The Truth About Dissociation And Trauma

It can be helpful to think of dissociation as a continuum. At one end there are dissociative experiences such as daydreaming and at the other end you are completely disconnected from reality, your body and even your identity. In this video I will explain what is dissociation and how it can be caused by trauma. And watch until the end of this video as I’ll share an exercise that you can use with clients to help them feel more embodied.

🔵 CHAPTERS

0:00 Dissociation as a continuum
0:33 Example of dissociation
1:10 Trauma, dissociation and the body
3:21 The window of tolerance
5:30 Container exercise

🔵 DISSOCIATION AND TRAUMA

Let’s look at an example of dissociation, Jane has battled a binge eating disorder since she was a child. Growing up she suffered physical and emotional neglect. Food was her only source of comfort but childhood obesity only increased her level of isolation. Her self-loathing and loneliness are a constant re-experience of the neglect she experienced as a child. If Jane experiences the slightest stress she will go home and eat anything she can get her hands, during these binges she dissociates.

There is a very strong link between trauma and dissociation. Ongoing trauma and childhood physical, sexual, or emotional abuse are significant risk factors for the development of dissociative disorders. In fact trauma is thought to be the root cause of at least 90% of people who dissociate. Trauma-related dissociation is a form of mental escape when physical escape is not possible. For example Gina was sexually abused as a child and remembers the trauma fully and factually but doesn’t feel any emotion. When talking about the abuse she talks in a flat, monotone and unemotional manner. This is another form of dissociation. Although Gina may appear to have little to no emotion, in reality the trauma is expressed in her body, which is known as somatisation. Gina’s body continues to respond to the trauma even thought her mind blocks the emotion. She experiences gastrointestinal issues, insomnia and deep musculoskeletal pain. Gina’s body learned that she could not defend herself, during the abuse she couldn’t escape from the man that was holding her down, her body wanted to get out of there but was trapped. So what happened was this energy became locked into her nervous system and is still there in a latent form manifesting as physical symptoms. Dissociation is when you fragment your experiences in order to lessen the impact on the self.

🔵 WORK WITH LEWIS PSYCHOLOGY

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🔵 ABOUT TERESA LEWIS

Teresa Lewis is the founder and Director of Lewis Psychology and a Senior Accredited psychotherapist with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP Snr. Accred). Qualified in 1995, Teresa has been providing counselling and psychotherapy treatment for nearly 30 years. Teresa holds a masters degree in counselling and psychotherapy and is a qualified EMDR Practitioner having completed training accredited with EMDR Europe. Teresa is also a qualified adult educator and an accredited Mindfulness teacher As a recognised expert in her field Teresa is frequently asked to conduct editorial reviews and endorse counselling and psychotherapy books for international publishing houses.

🔵 GRAPHICS AND THUMBNAIL

#LewisPsychology

[nekosmentalspace]

This is so me. When I talk about my trauma, especially CSA trauma, I talk about it as if I'm talking about a movie or documentary that happens to have me as the main role. I have no emotions when talking about the events. I can sometimes feel tears escaping my eyes, zone out or feel some kind of physical pain, but I don't feel the emotions.

[Meowthmeow]

I just got diagnosed with childhood dissociation and this makes so much sense

[lisacouture]

This was probably one of the clearest explanation of what I’ve experienced! So clear it brought me some peace cause it’s so scary.

[avihalberthal]

As a counselling student, i am so glad i found your channel, it's so informative and yet pleasant and reassuring. Thank you

[divatalk]

This is so well put.
I went through a very traumatic adolescence and I talk about it like I’m David Attenborough talking about a lion, it’s completely detached from my body.

[spctvl]

Thank you for including daydreaming on that spectrum, I have ADHD and C-PTSD and dissociations either way can be exhausting, the time blindness and "coming back" feelings are the worst, but my therapist uses similar grounding techniques you explained here. Thank you for this!

[cappokenneth]

I suffered as a child I don't know when it started but checking my medical records I was diagnosed with Schizophrenia in 1961 when I was 11 years old, this proved to be a miss diagnosis, I found whole days with no memory, I would go to bed and wake up the next morning only to find a day or two had gone by and sometimes 4 or 5 days, I would have no memory of anything that had happened during this time, I had no idea what I had done, it was a total blank, words can't describe the fear of things I could have done, I made arrangements and appointments without any knowledge and never turned up, I would go to work to find the job I was working on was finished and I had no idea what I was meant to be doing, I was fired a couple of times for things I knew nothing about, it gradually got less and less as the years went by and stopped when I was about 25, I'm 72 now and still have a fear of it starting up again, I was never diagnosed, there was very little information back then in the 50s and 60s, so I just learned to live with it... Ken

[weightlossandwellness]

After losing a lot of weight (because I turned to food for comfort due to childhood trauma) I am working through trauma and what I always called my "unreal feeling" (dissociation). Your videos are helpful!

[aysekahraman]

This is great. You are very articulate and can explain difficult concepts easily. I will be using this tool with my clients.

[SSS-lyel]

So sad...I used to watch Coco because he looks like my cat & I can't keep him with me. At least you did all you could for him & made his life enjoyable & comfortable & he won't be suffering no more ❤

[ShintogaDeathAngel]

One of the scariest ways I (apparently) dissociate is suddenly (mostly temporarily, however) losing interest in people I've been getting closer to, or want to be closer to. I can really like them and be 'into' them (platonically, or romantically, but romantic is worse) then suddenly there's little to no interest.
This can happen whether the interest on their part is mutual or not (and also happens with hobbies - I can have done something and derived pleasure from it for years, or start something new and be intensely interested for a while then I'll suddenly go cold towards it and can't get away from it fast enough. Last time it happened was after a martial arts session - I carried on for a few weeks after that, but it was physically painful forcing myself through the sessions).
There never seems to be an actual trigger. I'm always left wondering what happened!

I've started to dislike trying new hobbies as a result, and it makes me a little iffy about meeting new people, especially men who could potentially become romantic partners, though it isn't going to stop me trying to build connections.
I daydream and fantasise a lot, too, which is relatively harmless in comparison to the above, still not great but at least it's not something I risk having to explain to another person.

[andreabroomfiled]

Thank you for this wonderfully clear explanation. I love the container exercise and will definitely be using this ☺️🙏.

[kimberlytrent]

Thank you for your videos. They are so clear and easy to understand. Thank you.

[NKRAIEM]

Very helpful. How damaging can dissociation be ? I feel I got robbed of being myself for 52 years of life.. pls explain bc this is a very intense realization.

[goddessvibes]

I haven't experienced any trauma, trauma is a strong word. Yet, I experience dissociation practically every day it's almost like my default state. But no trauma, just stress from experiencing sensory overload from the constant noise, stong smells, and ugly artificial lights. Being bombarded with advertisements and instructions like we can't think for ourselves.

[summerdodson]

I'm not diagnosed but I definitely have it 😞

[mischievousmuffin]

I have Amerihealth insurance. Stupid question but do you accept that? Id like to become a client if possible. You seem to have a firm grasp on this discipline. Great videos

[carolemichell]

Hello, I appreciate very much your videos. Could you recomend me a link to some articles in the UK about trauma and sexual abuse treated with CFT ? I am a chilean psychologist formed in CFT and ACT therapies. I am working with several clients who suffered from this in their childhood. Thank you!

[amay]

Is there a way to reactivate your pre-frontal cortex? I have been psychologically traumatised because I was gaslighted and I think staying in my current call centre job is not healthy for me because I feel disconnected from my former self. I have trouble confidence issues. How do I reconnect with myself with my emotions?

[trogdortheburninator]

When i was a kid being physically abused i would hard disassociate. Like it was happening there, but my conscience is here. In my adult life i disassociate when theres mad messes around me, the trama excepts a metal bar smacked against my person, and my conscience mind floats off to elsewhere. Eventually i clean up but expect something to happen while im unaware.