Symptoms and signs of dissociative disorders depend on the type and severity, but may include:
- feeling disconnected from yourself
- problems with handling intense emotions
- sudden and unexpected shifts in mood – for example, feeling very sad for no reason
- depression or anxiety problems, or both
- feeling as though the world is distorted or not real (called ‘derealisation’)
- memory problems that aren’t linked to physical injury or medical conditions
- other cognitive (thought-related) problems such as concentration problems
- significant memory lapses such as forgetting important personal information
- feeling compelled to behave in a certain way
- identity confusion – for example, behaving in a way that the person would normally find offensive or abhorrent
When should I see a health professional?
In most cases, the dissociation resolves without the need for treatment. Some people, however, develop a dissociative disorder that requires treatment. Dissociative disorders are complex problems that need specific diagnosis, treatment and support.
