Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative disorders involve issues with memory, emotions, identity, perception of reality, behavior, and/or sense of self. They are often associated with traumatic experiences, as dissociative disorders may develop as a way of coping with trauma, however trauma does not have to be present for a dissociative disorder to develop.

## Types of Dissociative Disorders

### Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative Amnesia involves memory loss and the inability to recall past events. It is different than simply being forgetful, and amnesia episodes can last a few minutes, days, months, or even years. There are three types of amnesia:

* **Localized amnesia:** inability to recall an event or period of time.
* **Selective amnesia:** inability to recall certain details or events about a given time period.
* **Generalized amnesia:** loss of all memory of identity and/or life history.

An individual with dissociative amnesia may or may not be aware of their memory loss, or have little awareness.

### Deperonalization-Derealization Disorder

Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder is defined as when one feels detached from reality, their surroundings, sense of self and/or emotions. One or both of these conditions may be present in an individual and common symptoms are as follows:

* **Derealization disorder**
	+ Feelings of unreality
	+ Detachment from surroundings and others
	+ Senses may be warped or distorted (time may seem to slow down/speed up, sounds may be indecipherable even though they can be heard, etc.)
	+ Feeling as though you& are in a dream, like nothing is real
* **Depersonalization disorder**
	+ Detachment from your& body, emotions, mind, and/or sense of self
	+ Not feeling real
	+ Feeling as though you& are observing your& life rather than experiencing it
	+ Feeling foreign in your& body, like it isn't yours&
	+ Not recognizing yourself/your& body/face in the mirror

Symptoms can appear at any age, however the most common age for symptoms to develop is around the age of 16.

Derealization/depersonalization disorder can be very distressing and upsetting to those who experience it, as they are aware of their& surroundings and/or their& body but know that something is wrong. This can lead to feelings of fear, confusion, dread, etc. Even if little to no emotion is shown during episodes, it is still extremely upsetting.

### Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder, or DID, is a condition where there is often multiple individuals in one body. OSDD (otherwise specified dissociative identity disorder) and USDD/UDD (unspecified dissociative identity disorder) are other similar terms. DID, OSDD, and USDD/UDD are commonly used to describe systems, however not all systems are disordered. These terms are often associated with trauma, however trauma does not have to be present for these disorders to exist. For more information on DID, OSDD, USDD/UDD, and systems, visit the system page.

### Fugue State, Dissociative Fugue or Psychogenic Fugue

Fugue State is a dissociative disorder in which one enters states of dissociation where they may lose sense of personal identity/memories/defining traits. These states can last from hours to years. Once one returns from a fugue state, they typically have all of their memories intact. This condition is a result of trauma and is unrelated to head/brain damage and systemhood.

### Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD)

OSDD is a dissociative disorder that may or may not be associated with plurality, depending on the type. There are five types of OSDD.

#### OSDD-1a

OSDD-1a is a form of dissociative plurality in which headmates are more blurred between one another, and appear to the outside as different "modes" rather than different individuals.

#### OSDD-1b

OSDD-1b is a form of dissociative plurality in which headmates do not experience amnesia between switches, though they still may experience amnesia regarding trauma.

#### OSDD-2

OSDD-2 is a dissociative disorder in which ones identity is altered from brainwashing, torture, thought reform, or otherwise coercion-based dissociation. This is typically formed from cults, captivity, and similar traumatic events. OSDD-2 is not typically associated with plurality; however, it can be in some cases.

#### OSDD-3

OSDD-3 is a dissociative disorder in which one experiences extreme dissociative symptoms directly after a traumatic event. This typically fades about a month after trauma has occurred; however, if future trauma comes, the individual may experience it again. OSDD-3 is not typically associated with plurality; however, it can be in some cases.

#### OSDD-4

OSDD-4 is a dissociative disorder in which one experiences dissociative trances that are not without other causes and cannot remember the time spent in these trances. OSDD-4 is not typically associated with plurality; however, it can be in some cases.

### Unspecified Dissociative Disorder (UDD)

UDD is when one experiences symptoms of a dissociative disorder, but does not fit DPDR, Fugue State, DID, or OSDD. This means one may have some or most of the symptoms associated with those disorders, but do not reach the full criteria, and thus fall under the UDD umbrella. UDD can also be associated with plurality, but that is not always the case.

## References

*Note: while these references do have accurate information on dissociative amnesia and derealization/depersonalization, information on DID contains some misinformation. Both sources refer to DID headmates as just "personality states" or "identities", while they are commonly whole individuals with personalities and identities of their own. That misinformation was not used in the writing of this page and the system page (specifically the section regarding DID) was referenced for information on DID.*

* https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17749-dissociative-disorders-
* https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/dissociative-disorders/what-are-dissociative-disorders