Posted by shellie on January 8, 2001, at 16:35:27
In reply to Re: HI! new here-derealization anyone?, posted by Noa on January 8, 2001, at 6:06:35
> About dissociation: the only caveat I would add is that most everything available to read about dissociation links it to trauma, and I think there are probably some people who have dissociative symptoms that are not associated with trauma. I think this is especially true if the dissociation or derealization is a symptom of a panic disorder, social phobia, etc. This is just my opinion. I guess I liken this to the depression continuum--contributing factors can range from the completely biological end to the completely environmental end, and everything in between, with biology and environment impacting on each other. It just bothers me that whenever I read anything about dissociative disorders, it seems trauma is assumed. While that may be mostly true, I have to think that it is not a good idea to assume it is always true.
Noa, I had the same thought, so I did a search on depersonalization. I was actually looking for its link to anxiety and panic attacks. There is one, but from what I've read, the depersonalization lasts only as long as the panic attack. I can't find a link between anxiety or panic and long term dissociation. I do think that dissociation is learned in childhood and is triggered again by an incident in adulthood. Perhaps what is trauma to one child, is not as traumatic to another. An inclination to dissociate is limited to only some children, with a predisposition to dissociate, rather than use other defense mechanisms. If a child fits into that group, horrific trauma usually results in DID (MPD). So what is being referred to as trauma can be less than horrific, but still traumatic enough, perhaps to create a dissociation lower on the dissociative spectrum.
And the tendency now, opposed to ten years ago, is to go very very slowly through trauma to keep a person as stable as possible. And EMDR has somewhat replaced hypnosis as a tool to work through traumatic recall--which is not mentioned in Dr. Turkus' paper.
But anyway, I do understand your doubts. Shellie
poster:shellie
thread:50957
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001231/msgs/51193.html