What is dissociative amnesia and fugue?
Per the DSM-5, dissociative amnesia with dissociative fugue is the “purposeful travel or bewildered wandering that is associated with amnesia for identity or for other important autobiographical information.”1(p156) As the name fugue implies, the condition involves psychological flight from an overwhelming situation.
What is dissociation and what are the four dissociative disorders?
Dissociation is a mental process where a person disconnects from their thoughts, feelings, memories or sense of identity. Dissociative disorders include dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, depersonalisation disorder and dissociative identity disorder.
What does a dissociative episode look like?
When a person experiences dissociation, it may look like: Daydreaming, spacing out, or eyes glazed over. Acting different, or using a different tone of voice or different gestures. Suddenly switching between emotions or reactions to an event, such as appearing frightened and timid, then becoming bombastic and violent.
How do you stop dissociating?
So how do we begin to pivot away from dissociation and work on developing more effective coping skills?
- Learn to breathe.
- Try some grounding movements.
- Find safer ways to check out.
- Hack your house.
- Build out a support team.
- Keep a journal and start identifying your triggers.
- Get an emotional support animal.
Is there medication for dissociation?
Medication. Although there are no medications that specifically treat dissociative disorders, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications or antipsychotic drugs to help control the mental health symptoms associated with dissociative disorders.
How long can a dissociative episode last?
Periods of dissociation can last for a relatively short time (hours or days) or for much longer (weeks or months). It can sometimes last for years, but usually if a person has other dissociative disorders. Many people with a dissociative disorder have had a traumatic event during childhood.