Have you ever driven home without remembering the details of your journey? Or become so engrossed in a book or movie that you lose track of time and your surroundings?
If you’ve experienced one or both of these scenarios, you’re not alone. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), almost 75% of people experience at least one episode of mild dissociation during their lifetime.
Dissociation, or anxious dissociation is one of the ways your mind may cope with anxiety. In mental health, both dissociation and anxiety are closely related.
Although dissociation from anxiety is common, other conditions can also cause dissociation. If this occurs, it can trigger dissociating anxiety.
Understanding the relationship between the two, including their symptoms, causes, and treatments, can help ensure effective treatment.
Understanding Dissociation
Dissociation is a mental process that can make a person feel like an observer of their own life. It’s an involuntary response that anyone can experience. When it occurs, the person essentially disconnects from their:
- Thoughts
- Memories
- Feelings
- Environment
- Actions
- Sense of identity
A mental health specialist can diagnose the condition by understanding a patient’s medical history and performing relevant tests.
Types of Dissociation
According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses (DSM-5), there are three types of dissociative disorders. Each has varying symptoms that can affect every area of mental function.
- Dissociative identity disorder – a chronic mental illness where a person develops two or more distinct personalities
- Dissociative amnesia – the inability to recall personal information
- Depersonalization/derealization disorder – can involve experiencing a feeling of detachment from one’s body, self, or mind (depersonalization) or a sense of disconnection from one’s surroundings (derealization)
Symptoms of Dissociation
The frequency or severity of the trauma often determines the duration of episodes. Symptoms can be mild or more severe depending on the type of dissociation. They may include:
- Emotional numbness or detachment
- Out-of-body experiences
- Memory lapses
Causes of Dissociation
Trauma is usually the most common cause of dissociation. Frightening or unpredictable environments can also trigger it. Some other causes include:
- Substance abuse
- Sleep Deprivation
- Brain tumors or head injuries
- Chronic stress
- Overwhelming situations
In these cases, dissociation becomes a natural defense mechanism that allows the person to cope.
Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or fear, often accompanied by physical symptoms. It can become a major issue if it’s frequent, difficult to control, or interferes with daily life.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders develop when symptoms persist or worsen over time. The National Institute of Mental Health lists four main types of anxiety disorders. The risk factors for each vary, but both genetic and environmental factors can contribute to their development.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder – an ongoing feeling of dread that can affect daily life
- Panic Disorder – frequent, unexpected periods of intense fear, sense of losing control, or discomfort when there isn’t any trigger or danger
- Social Anxiety Disorder – an intense fear or feeling of being judged by others or being watched
- Phobia-related Disorders – an aversion to or intense fear of specific situations or objects characterized by an extreme, disproportionate reaction to the object or situation
Symptoms of Anxiety
Symptoms may differ based on the anxiety trigger. Some physical symptoms may be a result of a serious health issue. Other symptoms of anxiety could be:
- Emotional such as excessive worry and fear
- Cognitive including difficulty concentrating or trouble sleeping
- Behavioral leading a person to avoid things or places that trigger anxiety
Some people who have anxiety may also have obsessive thoughts, feelings of doom, or impending danger.
Factors Causing Anxiety
Stressful life events and trauma can cause anxiety. Environmental factors can also trigger them.
The Relationship Between Dissociation and Anxiety
The relationship between dissociation and anxiety is complex. Dissociation can be a coping mechanism to deal with anxiety or stress. However, the fear of losing control due to dissociation can cause anxiety.
Anxious Dissociation: Dissociation from Anxiety
When a person feels threatened it triggers a fight or flight response. The former results in the person confronting the danger. If the latter occurs, the person finds a way to escape which could include dissociating.
Anxious dissociation allows a person who is feeling extreme fear, stress, or anxiety to temporarily disconnect from themselves or their surroundings. Experiencing dissociation from anxiety provides a way of managing overwhelming emotions, especially during panic attacks.
Recognizing dissociative symptoms can facilitate effective treatment and improve mental health.
Dissociating Anxiety: Feeling Anxious About Dissociating
Dissociating anxiety occurs when a person fears experiencing dissociation. Feeling disoriented and out of control during an episode can cause a person to fear experiencing it again. A person may develop a fear of:
- Permanently losing touch with reality
- Going crazy
- Developing schizophrenia
These can significantly increase anxiety levels elevating the risk of depression, and other mental health conditions.
Treatment Options That Address Both Issues
Several treatment options address both dissociation and anxiety. They include therapy and medication. Your physician may decide to use one or both depending on the severity of your symptoms.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a common treatment that can help you understand the underlying cause of your condition and learn effective coping mechanisms. A therapist with experience and advanced training in dealing with trauma may use therapeutic approaches as an alternative to medication. They may include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – addresses thought patterns by identifying and altering negative thinking and behavior to better manage problems
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – focuses on regulating emotions to improve quality of life
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – uses eye movements while processing traumatic memories to alleviate the stress associated with them.
Medication
Some physicians use anti-anxiety medications along with psychotherapy and lifestyle changes to reduce the body’s fear signals. Anti-depressants help with mood regulation while reducing symptoms that trigger dissociation.
Managing Dissociation and Anxiety Effectively
Dissociation and anxiety are closely related. Anxious dissociation or dissociation from anxiety is a mechanism the mind uses to cope with fear. However, dissociating anxiety can occur when a person is afraid of being out of control during a dissociation episode.
If you’re experiencing symptoms related to both, Advanced Behavioral Health can help. Our team of caring psychologists has extensive experience treating anxiety and mood-related disorders. We specialize in effective therapy models.
Schedule a consultation to begin your personalized journey to emotional wellness.