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Learn more about dissociative disorders
Dissociative disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterised by disruptions or discontinuities in consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, behaviour, or perception of the environment or oneself. Recognised in the DSM-5, these disruptions are not explained by another medical condition and typically arise as a psychological response to overwhelming or traumatic experiences. The main conditions in this group are dissociative identity disorder (DID), in which two or more distinct identity states take control of a person's behaviour and memory; dissociative amnesia, involving significant gaps in autobiographical memory; and depersonalisation and derealisation disorder, characterised by a persistent sense of detachment from oneself or one's surroundings. Across all types, dissociation functions as a way the mind manages what it cannot otherwise process.
Dissociative disorders vary significantly by type, but a number of experiences appear across the group.
Common signs
- Gaps in memory for events, personal information, or periods of time that cannot be explained by ordinary forgetting
- Feeling detached from yourself, your thoughts, or your body
- Hearing voices or experiencing internal dialogue that feels like more than one person
- Finding evidence of having done or said things you do not remember
- Feeling as though the world around you is dreamlike, unreal, or distant
- Significant and unexplained shifts in mood, behaviour, or sense of identity
Other common experiences
- A fragmented or unstable sense of who you are
- Difficulty staying present or grounded, particularly under stress
- Co-occurring anxiety, depression, or trauma symptoms
Dissociative disorders are treated using a careful, phased approach, with stabilisation always preceding trauma processing.
- Trauma informed care Trauma-informed care provides the foundational framework for all work with dissociative conditions, prioritising safety, transparency, and the client's sense of control throughout.
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) EMDR adapted for dissociative presentations helps process traumatic memories in a titrated, carefully managed way that reduces the risk of overwhelm or destabilisation.
- Ego-state therapy Ego-state therapy works directly with the different parts or self-states that have developed in response to trauma, facilitating communication and integration between them.
- IFS (Internal Family Systems) IFS provides a structured framework for working with multiple internal parts, building a more integrated and self-led internal system at a pace that respects the protective function of dissociation.
- Somatic experiencing Somatic experiencing addresses the physiological dimension of dissociation, helping to restore a felt sense of safety and groundedness in the body.
It's Complicated is a therapist-founded mental health platform connecting clients with verified practitioners across Europe and globally, in over 60 languages. We work with over 2,500 vetted therapists, with in-person availability in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vienna, and other major cities, alongside online sessions worldwide. It's Complicated is free to use, and you pay your chosen therapist directly at rates they set.
Dissociative disorders are among the most misunderstood presentations in mental health, and finding a therapist who knows how to work with them safely requires a specific kind of matching. Our matching service is built to remove that friction. You complete a short survey, our psychologists combine data-driven insights with human judgement to identify the right therapists for your situation, and you choose from a shortlist of strong candidates. You can also browse our directory directly if you'd prefer to choose yourself.
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