Dissociative PTSD Treatment

What Is Dissociative PTSD?

Dissociative PTSD is a subtype of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that is characterized by a persistent feeling of detachment from one’s own body and experiences. These feelings typically occur alongside other common PTSD symptoms like flashbacks and avoidance behaviors.

The Dissociative Subtype of PTSD

Dissociative PTSD meets all the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, but it also includes the following:

• Depersonalization (a feeling as if you are not real).
• Derealization (a feeling as if the world is not real).
• Memory disturbance.
• Disengagement.
• Time loss.
• Trance.
• Gaps in awareness.
• Re-experiencing (e.g., flashbacks).
• Sensory misperception.
• A history of earlier PTSD

How Dissociation Differs from PTSD

PTSD is a diagnosable mental health condition characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, and intense anxiety. Dissociation can be a part of these symptoms, but not everyone with PTSD experiences dissociation.

Dissociation is a mental process in which a person feels disconnected from their thoughts, memories, or surroundings. Like PTSD, dissociation can be a response to trauma but is not a mental health disorder when experienced alone.

Dissociative PTSD is a specific type of PTSD that often occurs in people with a history of more severe or prolonged trauma (e.g., childhood abuse, neglect, or other maltreatment). Dissociative PTSD can cause emotional and physical symptoms.

Dissociative PTSD Symptoms

Emotional Symptoms

• Feeling like an outside observer of your own experience.
• Feeling emotionally detached.
• Feeling like different parts of yourself are compartmentalized.
• Having gaps in your memory, especially those related to the trauma.
• Having intrusive memories, dreams, or flashbacks.
• Experiencing negative thought patterns and difficulty concentrating.
• Experiencing hypervigilance, irritability, and sleep problems.

Physical Symptoms

• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
• Feeling emotionally numb or detached.
• Feeling little or no pain.
• Experiencing amnesia or an altered sense of time.
• Experiencing an elevated heart rate, sweating, trembling, muscle tension, nausea, difficulty breathing, etc.

While these symptoms can be distressing, understanding what causes them is an important step toward finding the most effective dissociative PTSD treatment.

What Causes Dissociation in PTSD?

People with PTSD may dissociate to cope with overwhelming emotions and distress. Dissociation in PTSD can be linked to several types of traumas:

• Abusive or neglectful parenting.
• Psychological abuse.
• Physical violence.
• Complex trauma (multiple traumatic events that happen repeatedly from a young age).
• Shame or guilt.

The Brain’s Response to Trauma

When someone experiences trauma or extreme fear, their brain activates a “fight or flight” response, causing a surge of adrenaline and cortisol. This surge temporarily and negatively impacts rational thought and decision-making capabilities. It can also manifest as feelings of dissociation, freezing, or impulsivity (depending on the situation).

If this trauma is severe or repeated, it can lead to dissociative PTSD.

Risk Factors for Developing Dissociative PTSD

Common risk factors for developing dissociative PTSD include:

• Chronic trauma.
• Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse (often beginning in childhood).
• Kidnapping.
• Severe neglect in childhood
• An invasive medical procedure.
• Learning of or being involved in the aftermath of a loved one’s trauma.

If you or a loved one has experienced trauma of any kind and exhibits one or more of the symptoms listed above, talk to your healthcare provider or a mental health provider. They can help diagnose and treat PTSD and its subtypes, like dissociation.

Diagnosis of Dissociative PTSD

If you meet all the PTSD criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) book by the American Psychiatric Association and experience periods of derealization and depersonalization, you may have dissociative PTSD.

Recognizing Dissociation in PTSD Diagnoses

At Beach House, our licensed therapists can help you recognize the symptoms of dissociation in PTSD using DSM-5-TR criteria and other diagnostic testing services.

Tools and Criteria for Diagnosis

The criteria for PTSD disorder with dissociative symptoms include:

• Meeting all diagnostic criteria for post traumatic stress disorder.
• Amnesia and emotional numbing.
• Persistent or recurrent dissociative symptoms (e.g., depersonalization and derealization).

To diagnose this subtype, our licensed therapists may ask you to complete a self-assessment in the form of a questionnaire. Once they have a general understanding of your symptoms, they will perform a screening assessment and structured clinical interview to understand the cause of your symptoms and determine the best treatment.

Dissociative PTSD Treatment Options

Therapy-Based Treatments:

Therapy is the most effective ptsd dissociation treatment. We offer the following evidence-based programs to help you manage dissociative PTSD symptoms and improve your quality of life:

• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
  To help you:
  • Identify and challenge negative thought patterns related to the trauma.
  • Teach practical coping skills to manage dissociative episodes.
  • Provide proven strategies to help you re-engage with reality and process their trauma in a safe and secure environment.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  To help you:
  • Build the skills needed to cope with overwhelming emotions.
  • Ground themselves in the present moment with mindfulness practices.
  • Learn how to tolerate distress while regulating their emotions.

Medication: Managing PTSD with Dissociative Symptoms

Your healthcare provider or mental health professional may prescribe one or more of the following medications, depending on your unique symptoms:

• Antidepressants
• Mood stabilizers
• Antianxiety medications
• Antipsychotics
• Sleep-aids

Lifestyle Adjustments: Mindfulness and Coping Strategies

In addition to therapy and medication, your healthcare provider may recommend one or more of the following lifestyle adjustments to support your recovery:

• Maintain a healthy diet.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes per day.
• Get seven to nine hours of restorative sleep each night.
• Establish and keep to a daily routine.
• Keep a journal or diary.
• Know when to ask for help by paying attention to signs of stress, depression, anxiety, or substance misuse.

As you continue with treatments, medications, and healthier lifestyle choices, it’s important to plan for long-term success and recovery. Let’s explore longer-term coping strategies.

Living With Dissociative PTSD

Dissociation can make it challenging to thrive day-to-day. Here are a few strategies to help you cope.

Building a Support System

Building a network of trusted people creates a safe space for you to share your feelings and reduce the risk of isolation, a common side effect of dissociative PTSD. This support system can provide much-needed stability, understanding, and encouragement during therapy, treatment, and beyond.

Take the First Step Toward Healing

How to Seek Professional Help for Dissociative PTSD

If you or a loved one is struggling with the isolating effects of dissociative PTSD, we can help. At Beach House, our licensed therapists are skilled in diagnosing and treating PTSD and its many subtypes.

We can help you understand and overcome symptoms of depersonalization and derealization using treatment programs tailored to your unique emotional and physical needs. Our proven treatment modalities can help guide you and your loved ones toward a path of mental wellness and long-lasting healing.

Finding a Specialist in Florida

If you or a loved one is struggling with life-altering PTSD symptoms, contact our experienced admissions counselors to learn about our dissociative PTSD treatment therapies and take the first step toward wellness.