do with my mental health...it was a post surgical complication. ummmm....if you are dissociating frequently then technically you have a dissociative disorder. But there are, as JM said, many types of said disorder.
I think what you need to clarify (and correct me if I'm wrong) has to do with some other terms. Dissociation exists on a spectrum and is not always a disorder. (just echoing JM's post here.)
Check links on detachment...depersonalization, dissociation and dissociative fugue. Dissociation can exist as a symptom in many disorders.
As far as the diagnosis being important? I think that depends on if it is important to you and why you want to know. As JM said...you may just want to know in order to be more informed and know what you are working on.
Most T's will say it is not important. But know that it is important to them whenever they have to fill out any paperwork on you. So...you may want to discuss what diagnostic codes are being used by your T.
I don't know how old you are, but sometimes a label will follow you through your life when it may have nothing to do with the treatment you are requesting. (I am not trying to make you or anyone paranoid about this...I personally have had some negative experiences connected with my labels) So...with that said...I try to minimize labeling and just do the work. But, when I can, I try to have some control over what is being documented.
I personally believe that a diagnosis is much more important to a T than any of them would like to admit. They don't want to be judgmental but it is part of their job. In a way, isn't that what we all seek? Their judgment on whether or not we fit in? Are we normal? Do other people dissociate the way I do? Is dissociation normal?
These are nagging questions for those of us that are dissociative.
When I was diagnosed...and they way they went about it, (which is now considered "old school".) I took tons of tests that ran the gamut of written to physically invasive. I can tell you diagnosis was pretty important to all the Drs. observing. And it was pretty scary for me. I had a lot of trouble coming to terms with it. And yet...my gut knew they were right.
However...I NEEDED to know...I needed to know why I was doing the things I was doing. I wanted a concrete answer. The diagnosis did help me to understand the basis of my problems and gave me a direction to work.
Having a diagnosis is not going to fix the problems. A diagnosis is irrelevant because it is open to interpretation and can change. You still have to do the work and that is what most T's will focus on.
Does that make sense?
If your T is talking about integration of the self and parts. Then you have a diagnosis. You just need to decide if you want to know it. You also may not agree with the diagnosis and that is something you may want to discuss with your T.
SD