Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative Disorders are mental health disorders which are often a result of a severe traumatic event/s. Individuals with Dissociative Disorders often dissociate (check out) in order to escape the present because functioning in daily life can feel overwhelming, scary and be anxiety provoking. Many dissociative disorders are involuntary and can affect one’s daily function immensely.

What is Dissociation? Dissociation is when an individual becomes disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, memories and/or surroundings. Individuals often feel as if the world is unreal, sometimes not feeling present and finding themselves checked-out or detached from the world or reality. Sometimes individuals see themselves from up above or from a distance and sometimes feel they are in a trance. Often individuals will report having a ringing in their ear, hearing white noise in their head, someone talking to them in their head, seeing black images or other distorted images or a recurring song playing that is outside the normal “tune stuck in my head”. You are NOT crazy. This is commonly seen in Dissociative Disorders.

Dissociative Disorders commonly seen at Irimiya Trauma Therapy

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder (DPDR)

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder is a type of dissociative condition where a person feels disconnected either from themselves or from the world around them. These experiences can be unsettling, but they are the mind’s way of coping with overwhelming stress or trauma.

• Depersonalization: Feeling detached from yourself, as if you’re observing your thoughts, feelings, or body from the outside. Some describe it as feeling like they’re “not real” or like they’re living in a dream.

• Derealization: Feeling as though the world around you isn’t real—things may seem foggy, dreamlike, distant, or visually distorted.

People with DPDR often know that what they’re experiencing isn’t literally true, which can create confusion or anxiety. These symptoms may come and go, lasting for short periods or in longer episodes, and can interfere with daily life.

DPDR is often linked to stress, trauma, or other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. With therapy, grounding techniques, and support, many people learn ways to reduce these symptoms and feel more connected to themselves and the world around them.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Dissociative Identity Disorder, often known as DID, is a dissociative condition where a person has two or more distinct “parts” or identity states. These parts may have their own ways of thinking, feeling, remembering, and relating to the world. At times, one part may take the lead, while others step back. This can feel like shifts in personality, behavior, or sense of self.

People with DID often experience:

• Memory gaps for everyday events or periods of their life

• Feeling like different parts of themselves show up in different situations

• Internal voices or conversations between parts

• Changes in mood, skills, or preferences that can feel sudden or confusing

DID usually develops as a response to severe or ongoing trauma in childhood. Dissociation is the brain’s way of protecting a child from experiences that are too overwhelming to process. Over time, these protective parts can become more separate, creating distinct identity states.

Living with DID can be confusing and exhausting, but it is also a sign of resilience—the mind’s creative way of surviving. With trauma-informed therapy and support, many people with DID learn to build communication and cooperation between parts, reduce distress, and move toward healing and wholeness.

Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD)

What is OSDD?
OSDD stands for Other Specified Dissociative Disorder. It’s a way of describing when someone experiences dissociation—feeling disconnected from themselves, their memories, or their surroundings—but their symptoms don’t fit perfectly into the other dissociative diagnoses.

People with OSDD may:

• Have memory gaps or trouble remembering parts of their life

• Feel “different” at different times, as if parts of themselves show up in different situations

• Notice shifts in mood, behavior, or how they see themselves

• Sometimes feel detached from their body or surroundings.

  Dissociative Amnesia is a condition where a person cannot recall important personal information, often related to stressful or traumatic events. These memory gaps are more than ordinary forgetfulness—they are the mind’s way of protecting itself from experiences that feel too overwhelming to process at the time.

  People with dissociative amnesia may:

  • Lose memories about a specific event or period of time

  • Have trouble remembering details about themselves, like their past, where they’ve been, or what they’ve done

  • In rare cases, feel unsure of their identity or even travel away from home without remembering how they got there (this is called a dissociative fugue)

  Dissociative Amnesia often develops after trauma, loss, or extreme stress. While it can feel confusing or frightening, it is the brain’s protective response—not a personal failure.

  With therapy and support, many people gradually recover lost memories, learn to manage distress, and feel more grounded in their present life. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to face it alone.

Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative Amnesia is a condition where a person cannot recall important personal information, often related to stressful or traumatic events. These memory gaps are more than ordinary forgetfulness—they are the mind’s way of protecting itself from experiences that feel too overwhelming to process at the time.

People with dissociative amnesia may:

• Lose memories about a specific event or period of time

• Have trouble remembering details about themselves, like their past, where they’ve been, or what they’ve done

• In rare cases, feel unsure of their identity or even travel away from home without remembering how they got there (this is called a dissociative fugue)

Dissociative Amnesia often develops after trauma, loss, or extreme stress. While it can feel confusing or frightening, it is the brain’s protective response—not a personal failure.

With therapy and support, many people gradually recover lost memories, learn to manage distress, and feel more grounded in their present life. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to face it alone.

Here’s a more detailed, client-friendly website version incorporating parts, alters, the internal world, safety, and communication:

Working with Dissociative Disorders

At our practice, we provide compassionate, trauma-informed care for people living with dissociative disorders, including Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD), Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder (DPDR), and Dissociative Amnesia. We understand that dissociation can feel confusing, overwhelming, or isolating, and we create a safe, supportive space where healing can begin.

Many people with dissociative disorders experience different parts or “alters” of themselves. These parts may carry memories, emotions, or roles that helped you survive past trauma. Some parts may feel protective, others may hold pain or fear, and some may help with daily life. These parts often exist in what is called an internal world, a private space where your different selves interact and try to keep you safe.

Our therapy focuses on:

• Safety and grounding: Establishing stability so you feel secure in your body, mind, and environment

• Understanding your parts and internal world: Learning about your different selves, their needs, and the ways they protect you

• Building communication and cooperation: Helping your parts share information, support each other, and work together more smoothly

• Processing trauma: Gently exploring past experiences when you feel ready, to reduce distress and increase integration

• Practical coping skills: Teaching strategies to manage overwhelming emotions, flashbacks, or dissociation

We believe dissociation is a survival response, not a weakness. With therapy and support, individuals can strengthen connections among their parts, feel safer in their daily life, and move toward a greater sense of wholeness, resilience, and self-understanding.