Whether you're dissociating or experiencing something else depends on your specific feelings, but common signs of dissociation include feeling detached from your body/emotions, memory gaps, feeling unreal (derealization/depersonalization), and zoning out, often as a coping mechanism for stress or trauma, though conditions like ADHD or severe anxiety can mimic these symptoms, so a professional diagnosis is key for persistent issues.
Mental illnesses such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder may cause similar symptoms to a dissociative disorder. The effects of certain substances, including some recreational drugs and prescription medications, can mimic symptoms.
Feeling like you're in a dream, disconnected from your body or emotions (depersonalization/derealization), experiencing memory gaps, feeling numb, or having flashbacks are common signs of dissociation, a coping mechanism for stress or trauma, but it can range from everyday zoning out to more severe disorders. If these feelings are intense, persistent, or significantly disrupt your life, it's important to see a doctor or mental health professional for proper assessment and diagnosis.
Dissociative disorders usually start as a way to cope with shocking, distressing or painful events. The disorders most often form in children who go through long-term physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
With regular practice, you'll feel more prepared to handle episodes of dissociation and reclaim your sense of stability.
This kind of mild spacing out is normal – especially during times of stress or change. But if you regularly feel disconnected from your thoughts, emotions, or even your body, it could be something more serious: dissociation.
A person dissociating might have trouble conversating with another person or listening to the person while they talk. However, a person who is dissociating can still interact with other people and hold a conversation. Sometimes, they might just appear spaced out.
Signs of childhood trauma
Dissociation is a way some people cope with emotional distress or past trauma. It isn't directly caused by autism, but it can happen because of the unique challenges faced by those on the autism spectrum. Dissociation can make someone feel disconnected from their sense of identity, emotions, or their environment.
A person may experience depersonalization, derealization or both. Symptoms can last just a matter of moments or return at times over the years. The average onset age is 16, although depersonalization episodes can start anywhere from early to mid childhood.
Passing feelings of depersonalization or derealization are common and are not always a cause for concern. But ongoing or serious feelings of detachment and distortion of your surroundings can be a sign of depersonalization-derealization disorder or another physical or mental health condition.
Dissociation can feel frightening because it often involves feeling detached from your body, thoughts, or surroundings. This can be sudden and unsettling, making it hard to feel in control. But it's important to remember that support is out there.
An outsider witnessing a PTSD flashback might observe a variety of signs. Depending on the severity and nature of the flashback, some common indicators may include: Physical signs: Increased heart rate, sweating, rapid breathing, trembling, glazed eyes, dilated pupils, pale or flushed skin.
The most commonly diagnosed personality disorders are borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. Another personality disorder that primary care practitioners sometimes find difficult to diagnose and treat is narcissistic personality disorder.
You might experience dissociation as a symptom of a mental health problem, for example post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder.
Individuals with these symptoms of dissociation feel like their surroundings are unreal. It might seem foggy or dreamlike, as if they're looking at it through a veil. Objects and people around them might look distorted, such as being colorless or flat.
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
ADHD can make people not pay attention, act on impulse, or be too active, while disconnection can make people feel disconnected from reality or themselves. By doing detailed tests and exams, a psychiatrist can tell the difference between ADHD and anxiety or trauma-related disorders that look like dissociation.
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.
The "8 childhood traumas" often refer to common Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) from the CDC, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, household substance abuse, a household member with mental illness, and parental separation/divorce, though these can be expanded to include things like violence, discrimination, or sudden loss, which profoundly impact a child's development and well-being. These experiences, especially repeated ones (complex trauma), disrupt a child's sense of safety, leading to issues with trust, emotional regulation, and relationships, often manifesting as anxiety, depression, or attachment problems in adulthood.
The 10 ACEs of childhood trauma are:
Symptoms of childhood trauma that can be mistaken for ADHD include: Inattention. Inability to focus. Impulsivity due to acute stress.
Key Signs a Client is Dissociating in Therapy. Emotional Numbness: One of the foremost indicators is when clients become emotionally detached. This is not a mere distraction; they might feel as if they're observing themselves from afar. It's as if their feelings have been muted or switched off.
Intellectualizing is the habit of staying in the realm of thought as a way to avoid emotions. It's a defense mechanism—a form of dissociation that keeps us at a safe distance from feelings that may be overwhelming, painful, or even just unfamiliar.
In trauma splitting, you may find that your feelings are constantly shifting or feel that you are on the verge of spiraling out of control. Such a reaction is often more than just a mood shift. You may feel that you can go from being 'normal' one minute to feeling and acting like a completely different person the next.