We learn to dissociate to cope with physical and emotional pain. This gets us through the tough times but it can be a problem in itself. Learn how alcohol can cause dissociation.
What is Dissociation?
Dissociation is a common response to trauma and can continue for years after the trauma has ended. When we experience unbearable physical and emotional pain our brain goes into a protective mode and detaches from what is happening in that moment.
We may feel like we are watching the experience happen to us or completely black out during the traumatic moment. Our survival instincts kick in and create distance from the trauma.
After the trauma has happened some people will turn to drugs and alcohol to cope. Ultimately these behaviors give the person distance from the painful experience.
How Dissociation Presents
Dissociation shows up in three ways:
Sometimes people won’t remember key parts of an event or a period of time. Some may have no memory of certain years of their life.
Blackouts where someone has no memory of how they got there or where they are.
Feeling foggy like you are viewing the world through a fishbowl.
Dissociation is a coping mechanism that allows a person under stress to disconnect from the normal flow of consciousness. Our brain can compartmentalize trauma so well that it feels like it happened to someone else.
Why Trauma leads to Substance Abuse
Trauma at a young age can lead to self-soothing through substance use or other addictive behaviors. Growing up in a household where alcohol abuse and addiction was present can be traumatic in itself.
Research shows that alcohol addiction can lead to additional trauma which can create new or continued episodes of dissociation.
What gets tricky is when our brains react the same way to something that triggers a person to recall the traumatic event.
For example a person may hear a song or be in a big crowd or anything else that reminds them of the trauma. While they may know they’re not in danger or at risk, the survival part of the brain is reminded of the traumatic event and reacts.
The decision to dissociate is not a conscious one. Sometimes it’s the only way our mind knows how to get through the hard times. It’s the best and safest way we know how to get through. That’s why it’s so important to work on uncovering the original trauma and remedy the addiction that has formed to try to stifle the problem.
Is There Help for Dissociative Disorders and Addiction?
There are many types of treatment for dissociation and many of them overlap with treatment for alcohol and drug addiction.
According to the Mayo Clinic, therapy is the best way to treat these kinds of issues. Keep in mind both addiction and dissociative disorder are chronic conditions that can relapse. One should seek out a treatment center that understands the complexity of your situation.
At Asana Recovery we treat the whole person not just the symptoms of addiction through evidence based therapies.
