Common Dissociation Terms

Dissociative disorders: A grouping of mental health disorders that share the primary symptom of dissociation. This is a category included in the DSM-5 and ICD-11. Some mental health disorders under this category:

  • Dissociative amnesia
  • Depersonalization/derealization disorder
  • Dissociative identity disorder (often shortened to DID)
  • Partial dissociative identity disorder (often shortened to P-DID)
  • Other specified dissociative disorder (often shortened to OSDD)
  • Unspecified dissociative disorder
  • Conversion Disorder

Dissociation: An instinctual survival mechanism where the brain disconnects from reality. This is a natural and healthy psychological response to overwhelming situations such as traumatic events. In the case of dissociative disorders and other trauma-based disorders, dissociation has become impairing, meaning that it is occurring chronically and/or in response to situations it should not be. Types of dissociation include:

  • Amnesia: Gaps in memory not associated with normal forgetfulness.
  • Depersonalization: Feeling disconnected from your body.
  • Derealization: Feeling disconnect from your surroundings.
  • Identity confusion: Confusion about who you are.
  • Identity alteration: Feeling different from another part of yourself.

Fugue: Traveling during an episode of memory loss and "coming to" in an unfamiliar place.

Flashback: A dissociative experience where aspects of a past traumatic event are being relived or re-experienced as happening right now.

Trigger: An event, object, or stimulus that reminds someone of a past trauma, which sets off an unpleasant symptom, such as anxiety, flashbacks, or dissociation. A trigger can be anything, and the trigger does not have to be unpleasant in of itself (example: a piece of clothing).

Alters or Parts: The multiple 'personalities' found in DID and OSDD-1. Contrary to popular belief, they are not actually separate personalities but rather parts of one whole personality that has been divided by dissociation. Alters can be very different from each other with different opinions, tastes, desires, or ideas of who they are. Despite any differences, they are all still parts of one whole personality and are all of equal importance. Some people might prefer different words to describe alters, like parts or headmates, or words to describe subjective roles they may have, such as protectors or caretakers.

System: Sometimes used to refer to the entire group of alters. Some people might prefer different words like collective, family, or household.

Plurality or Multiplicity: The experience of multiple senses of selves or parts to oneself.

Singlet or Singleton: Sometimes used to affectionately refer to people who don't experience a system.

Fronting: When an alter is in control of the body, they are fronting. Some people might use different words like hosting or piloting.

Switching: The experience of control being switched or passed over to a different alter. Switching commonly occurs as an involuntary response to a trigger, and is often accompanied with dissociation or amnesia. These symptoms can be managed and reduced with the help of therapy.

Rapid Switching: When the fronting alters are switching rapidly. This usually occurs during highly stressful or unbearable events. It is usually an extremely disorienting experience. Also sometimes called rapid cycling or rolodexing.

Co-fronting: The experience of more than one alter being in control of the body at the same time.

Co-consciousness: The experience of more than one alter being present and aware (but not necessarily being aware of the same things).

Splitting or Forming: The experience of a new alter being created. This happens involuntarily, in response to an overwhelming situation that exceeded the person's ability to cope. Because of that, it is commonly accompanied with dissociation or amnesia.

Internal World: An imagined scenery that some people with dissociative systems may visualize as a part of the internal interactions between their alters. Some people might use different words like headspace, safe space, or inner landscape.

Integration: The opposite of dissociation; it's a natural experience in which information is fully processed and accepted as a part of your own reality. Everyone in the world experiences integration every single day. Those of us with dissociative disorders have a stunted capacity to integrate, which is why we dissociate chronically!

Fusion: The integration of an alter. Fusion is when an alter has been fully processed and accepted as a part of your own reality. When an alter fuses, the barriers separating them off will be completely lowered so that they will always be present and accessible, as opposed to separated off by dissociation and amnesia. Fusion often requires direct and focused work with a therapist, usually during later stages of therapy. Fusion is also optional and not required! It should never be forced onto someone who does not desire it.

REFERENCES

  • Sidran Institute's Dissociative Disorders Glossary

  • International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (2011): Guidelines for Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder in Adults, Third Revision, Journal of Trauma & Dissociation,12:2, 115-187

  • "Amongst Ourselves: A Self-help Guide To Living With Dissociative Identity Disorder" by Tracy Alderman and Karen Marshall
  • "The Haunted Self: Structural Dissociation and the Treatment of Chronic Traumatization (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology)" by Onno van der Hart Ph.D., Ellert R. S. Nijenhuis Ph.D., Kathy Steele

  • "Treating Trauma-Related Dissociation: A Practical, Integrative Approach (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology)" by Kathy Steele, Suzette Boon, Onno van der Hart Ph.D.

  • "Coping With Trauma-Related Dissociation: Skills Training for Patients and Therapists (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology)" by Kathy Steele, Suzette Boon, Onno van der Hart Ph.D.