Dissociation

Dissociation is a break in how one’s mind handles information, causing individuals to feel disconnected from their own thoughts, feelings, memories, and surroundings. Symptoms usually resolve on their own—over hours/days/weeks. Experiences range from mild emotional detachment from immediate surroundings to more severe disconnection from physical and emotional experiences. Dissociative phenomena are being detached from reality,  rather than a false perception of reality as in psychosis. The cause may be related to neurobiological mechanisms, trauma, anxiety, and psychoactive drugs. Research has further related it to suggestibility and hypnosis. Dissociation requires treatment. It’s linked to acute stress disorder, borderline personality disorder (BPD), mood disorders (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and eating disorders. Also see Depersonalization