Can Dissociation Happen Unwillingly?

[Burned]

Can dissociation happen un willingly?

For the last 2 years I've been suffering from a range of terrible...

DID is not the only type of dissociation, the other type falls under DDNOS (Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified), this is the catchall for everything from "auto pilot" to constant "switching" like I have. DID is multiple alters, entirely different personalities, while Dissociation is an altered state and separation of mind and body. I have very little control of my dissociation, and usually none at all.

 

[ButransGirl]

What caught me from your message was the abnormal blood flow. Can you explain more? If you have actual neurological issues, like a brain injury, them i think that's your answer right there. I have had brain injuries and i have some of these symptoms. If it partly sensory issues? If you have had diagnostic tests showing abnormal blood flow, then I'd suggest you speak to your neurologist. Maybe get cognitive testing and see if you can get into cognitive rehab.

 

[anonymous]

DID is not the only type of dissociation, the other type falls under DDNOS (Dissociative Disorder Not Oth...

I think most people talk about depersonalisation and derealisation when they talk about dissociation. Which is probably hard for those with the personality dissociation that comes with DID and Other Specified Dissociative Disorders or OSDD (previously DDNOS). And then there are other types of dissociation of course like conversion and fugue. Unusual for any of them to ever be by choice. I know I can escape on purpose to an extent but ....

 

[void]

Can dissociation happen un willingly?

For the last 2 years I've been suffering from a range of terrible...

If you are still here, i know something which should help.
reply with an (@void) and i will explain

 

[Ronin]

I didn't think it was technically even possible to dissociate voluntarily

Shamanic experiences & trances & meditation and similar schtuff would qualify, in my book?

 

[Friday]

.I didn't think it was technically even possible to dissociate voluntarily...??

...[/QUOTE]

Absolutely possible. Daydreaming & meditation would be two milder forms of it, triggering yourself on purpose or certain kinds of self harm, a couple kicked up versions. But there's a pretty wide spectrum.

One of the ways of learning to deal with disassociation is to bring it on, consciously, and then step out of it, also consciously. Practicing those two things at different levels, until disassociation is mostly voluntary.

 

[Sideways]

@Cashew - nup, now you're just talking about states of altered consciousness, & their are tonnes of ways/causes for that (including some trauma related):

Trance, hyponosis, sleep-walking, tripping on drugs, a blow to the head, suffocation, dehydration, psychosis, flashbacks, coma, catatonic states, meditation...I can keep going!?

Dissociation is a particular type of altered consciousness, and there are, within 'dissociation', sub-types that describe different ways that form of altered consciousness is experienced.

My understanding is that dissociation, as a particular type of altered consciousness, is involuntarily set off by either a specific stressor or trigger, although sometimes it may be impossible to identify the causative stressor/trigger for a particular episode. While a person can 'encourage' a dissociative state (eg. By putting themself in a situation that they no to be a trigger for their own dissociation), it still remains a fundamentally involuntary state...to be knowledge...

 

[Sideways]

@FridayJones - yep, totally. My line of thinking is relative to dissociative states that are within the cluster of 'dissociative disorder' end of the spectrum.

 

[Ronin]

@Ragdoll Circus, my point is basic logic.

Dissociation absolutely can happen voluntarily.

Whether it's involuntary or voluntary doesn't change that it's still dissociation.

And if it was 'always involuntary', then healing wouldn't be possible, because making something 'always involuntary' voluntary (aka: therapy, learning curve) just would go against the nature of that phenomenon, and it doesn't. Meaning involuntary isn't a main attribute to define dissociation.