Dissociation Definition

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The textbook explains that, “Dissociative disorders occur after significant adverse experiences or traumas, and individuals respond to stress with a severe interruption of consciousness. Dissociation is an unconscious defense mechanism that protects the individual against overwhelming anxiety through an emotional separation; however, this separation results in disturbances in memory, consciousness, self-identity, and perception” (Halter, 2014, p. 315). Ms. Fultz has endured a traumatic experience with the loss of her six-year-old son. Consequently, Ms. Fultz has attempted to take her own life, has become depressed, anxious, and increasingly distant. According to the police officer Ms. Fultz, “Didn’t seem to know who she was, where she was, …show more content…
I do not feel that Nate’s idea about disclosing all known information to Ms. Fultz is appropriate because she does not have a memory of her accident or who she is which means that it could just add stress and anxiety. A better approach would be to handle it in 3 phases as the textbook explains that, “A phase-oriented treatment model in recommended. Phase 1 includes establishing safety, stabilization, and symptom reduction” (Halter, 2014, p. 319). I don’t think that Juanita was kidding when she stated that “dissociative amnesia isn’t all bad” as the textbook explains that, “Symptoms of dissociation may be either positive or negative. It is thought that the dissociation decreases the immediate subjective distress of the trauma and also continues to protect the individual from full awareness of the disturbing event” (Halter, 2014, p. 315). This supports the need and importance of the three phases of the phase-oriented treatment model. This protection that Ms. Fultz is feeling from the dissociative amnesia is helping her to establish stabilization, and symptom