Ep: 47 Trauma & Dissociation

***Full Episode on Patreon***

In this episode, Dr. Jacob Ambrose and Dr. Vincent Barbieri discuss the relationship between trauma and dissociation, including the many ways traumatic experiences can lead to dissociation as a coping strategy.

Dissociation can show up mentally, emotionally, physically, and behaviorally. It may involve feeling disconnected from yourself, your emotions, your memories, your surroundings, or even other people. While dissociation can eventually become disruptive, it is also important to understand why it developed in the first place. For many people who have experienced trauma, dissociation was once a necessary way of psychologically escaping a reality that did not feel safe or manageable.

We explore how dissociation develops, what dissociation can feel like, and the different ways trauma can affect memory, emotions, identity, relationships, and everyday functioning.

We also discuss complex trauma and CPTSD, including what happens when trauma is chronic rather than isolated, and how healing may require more than simply trying to eliminate symptoms.

Finally, we explore the intersection between trauma and neurodivergence, including how ADHD and autism may interact with traumatic experiences, emotional regulation, overwhelm, and dissociation.

Topics discussed include:
• Trauma and dissociation
• Signs and symptoms of dissociation
• Dissociation as a trauma response
• Complex PTSD (CPTSD)
• Emotional numbness and feeling disconnected
• Depersonalization and derealization
• Trauma and memory
• Childhood trauma
• Chronic trauma and the nervous system
• ADHD and trauma
• ADHD and dissociation
• Autism and trauma
• Neurodivergence and CPTSD
• Emotional regulation
• Healing trauma and dissociation

This content is provided for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized mental health treatment, diagnosis, or medical advice.

#Trauma #Dissociation #CPTSD #ComplexPTSD #ChildhoodTrauma #TraumaHealing #MentalHealth #ADHD #Autism #Neurodivergent #Depersonalization #Derealization #PTSD #Psychology #Therapy