Definition of Dissociation
The human psyche is a unique phenomenon that helps individuals to survive in different conditions and remain functional. It has some essential characteristics, abilities, and functions, such as a protective one, which is crucial for preserving mental health. In many cases, a person who experienced a serious shock or psychological trauma, especially in childhood, might have either vague memories about it or not remember it at all. It can be viewed as a case of dissociation, a unique phenomenon that is also linked to neglect, traumatic experiences of children, and their development.
Maladaptive Expressions of Dissociation
The enhanced understanding of dissociation requires its definition and analysis. Thus, it can be viewed as a mental process implying disconnecting a person from their feelings, memories, or identity (Boyer et al., 2022). It is also often associated with neglect a child experiences in their early years (Perry & Winfrey, 2021).
Disengagement of the caregiver might trigger the adaptive mechanism, helping a child escape distressing experiences (Perry & Winfrey, 2021). As a result, dissociation, or attempts to avoid thoughts about disturbing aspects of a person’s life, can be observed. However, unlike the events that trigger it, dissociation might have both positive and negative impacts on the individual and their life.
Adaptive Expressions of Dissociation
The positive or adaptive expressions of dissociation are important for everyday functioning. A person can use it daily to stop thinking about the events that require much attention or are difficult to process (Perry & Winfrey, 2021). In this case, it serves as the mechanism that protects an individual’s psyche from the adverse effects of a stressful event or an undesired memory (Boyer et al., 2022). However, it might still indicate the presence of a past traumatizing event that was a severe shock to a person (Boyer et al., 2022). That is why the psyche tries to build barriers to protect an individual and avoid new trauma.
However, some maladaptive expressions of dissociation should also be mentioned. For instance, maladaptive daydreaming may be a dissociative disorder that impacts people’s quality of life (Ross et al., 2020). The term implies refocusing attention from external surroundings to a person’s inner thoughts and feelings (Ross et al., 2020).
In normal situations, daydreaming might be a way to process strong emotions and feelings; however, for traumatized patients, it might lead to the more complex manifestations of their trauma. Maladaptive dissociation might trigger past emotions and fears, leading to irrelevant responses or undesired behaviors (Ross et al., 2020). As a result, a person might suffer from poor socialization and a reduced quality of their life in general.
Importance of Understanding Dissociation in Counselling
In such a way, a deeper understanding of dissociation is fundamental for counselors, especially those working with trauma and children. This mechanism is critical for adaptation and for avoiding further deterioration of the situation. By analyzing a person’s behavior and admitting the cases of dissociation, a specialist might detect the first signs of trauma.
In most cases, the desire to avoid thinking about strong emotions shows that a child has experienced abusive or undesired behaviors or feelings in the past. As a result, it becomes critical to understand how to address this phenomenon, determine whether it has positive or negative effects, and help a client learn to manage its adverse effects. Furthermore, processing past trauma might help to cope with fears and psychological distress and engage in healthy behaviors vital for recovery.
References
Boyer, S. M., Caplan, J. E., & Edwards, L. K. (2022). Trauma-related dissociation and the dissociative disorders: Neglected symptoms with severe public health consequences. Delaware Journal of Public Health, 8(2), 78–84.
Perry, B., & Winfrey, O. (2021). What happened to you? Flatiron Books.
Ross, C. A., Ridgway, J., & George, N. (2020). Maladaptive daydreaming, dissociation, and the dissociative disorders. Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice, 2(2), 53–61.