Understanding Dissociation: Causes, Signs, and How to Heal

Have you ever felt like you’re watching your life like a movie, detached from reality or even from yourself? You’re not alone, and you’re not imagining things. These experiences may be signs of dissociation, a complex and often misunderstood psychological response that affects millions of people globally.

At Inner Summits, we specialize in helping individuals explore and heal from the roots of dissociation. In this in-depth guide, we’ll explain what dissociation is, why it occurs, common symptoms, types, and how professional therapy can help you reclaim a grounded, connected life.

What Is Dissociation?

Dissociation is a mental process that causes a person to feel disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, memories, body, or sense of identity. It is often an involuntary psychological defense mechanism, typically triggered by overwhelming stress or trauma.

While short-term or mild dissociation (like daydreaming or “spacing out”) is common and not inherently problematic, chronic or severe dissociation can interfere with everyday functioning and emotional well-being. It’s a way for the mind to “check out” when it feels emotionally unsafe or overwhelmed.

Key Characteristics of Dissociation:

• Emotional numbness
• Detachment from the body (depersonalization)
• Unreal surroundings (derealization)
• Memory gaps or amnesia
• Confusion about identity
• A sense of “watching yourself” from outside your body

Why Does Dissociation Happen?

Dissociation happens when the brain attempts to shield itself from experiences or emotions that are too painful or intense to process in real time. It is particularly common in people who have experienced trauma or persistent psychological stress.

Here are some of the root causes of dissociation:

1. Traumatic Experiences

Trauma is the leading cause of dissociation. Events like:

• Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
• Combat exposure
• Car accidents
• Natural disasters
• Sudden loss or grief
• Childhood neglect or abandonment

…can overwhelm the brain, prompting it to disconnect to survive. This is especially true when the trauma is repeated, begins early in life, or is inflicted by someone trusted.

2. Chronic or Complex Stress

While dissociation is most often linked to trauma, chronic stress can also cause the brain to adopt dissociative strategies. This includes:

• Long-term toxic relationships
• High-pressure work environments
• Financial instability
• Chronic illness or caregiving fatigue

Over time, the nervous system can become so dysregulated that dissociation becomes a routine response to any perceived threat or emotional overload.

3. Underlying Mental Health Conditions

Dissociation is frequently seen in individuals with:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Severe anxiety or panic disorders

For these individuals, dissociation is a symptom of deeper psychological distress and should be addressed holistically.

Common Types of Dissociation

Understanding the different types of dissociation can help you identify what you’re experiencing. The most recognized categories include:

1. Depersonalization

You feel disconnected from your body or thoughts, as if you’re observing yourself from outside. This can create a sense of emotional numbness or unreality.

2. Derealization

The external world feels strange, distant, or dreamlike. Objects may seem distorted, and time may feel warped or slowed.

3. Dissociative Amnesia

This involves gaps in memory, especially related to traumatic or stressful events. You may forget parts of your day, important life details, or even aspects of your identity.

4. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Previously known as multiple personality disorder, DID involves the presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities, along with amnesia between them.

5. Identity Confusion or Alteration

This refers to uncertainty or inconsistency in your sense of self, such as feeling like different versions of yourself exist in different contexts.

What Does Dissociation Feel Like?

Here are some real-world descriptions from individuals who experience dissociation:

• “I feel like I’m watching someone else live my life.”
• “Everything looks foggy or like I’m underwater.”
• “I know I should feel something, but I don’t.”
• “Sometimes I forget what happened during parts of the day.”
• “I feel split, like different parts of me are acting separately.”

These feelings can be deeply disorienting, scary, and isolating—but they are also common, especially in survivors of trauma. You are not broken. Your brain is protecting you.

Is Dissociation a Mental Illness?

Dissociation itself is not a mental illness, it’s a symptom or coping mechanism. However, when persistent or severe, it can be diagnosed as part of a dissociative disorder or another mental health condition.

Dissociative Disorders in the DSM-5 Include:

• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
• Dissociative Amnesia
• Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
• Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD)

These conditions require a comprehensive mental health evaluation to diagnose and treat properly. That’s where professional therapy, like the kind offered at Inner Summits, can make a life-changing difference.

How Is Dissociation Diagnosed?

There’s no blood test or brain scan that can diagnose dissociation. Instead, diagnosis is made through a clinical assessment by a trained mental health provider.

Your therapist may use:

• A detailed personal and trauma history
• Symptom-based questionnaires (like the DES or MID)
• Observations of mood, memory, and cognitive functioning
• Tools to rule out neurological or medical causes

Accurate diagnosis is essential for developing a personalized treatment plan that addresses both symptoms and root causes.

Can Dissociation Be Treated?

Yes, dissociation is treatable. Many people who experience dissociation can significantly reduce symptoms and regain a fuller sense of presence, identity, and emotional connection with the right therapeutic support.

At Inner Summits, we specialize in helping clients:

• Identify their unique dissociative patterns
• Understand how trauma or stress shaped their coping mechanisms
• Learn practical tools to stay grounded in the present moment
• Reconnect with emotions, memories, and identity safely

Treatment Options for Dissociation

Our trauma-informed therapists at Inner Summits use a combination of evidence-based approaches to treat dissociation. Some of the most effective modalities include:

1. Grounding Techniques

These help anchor you in the present moment using:

• Physical sensations (touching cold objects, rhythmic movement)
• Breathing exercises and mindfulness
• Engaging your senses (sight, sound, smell)

2. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

EMDR helps clients process traumatic memories in a safe and structured way, which often reduces the need for dissociation as a defense.

3. Somatic Therapy

This approach works with the nervous system and body awareness to help release stored trauma and regulate responses.

4. Internal Family Systems (IFS)

IFS helps individuals explore different “parts” of the self, including dissociated or fragmented parts, and integrate them with compassion.

5. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT targets distorted thinking patterns that fuel disconnection and teaches healthier coping mechanisms.

6. Psychoeducation

Understanding how and why your brain dissociates is often the first step in reducing shame and rebuilding trust in yourself.

What Happens in Therapy at Inner Summits?

From your very first session at Inner Summits, you’ll work with a therapist who understands that dissociation is not a weakness, it’s a survival response. You’ll be guided at your own pace with a focus on:

• Emotional safety and consent
• Compassionate, nonjudgmental listening
• Tools for self-regulation and presence
• Exploring past trauma (only when you’re ready)
• Rebuilding a sense of self and control

Why Choose Inner Summits?

We believe that healing is a summit worth climbing, and you don’t have to do it alone. At Inner Summits, we provide:

• Specialized trauma-informed care
• Licensed therapists with experience treating dissociation
• Flexible scheduling and virtual therapy options
• A warm, collaborative, and inclusive therapeutic space

Whether you’ve recently begun noticing dissociation or have lived with it for years, our team is here to help you rediscover your sense of reality, agency, and peace.

Call to Action: Reconnect With Yourself – Start Healing Today

If you’ve been feeling disconnected, emotionally numb, or lost in your own life, help is here. Dissociation is your mind’s way of protecting you, but you don’t have to live in survival mode forever.

At Inner Summits, we help you reconnect, rebuild, and rise. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation or learn more about our trauma-informed therapy services.