There are many ways our bodies escape from stress. One way is through dissociation. Dissociation is a defense mechanism where we unconsciously push away conflicting or threatening emotions from our subconscious mind. It’s a form of compartmentalizing your feelings so that you do not have to deal with them. Below are a few different signs that you are or have experienced dissociation.
DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or guidance
We also made a video about the differences between Depersonalization vs Derealization:
Writer: Sara Del Villar
Script Editor: Vanessa Tao
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
VO: Amanda Silvera
Animator: Zyan Méndez (@tomboi.studio)
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong
References:
Casarella, J. (2020, September 27). Mental Health: Depersonalization Disorder. WebMD .
Duckworth, M.P., Iezzi, T., Archibald, Y. et al. Dissociation and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Patients With Chronic Pain. International Journal of Rehabilitation and Health 5, 129–139 (2000). :1012958206465
Ehlers, A., & Steil, R. (1995). Maintenance of intrusive memories in posttraumatic stress disorder: a cognitive approach. Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy, 23(3), 217–249.
Gluck, S., & Croft, H. (2016, July 1). Dissociation. Everything is Unreal. HealthyPlace.
MayoClinic Staff. (2017, November 17). Dissociative disorders. Mayo Clinic.
Morton, K. (2020, December 7). Is It Dissociation? YouTube.
Sang, F. Y., Jáuregui-Renaud, K., Green, D. A., Bronstein, A. M., & Gresty, M. A. (2006). Depersonalisation/derealisation symptoms in vestibular disease. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, 77(6), 760–766.
Spiegel, D. (2021, March). Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder – Psychiatric Disorders. Merck Manuals Professional Edition.
Vogel, M., Krippl, M., Frenzel, L., Riediger, C., Frommer, J., Lohmann, C., & Illiger, S. (2019). Dissociation and Pain-Catastrophizing: Absorptive Detachment as a Higher-Order Factor in Control of Pain-Related Fearful Anticipations Prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). Journal of clinical medicine, 8(5), 697.
Tips And Tricks For Ridding Stress From Your Life
How many times have you gotten angry at yourself for misplacing your keys, being late to meet a friend, or forgetting to pay a bill on time? Being angry at ourselves can be one of the most stressful experiences there is. We are our own worst critic. Trying to change this behavior for the better, even a little bit, can help you feel happier and less stressed. Try some of the following tips to get started.
In order to keep your stress level under control, it would be wise to find something that you love doing. This will to keep your mind off of whatever may bring stress in your life. A little time out, if you will? This is important because many people need an activity that will help to give them an outlet, for their frustrations.
A good tip that can help you fight stress is to start being assertive in social situations. Being assertive insures that you’re always being true to your own wants and needs. If you’re passive all the time, you’ll feel resentment to other people and it also comes with stress.
One of the most tranquil things that you can do is a crossword puzzle in the morning. Instead of watching television, challenge your mind the moment that you wake up. This will not only help you get your thoughts off your troubles but help you to feel accomplishment as well.
Call an old friend who you have not spoken to for a long time and catch up on where they are in life. This will bring back the memories that you had with them, which will make you feel great for the rest of the day. Rekindling an old friendship is a great way to eliminate stress.
A great tip that can help you feel less stressed is to go back and finish something that you started. We all know the lingering feeling of leaving something unfinished. By going back and completing something that you left unfinished, your stress will go down and you’ll feel much better.
Sip on tea to help calm yourself. Chamomile tea is known for its calming effect, but there are also other teas that can calm you as well. Try a cup of passionflower, catnip, kava kava, or skullcap. Steep these herbs for about 10 minutes and you will get the full effects of their calming powers.
To reduce stress in your life, learn how to say no. Oftentimes people want to please everyone, yet that is not possible. Learning to say no will reduce the amount of stress you feel, even if you may feel slightly guilty. In the long run reducing your activities will help your stress levels.
Hair is an integral part of the way that you feel about yourself, as it is important to keep everything looking fashionable. Get a hairstyle that you feel comfortable with and is easy to style each and every morning. This will increase your satisfaction and limit the stress in your morning routine.
If you are driving on the road and have something on your mind, sing the words of a song at the top of your lungs. Since no one can hear you, this is a great time to let it all out to a song that you know. Singing is a great form of stress relief.
Try deep breathing exercises in order to reduce stress. Take one deep breath in and hold it for 3 seconds, then exhale as slowly as possible. Do this several times until you feel yourself starting to calm down. Breathing is one of the easiest ways we have to naturally calm ourselves.
One great way to deal with stress is to consider taking a multi-vitamin. This is important along with a healthy diet because your stress might be worsened by you not getting all of the needed nutrients in your regular diet. It is important that you have a well balanced diet in order to be at your peak both physically and mentally.
Cooking is a great form of stress relief as you will be focusing on the recipe and the quality of the meal that you are creating. Follow a recipe and bake something that you always wanted to, which will help to ease any tensions you may be facing in your life.
Before you take action when you are under stress, take the time to breathe first. Put a little distance between yourself and the situation, count to ten while engaging in deep breathing, and then return. You can calm yourself by taking control and being proactive about the situation as opposed to becoming defensive and stressed.
When you are facing the stress associated with a difficult course at school, consider hiring a tutor. Tutors will help to prepare you in advance, reducing stress and procrastination over time. The best way to decrease anxiety is to make sure you are prepared for the situation that is coming up.
Go online and check out the different classes that are available in stress management. Here, you will be dealing with professionals that can help to guide you with important tips to implement in your everyday routine. This will go a long way in putting you in a better state of mind during the day.
When you are feeling stressed out, you may want to take your frustrations out at a gym. Using a punching bag or just exercising helps to release tension so that you can be calm enough to deal with the happenings of your life. It is a plus to have a friend come with you.
Think of a calm scene. Simply placing your thoughts on a calm beach or a cozy fireplace can be enough to destress a situation to make it more bearable. This works because it distracts your mind, but also because it helps you recreate the good feelings you feel about the relaxing scene.
As you can see, being kind to yourself really isn’t that hard, and it sure feels better than being stressed and angry. Don’t underestimate the ill effects of stress on your health. Factor the above tips into your daily habits, and you will be making a very positive investment in your health and your life.
Christopher Conway, the innovative mind behind “Love Blueprints,” is a seasoned relationship expert and author. His insightful guidance, drawn from years of experience and study, offers transformative strategies for modern love and dating. Christopher’s commitment to enhancing romantic connections has made “Love Blueprints” a go-to resource for those navigating the complexities of relationships.