Anxiety disorders and dissociative episodes can both be highly disruptive mental health concerns. When they occur at the same time, the impact can be substantially more severe. The good news is that anxiety and dissociation are treatable. With proper care and a concerted effort, you can learn to manage your symptoms and achieve improved quality of life.
What is the Meaning of Dissociation?
Dissociation is the clinical term for the sense of being detached from your body, thoughts, feelings, and/or the world around you.
This phenomenon is sometimes divided into two sub-categories:
- Depersonalization describes the feeling of losing touch with your mind and/or body.
- Derealization refers to the perception that you have become separated from other people or your environment.
In addition to being a symptom of anxiety, dissociation can also be a sign of several other metal health conditions, including:
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Dissociative identity disorder (DID)
- Depersonalization/derealization disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depressive disorders
Three other common causes of dissociation are:
- Trauma or overwhelming stress
- Drugs such as ketamine, phencyclidine (PCP), and dextromethorphan (DMX)
- Medical concerns such as epilepsy and brain tumors
The length of a dissociative episode can range from a few minutes to several days.
Signs & Symptoms of Dissociation and Anxiety
The combined impact of anxiety and dissociation – including the type, intensity, and duration of symptoms — can vary considerably from one person to another. In general, though, signs of anxiety-related dissociation can include:
- You feel numb to physical or emotional pain.
- You have the sensation of viewing yourself from a distance.
- You lose your sense of who you are, which can include not knowing key facts about your past.
- You have memory gaps related to what you’ve done, where you’ve been, and how you got to your current location.
- Time seems to pass much faster or slower than normal.
- The world seems to have been drained of color.
- You feel as though you are viewing your surroundings through a fog or a pane of glass.
- People and objects seem larger, smaller, closer, or farther away than they really are.
- Reality seems somehow “off,” as if you were inside a dream.
If dissociation occurs during a panic attack, it may be accompanied by symptoms such as:
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Tingling in your hands and feet
- Excessive perspiration
- Difficulty catching your breath
- Racing heart rate and chest pain
Anyone who has periods of anxiety-related dissociation should consult with their doctor or a mental health expert in their area. As we will discuss in greater detail in the next section, anxiety and dissociation are both treatable concerns. But if you don’t get help, your symptoms may become more intense, and their impact on your life may become much more destructive.
Can Dissociative Anxiety Be Treated?
One of the first decisions about treating dissociative anxiety is determining which level or levels of care are best. Typical options include:
- Inpatient treatment: Features of inpatient care for dissociative anxiety include full days of treatment, multiple types of therapies and support services, and 24/7 supervision. When you live at the center where you receive care, you won’t have to worry about the stresses and pressure of daily life. This can help you focus your full attention on your treatment.
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP): Sometimes also referred to as day treatment, this level of care usually involves full days of programming, five days per week. The main difference between a PHP and inpatient treatment is that you won’t live at the center. In the evenings and on weekends, you can return to your home or to an alternative supported residence.
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP): In an IOP, you will usually attend partial days of treatment, two to five days per week. Group therapy is often the main type of treatment at the IOP level, though other therapies and support services may be available depending on your needs and the parameters of the program. Your IOP schedule may give you time to work part-time, take classes, or engage in other productive activities while still benefitting from a structured connection to clinical care
Some patients start at the inpatient level, then step down to a PHP and/or an IOP for continued support. Others only need to receive care at one level. There’s no right or wrong path – all that matters is finding the path that’s right for you.
This focus on personalization extends to the services you receive at each of these levels. Anxiety and dissociation can affect different people in substantially different ways, so a course of care that’s ideal for one person may be unhelpful for someone else.
No medications have been developed specifically to treat dissociation, but several prescription meds can ease the symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The therapeutic component of treatment for these concerns can include:
- Individual, group, and family therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
- Experiential therapies
- Holistic therapies
Professional care can be an essential part of your efforts to achieve improved health, but the symptoms of dissociation and anxiety are unlikely to fully disappear once you’ve completed a treatment program.
This is one of the reasons why effective providers develop detailed discharge plans for patients who are nearing the end of their time in treatment. These customized plans can connect you with professional services and community-based resources that can be sources of ongoing support.
Contact Montare Behavioral Health to Treat Dissociation and Anxiety
Montare Behavioral Health offers life-affirming inpatient and outpatient programming for adults whose lives have been disrupted by anxiety, dissociation, and other mental health challenges.
Our network includes several highly respected mental health treatment centers in Southern California. At each location, you can expect to receive customized care and close personal support from a team of skilled treatment providers.
We understand how anxiety disorders and dissociative episodes can undermine your ability to live a full and satisfying life, and we’re committed to providing the focused care that aligns with your unique needs and goals.
To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
