Dissociative Disorder is categorized as pathology of consciousness. It is characterized by intense feelings of disconnection, which can be so severe that it does not allow for functioning in daily life. This type of disorder can involve impared awareness of actions, thoughts, physical sensations or even personality. Common symptoms involve depersonalization and derealization. Depersonalization involves a feeling of being disconnected with oneself, it can seem like an individual is observing his or her body from outside or a person may feel like a robot, which does not have any control over his actions. Derealization, on the other hand, is a feeling of being disconnected from the surrounding environment. The world can feel unreal or dystant and the same can happen with other people from that world.

Dissociative Disorder comes from trauma in childhood, typically early childhood abuse or neglect. It firstly works as a defense mechanism or the way of escaping negative feelings and experiences. 

The treatment for Dissociative Disorder involves therapy. As disorder is developed due to the trauma, during therapy the patient learns how to process the trauma. In the most severe type of Dissociative Disorder, Identity Dissociative Disorder, which is associated with multiple personalities or alters, treatment’s aim is to fuse the identities. 

Oasis. (2017, November 20). Dissociative disorders - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF2zeOdE5GY.