Dissociation
Ingrid Camacho, MHC
Dissociation - the new buzzword roaming around on social media. Many folx have noticed that they feel disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, experiences, memory, and identity throughout the pandemic. Dissociation can feel scary and isolating. Let’s explore more about dissociation and some coping strategies you can try!
What is Dissociation?
Dissociation is a way for our minds to disconnect from the intense things that are going on around us. This disconnection usually happens as a way for us to cope with an extreme amount of stress or trauma and is sometimes considered a means of survival.
What does dissociation look like?
Dissociation looks different for everyone but some common themes happen for most people. For starters, some people might choose to disconnect from the intensities around them by practicing mindfulness meditation, yoga, or other similar activities. Dissociation can also happen as a result of the use of alcohol or other substances. However, there are other symptoms of dissociation that might last longer than the examples given. This includes some things like:
Constantly feeling like you are experiencing your life, or certain situations, outside of your body
Not being able to remember certain moments or experiences/having gaps in your memory
Frequently feeling disconnected from your mind, body, and/or emotions
Experiencing your life like a movie rather than the person who is living it
Dissociation and COVID
Living through a pandemic is not something any of us thought we would have to live in our lifetime. Many of us have been doing our best to cope with this traumatic event that has been going on for almost two years! We may find ourselves purposely dissociating with the use of alcohol/other substances or perhaps we have realized that we are intentionally separating ourselves from the intensity of this pandemic. How do we continue to survive this pandemic without always turning to dissociation to cope?
Remember feelings are not bad! It has been drilled in us that feelings are bad when they are not. Feelings have a time, place, and purpose. Give yourself time to let yourself feel and figure out what your mind and body need at this moment.
Explore other ways to cope with your feelings. Try to remember a time (pre-COVID) where something intense happened. What did you do? Did you take a bubble bath? Cooked a meal? Took a walk? Read a good book? Go back to this!
Be intentional with this activity! Make sure you actively connect what you are doing to calm your intense feelings and be present in the moment. Practice makes perfect so even if this might not settle you completely, continue to practice this new routine to retrain your brain so that you do not have to dissociate every time something intense happens.