PTSD/C-PTSD Poll/Question Results: In addition to your PTSD/C-PTSD, have you been diagnosed with a dissociative disorder?
PTSD Poll/Question Results - In addition to your PTSD/C-PTSD, have you been diagnosed with a dissociative disorder?
PTSD Poll/Question Results:
The results are now in for our latest PTSD/C-PTSD Poll/question: In addition to your PTSD/C-PTSD, have you been diagnosed with a dissociative disorder? Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent Poll/Question. The response as always was fantastic.
The results are as follows:
27.3% of those who took part said, in addition to their diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD, No they had not been diagnosed additionally with a Dissociative Disorder but believe they have one
27.3% of those who took part said, in addition to their diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD they had not been diagnosed with a dissociative disorder
23.6% of those who took part said, in addition to their diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD, yes they had received a diagnosis of Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS)
14.5% of those who took part said, in addition to their diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD, yes they had received a diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
3.6% of those who took part said, in addition to their diagnosis of PTSD-C-PTSD, yes they had received a diagnosis of Depersonalisation Disorder
3.6% of those who took part said, in addition to their diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD, yes they had received a diagnosis of Dissociative Amnesia
Dissociation is a process where a person disconnects from their thoughts, feelings, memories or sense of identity. Dissociative disorders include dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, depersonalisation disorder and dissociative identity disorder. Alongside a diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD an individual, particularly following very early childhood trauma, may also develop something called a "dissociative disorder," as a means of coping with the trauma.
During traumatic experiences themselves, a child will often cope with the unbearable by turning to dissociation as a means of Survival. When a child is traumatized repeatedly in early childhood, the development of a cohesive and coherent personality structure is hindered. Fragmentation of the personality occurs because the capacity to integrate what is happening to the self is insufficient. Dissociation is a means of coping, it is what can enable someone to survive the inescapable and overwhelming, an adaptive, self-protective way in which a person manages extreme stress and personal threats. However, in the long term, dissociation can further disrupt and impair a person's life and functioning.
Research has shown that where abuse in childhood begins before the age of 5, this carries a high risk factor for someone to develop a dissociative disorder, especially when there is no safe protective and stable attachment in their life. 90 percent of all people with dissociative identity disorder report at least one type of childhood abuse and/or neglect, an extreme form of dissociation in which a person develops two or more distinct personalities.
There is a clear distinction between PTSD and dissociation. PTSD may develop after a single traumatic experience, as either a child (for example, witnessing a violent event or natural disaster) or an adult (for example, undergoing a major surgery). On the other hand, dissociation usually results from trauma and stress in childhood, not adulthood, and stems from chronic trauma (for example, repeated episodes of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Acute dissociative responses to psychological trauma have been found to predict the development of C- PTSD.
Dissociative Disorders survivors are often given incorrect diagnosis, may see multiple therapists, and be given one medication after another, receiving treatment for symptoms with little to no progress. Research shows that people with Dissociative Disorders spend an average of seven years in the mental health system before getting the correct diagnosis. This is common because the symptoms that drive a person with a Dissociative Disorder to treatment are very similar to those of many other psychiatric diagnoses. Comorbid disorders, make diagnosis of underlying dissociative identity disorder more difficult. Additionally, obtaining funding for an individual to receive a specialist assessment can be costly.
Common misdiagnoses include attention deficit disorder (especially among children), because of difficulties in concentration and memory; bipolar disorder, because switching can look like rapid-cycling mood swings; schizophrenia or psychoses, because flashbacks can cause auditory and visual hallucinations; and addictions, because alcohol and drugs are frequently used to self medicate or to numb emotional pain and distress.
Diagnosing dissociative identity disorder can take time, and is preferable to be carried out by a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, preferably one with experience with dissociative disorders. Several questionnaires can be used to assess whether you have a dissociative disorder. Clinicians who use these assessment tools should have specialist training and a good understanding of dissociative disorders.
For me information regarding the diagnosis of Dissociative Disorders, DID and the difficulties around this please see:
https://information.pods-online.org.uk/how-is-dissociative-identity-disorder-diagnosed/
@Melinda1975 @dancingRainbow45 @BeeLeigh @caterpillargirl @sujaypai @Sineenard @snappywordfiend @AutumnLeigh
@KLM3278 @lovingBanana5204 @agreeableKite4304 @memories @Avaray @raycascotch @Awanderingsoul @Lilibuth12
@melliotm @raycascotch @emotionalMaple9419 @BradyChay2310 @Slothsandcantaloupes @DeborahUK @Faeryschild @sunflower9412 @TruthOnly8423 @helpfulWatermelon5615 @NihilNovi @vriska44 @LetiBen1 @SmileYoureWorthIt @awanderingsoul @survivetoalive @mathismo @whitedove120 @softStar21 @Notthatsmart247 @CalmCoach @Diandra @PhoenixPatronus @SaltyDog68 @InvaderStitch @papaya3 @frostyPillow99 @Compassionatelistener108 @EscapismDreams @music4love @caringSea20 @RareLove @purpleHeart16 @CaringLotus @jr50 @helpfulWatermelon5615 @overthinker27@Wereinthis2gether @lightowl300 @YourTearsAreDelicious @SoftForestHSP77 @tir @Quietbeach @Roxyteddy1 @wontsleepwontwake @essie124 @fearlessPear8268
@GageKelly @gagekelly @Dapperdime7735 @AriannaPink @roseMelody95 @SunFern
So now that we know that 70% of those surveyed have dissociative symptoms will there be more inclucsion of dissociative disorders in the trauma sub con and regular dissociative disorders support sessions?
@LifeIsMyCanvas
You are asking a very important question as I also suffer from DID.
Help is so needed and hard to find. Trauma recovery encompasses
most of my day and has so many aspects that need to be addressed.
Thank you for bringing this up Life.
@LifeIsMyCanvas We do try to include it Canvas and always have and I did actually create 9 new threads in the DID section but only a few of the threads became active. We include it in our newsletter and in the sessions but because trauma is such a vast area, we try to include as many issues relevant to trauma as possible, and with small manpower there is only so much we can do but of course, its an area very important to quite a few of us that we wish to see more active, but the DID sessions were being run by people who had been done a long time doing these and so we did not wish to duplicate their sessions. We will be expanding more on complex PTSD and dissociative disorders and when we have more discussion writers, will be expanding these sessions too. There are a lot of topics we wish to expand on but we need more people aboard trauma to help us achieve those aims. The new workbook group is specially for those with dissociative disorders as we felt this needed more coverage in trauma. Hope that helps