DISSOCIATION

Dissociation is thought to be a primary defense strategy of the human body/mind. Scientists do not know how dissociation works, simply that it does. Dissociation simply means disconnection of aspects which normally are connected - sensation, imagery, behaviour, emotion/feeling states, and meaning. In its extreme form, it is thought by some to be a fundamental reaction to inescapable shock. As humans, we have been doing it since first being chewed by sabre-tooth tigers outside our cave-dwellings! Instinct abandons mindfulness at such times.

Dissociation refers to a continuum of behaviours:

The persistent forms of dissociation take many different forms. Dissociation may occasionally appear as "fugue states" or brief periods of travel while functioning as if another person, often associated with periods of extreme stress or overwhelming life events. Dissociation may be periods of extreme forgetfulness about big "chunks" of one's life, or feeling detached from one's body - like living in a dream. Or it may be the presence of shifting identities, formerly called multiple personalities. Occasionally such individuals have experienced abuse by organized perpetrator groups, or ritual abuse.

Mindfulness is the foundation of my work with people struggling with dissociation. Acceptance of dissociative phenomena is an important step for individuals contending with traumatic aftermath; mindfulness helps. Such work is often very difficult for clients; mindfulness eases the process. People with dissociative difficulties have the same goal as everyone else - to accept all the different parts of oneself!
 

Mindfulness and Counselling
Theory
Mindfulness at Work
Pat Savola Consulting
Home