When you’re in a tangle of emotions and conflicting thoughts, it can be helpful to take a step back for a moment and reevaluate. However, there’s a difference between temporarily disconnecting to change your perspective and dissociating from your reality. Dissociation is a response to a distressing or traumatic event, which is why it’s commonly linked to complex PTSD.

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociation are both mental health concerns that require treatment to reduce the negative impact they can have on a person’s quality of life. They can also be connected to one another. In this blog post, we’ll share the basics of complex PTSD and dissociation before diving into an explanation of how they can be intertwined. 

The basics of complex PTSD and dissociation

Let’s start by defining what each one is. Complex PTSD (CPTSD) is a stress-related mental health condition that can develop after long-term or repeated trauma. Dissociation is a mental response to a distressing or traumatic event, causing a person to disconnect from their identity, thoughts or feelings.

CPTSD can lead to symptoms such as emotional dysregulation, impulsive behavior and frequent negative thoughts. It can also cause dissociation, which we’ll discuss in the next section. It’s important to note that CPTSD is not recognized in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), but it is recognized in the International Classification of Diseases by the World Health Organization. This distinction is crucial, as it affects diagnosis and treatment approaches in different healthcare systems.

CPTSD affects up to 8% of the world’s population. It can develop in people who have experienced:

• Child abuse or neglect
• Sexual abuse
• Domestic violence
• Racial trauma
• Severe bullying
• A hostile home environment
• War

Dissociation can involve having gaps in your memory, having an altered sense of time and experiencing tunnel vision. Even though it can occur as part of CPTSD, dissociation is a possible symptom of other mental health disorders, including

• Anxiety disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Major depressive disorder
• Schizophrenia

If you haven’t received a diagnosis for a mental health disorder and you’re experiencing regular or worsening dissociation, be sure to talk to your doctor. They will likely refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to carry out diagnostic tests and determine the best course of action for treatment.

The relationship between complex PTSD and dissociation

Now that we’ve talked about CPTSD and dissociation on their own, let’s talk about how they’re connected.

People living with complex PTSD can develop dissociation as a coping mechanism for their trauma when they are faced with a reminder of the experience, such as a specific sound or place. It can be the mind’s way of trying to distract a person from the trauma and reduce the risk of being overwhelmed by negative thoughts and feelings. 

However, unlike many coping skills, dissociation can have a negative impact on a person’s overall quality of life, because it can interfere with daily tasks and the ability to maintain relationships. It can impact a person’s sense of self, leading to identity alteration or confusion. It can also affect one’s awareness of their surroundings, leaving them vulnerable to dangerous situations.

When it comes to complex PTSD, dissociation can manifest differently from person to person. If you’re experiencing dissociation, it can occur as:

• Dissociative amnesia — Difficulty remembering details, memories or information
• Depersonalization — Feeling detached from yourself, like you’re watching yourself from an outsider’s perspective
• Derealization — Feeling like your surroundings aren’t real or like you’re in a dream
• Dissociative fugue — Experiencing amnesia and wandering away from your usual environment, ending up somewhere unexpected

Lightfully can help treat complex PTSD and dissociation 

Complex PTSD and dissociation are both serious mental health concerns that require safe and effective treatment. When they’re connected, it’s important to address and work through the complex PTSD to alleviate recurring dissociation. Talk to your health care professionals to determine the best treatment options for the severity of your symptoms.

At Lightfully, we have four levels of care that can provide supportive treatment for people with complex PTSD and dissociation: Residential Treatment, Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP), Partial Hospitalization Program and Intensive Outpatient Program. They all consist of evidence-based, data-driven and whole-person-centered care provided by compassionate experts. 

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.