Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative disorders fragment identity and memory, causing distress and dysfunction. Compassionate, expert treatment fosters safety, integration, and lasting healing.
Dissociative disorders can cause disruptions in memory, identity, emotions, and sense of self, often leaving individuals feeling confused or disconnected from reality. Symptoms can include depersonalization (feeling detached from oneself), derealization (feeling like the world is unreal), amnesia, or identity disruption. These experiences are typically linked to trauma or overwhelming stress and can significantly interfere with daily life.
Clearview Treatment Programs in Los Angeles offers trauma-informed, phase-oriented care for those with dissociative disorder, allowing them to regain stability and function. We help clients develop the best long-term strategies to manage their symptoms and regain stability and independence.
About Clearview
Ages Treated
Adults of all genders (18+)
Payments Accepted
Commercial insurance (in-network and out-of-network), self pay
Medicare/Medicaid
Not accepted
Key Info
Dissociative Disorders
Definition
Dissociative disorders are mental health conditions defined by disruptions in memory, identity, perception, or sense of self that go beyond normal lapses in attention or forgetfulness. Individuals with these disorders may feel detached from their thoughts, emotions, or body, or may experience gaps in memory that cannot be explained by ordinary causes. In some cases, individuals may even feel as though they have different identities or personality states. These symptoms are real and cause serious distress. They can interfere significantly with daily life, relationships, and emotional well-being.
Dissociation often develops as a response to severe or repeated trauma, especially in early childhood when the brain and sense of self are still forming. In these situations, the mind uses dissociation as a protective mechanism, creating distance from overwhelming pain or fear in order to survive. While dissociation can serve as a powerful protective mechanism initially, it can persist into adulthood, leading to ongoing difficulties with memory, self-understanding, identity, and stability.
The Diagnostic + Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) groups dissociative disorders into three main types:
- Dissociative identity disorder (DID)
- Dissociative amnesia (sometimes with fugue)
- Depersonalization/derealization disorder
Dissociation is more common than most people realize. Dissociative identity disorder affects as many as 1 in 100 individuals, and depersonalization/derealization affects about 1-2 in 100. Many people begin to experience symptoms in the teen years or early adulthood, and the condition may occur alongside post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety. A careful evaluation by a mental health professional can help rule out other causes (like psychosis, seizures, or the effects of substance use) and help build an effective treatment plan.
Signs + symptoms
Dissociative disorders can cause a wide range of symptoms that affect memory, sense of self, perception, and awareness. While the symptoms are most often a response to childhood stress or trauma, they can appear in people of all ages.
The most common symptoms include:
- Gaps in autobiographical memory (aka “lost time”)
- Feeling detached from one’s body or surroundings
- Emotional numbness
- Identity alteration or internal “parts” with differing perspectives
- Distress/impairment, with symptoms often worsening under stress
Source: American Psychiatric Association
Risk factors
Common risk factors include:
- Histories of chronic or severe trauma, especially in childhood
- Co-occurring PTSD, mood, anxiety, or personality disorders
- Acute or chronic stress, sleep deprivation
- Some medical factors or substances may exacerbate symptoms
Dissociative disorders + co-occurring addiction
Dissociative disorders and substance abuse are closely connected, as both often develop as ways of coping with overwhelming emotional pain, trauma, or stress. Many individuals with dissociative symptoms, such as feeling detached from themselves or experiencing memory gaps, may turn to alcohol or drugs to numb distressing emotions, reduce anxiety, or temporarily regain a sense of control (Langeland et al., 2008).
Research also shows that trauma, particularly in childhood, is a strong risk factor for both dissociation and substance use disorders, suggesting that these conditions often share the same root causes (Sar et al., 2017).
Because dissociative disorders and substance use share such strong links, treatment is most effective when both are addressed together. Integrated, trauma-informed care that combines psychotherapy with substance use treatment has been shown to improve outcomes, reduce relapse, and help individuals build healthier, safer ways of coping (Sar et al., 2017). Compassionate, evidence-based treatment can break the cycle, allowing individuals to heal, both from the trauma underlying dissociation and the harms of substance use.
Sources:
- Langeland, W., Draijer, N., & van den Brink, W. (2008). Psychiatric comorbidity in treatment-seeking alcoholics: The role of childhood trauma and perceived parental dysfunction. Addiction Behavior, 29(5), 1025–1032.
- Sar, V., Akyüz, G., & Dogan, O. (2017). Prevalence of dissociative disorders among women in the general population. Psychological Medicine, 37(2), 267–277.
Treatment
Because dissociative disorders are experienced differently by each person, there is not one single universal treatment. Individuals may experience unique symptoms and face distinct treatment challenges based on their medical history, personal history, and co-occurring conditions. Multidisciplinary treatment, including a phase-oriented psychotherapy approach, is most effective for the long-term management of the disorder.
These phases, identified and emphasized in the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) professional guidelines, include:
- Stabilization + safety – grounding, skills for emotion regulation, psychoeducation
- Trauma processing (when safe and indicated) – trauma-focused therapies
- Integration & rehabilitation – identity cohesion, daily functioning
We also employ a wide range of proven therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based interventions, and other mind-body therapies that can help individuals with the disorder manage the stress and anxiety caused by their symptoms and develop a deeper awareness and understanding of how the disorder affects them.
Medications
There isn’t a medication that directly “cures” dissociation, but your psychiatrist may use targeted medications for co-occurring symptoms — for example, an antidepressant for depression or sleep support when needed. For depersonalization/derealization disorder, research on medications is limited.
Support for Dissociative Disorder
Family therapy and support groups can be critical to the long-term management of dissociative disorders. Family programs can help educate families on the symptoms and challenges of the disorder and provide them with tools and resources for supporting their loved one. Likewise, social support groups offer a social outlet and community where individuals can share their experiences and hold one another accountable.
Likewise, social support groups offer a social outlet and community where individuals can share their experiences and hold one another accountable.
If you’re struggling with a dissociative disorder, you’re not alone. Contact us to learn more about our mental health treatment programs at 323.402.1622.
Treatment for Dissociative Disorders at Clearview
Dissociative disorder is a complex mental health condition that, when left untreated, can be disabling, isolating, and even dangerous. When a drug or alcohol addiction further complicates the symptoms, the impact on an individual’s life can escalate quickly. The stress of the disorder — experienced by both the affected person and their loved ones — can take a long-term toll on the health, happiness, and quality of life for everyone involved.
Our trauma-informed care blends DBT-based skills with individualized psychotherapy to enhance safety, grounding, and emotion regulation before any trauma processing. Family education and coordinated psychiatric care also support long-term recovery.
The stigma and misinformation surrounding dissociative disorder (and other conditions like it) can make a diagnosis feel devastating — and even hopeless. While these feelings are normal, they don’t have to define the treatment and recovery journey for individuals with this diagnosis.
Clearview Treatment Programs helps clients with dissociative disorder take long-term steps toward healing and stability. We work closely with our clients to determine the most effective combination of therapies, medications, and resources to manage their symptoms and help them thrive in their communities.
We offer residential programs and outpatient treatment that address the symptoms, behaviors, and challenges faced by individuals with dissociative disorder. Our personalized treatment approach combines evidence-based therapies, mind-body therapies, and family programming to provide our clients with the best chance at sustained recovery and full participation in society.
How We Treat
All of our clinicians are extensively trained in incomprehensive dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and many are DBT-Linehan Board Certified. In addition to DBT, our clinicians are certified in various evidence-backed therapies, including:
Our Treatment Programs
Addiction with Co-occurring Mental Health
Women's Mental Health
Gender-Inclusive Mental Health
Clearview Treatment Programs
Outpatient Treatment
Our outpatient programs help clients with mental health disorders maintain a structured treatment routine while providing them with a higher level of independence in their lives. Clearview offers both partial hospitalization programs (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) that can be tailored to each client’s unique symptoms, challenges, and needs.