Dissociative disorder/Hysteria: Symptoms, Types, and treatment

 Dissociative disorder

Dissociative disorder\Hysteria is a disorder that is generally found in women, especially young people. In dissociative disorder, there is a disruption in the normal routine of the patient that is in identity, memory, body representation, motor control, behavior, and consciousness. The reason for this can be mental stress, panic, and psychological confusion or conflict. Apart from this, economic, social, and environmental problems can also cause dissociative disorder.

In this disease, the patient unconsciously or sometimes consciously is under stress which leads to physical symptoms. Generally, patients like to keep to themselves and do not express or share their problems with others. 

Dissociative disorders can also be treated through talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy and medication. Treating dissociative disorders can be difficult, but many people learn new ways of coping and their lives get better.

Causes:

• Traumatic events
• Emotional Abuse
• Physical Abuse

Components:

The Five components of the Dissociative disorder are:

• Amnesia
• Identity confusion
• Identity alteration
• Derealization
• Depersonalization

Symptoms

The symptoms can vary from type of dissociative disorder

• A sense of disconnection from self and feelings.
• Severe stress or problems in relationships, work, or other important areas of life.
• The idea that everything and everyone around you is distorted and doesn’t really exist.
• A blurred sense of your own identity.
• Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
• Not being able to handle stress on an emotional or professional level.
• Memory loss, also called amnesia, of certain periods, events, people, and personal information.

The following is the condition during the seizure:

• Aggravation of seizure condition
• tongue being locked( not being able to speak)
• Weakening or twisting of any state of any part of the body
• Not being able to see anything during the seizure
• Numbness or stiffness of hands and feet
• Frequent fainting spells

Types of dissociative disorder

Dissociative identity disorder:

This is formerly known as multiple personality disorder, this disorder involves "Shifting" or "Switching" to other identities. you may feel that two or more people are talking or living inside your head. You may also feel that you are possessed by other identities.

Each of your other identities may have a different name, personal history, and varying features. These identities may include having different manners, voices, and even gender. There may also be unique physical qualities for instance the need to wear eyeglasses. There also are contrasts in how close each identity is with the others. Dissociative identity disorder usually also includes streaks of amnesia and often includes times of confused wandering.

Dissociative amnesia: 

The main symptom of dissociative amnesia is memory loss that's more critical than usual forgetfulness. This memory loss can't be explained by a medical condition. You don’t remember things about yourself or things and people that happened to you, especially things that happened when you were in a state of shock, anxiety, or pain. A spell of dissociative amnesia usually occurs suddenly. Dissociative amnesia may last for a few minutes, barely hours or rarely for months and, years.

This type of dissociative memory may be linked to events that occurred in a particular time frame, such as an intense battle. More rarely, it can involve a complete loss of memory about yourself. Dissociative fugue can sometimes involve travel or a confused wandering away from one’s life. Dissociative fugue is a form of confused wandering.

Depersonalization/derealization disorder:

Depersonalization is feeling a sense of separation from yourself or feeling like you are outside of yourself. You may also feel like you are seeing you're actions, thoughts, and feelings from a distance like you're watching a movie. 

Derealization involves feeling that other people and things are separate from you and seem blurry or dreamlike. You may think that time is going slower or faster.. The world may seem unreal.

You can go through depersonalization, derealization, or both. The symptoms may last hours, days, weeks, or months. You may go through this over and over again for years.

When to see the doctor? (Aspects)

The reasons for this are usually mental and psychological, however, examination of the affected body part and necessary laboratory tests should be done with the advice of a doctor.

 This disease takes on more complications with the increase of unnecessary attention from family and peers, not letting them have any responsibilities, relatives & friends coming to see the patient, and the responsibility of the family. These may increase the symptoms of the disorder on a conscious level. 

During a detailed psychological examination, proper care should be taken to ensure that the patient does not have any other psychiatric illness such as depression anxiety, or personality disorder. Related treatments for these diseases can be done with drugs.     

Psychological treatment:

Psychological treatment is needed in this situation. In which the unconscious stress of the patient is brought to the conscious level through communication. In addition, it is important to put you're self in the place of the patient and think if it ( dissociative disorder) would have happened if you were the victim of this stress and you should also try to find out the cause of this while talking to the patient. It is thought that psychological confusion can be dealt with by working on thoughts and attitudes.

In my experience, I have seen that most patients can't immediately tell the reason for their disorder this can be done if you first ask about their daily routine and talk about the environment from which you can try to find the cause and generally understand their problem.

Precautions:

• Eat simple foods in your meal
• Avoid market items, fried, and all other bakery products in case of illness
• Do not feed the patient spicy food
• Minimize as much use of mobile and social media as you can during illness 

There should be good and proper communication between institutions, home and family relationships, and romantic relationships. Instead of criticizing each other, everyone should have the right to express their views. We should promote the spirit of helping each other. Amicable relations should be maintained by doing this you can avoid complications arising within the mind.