Witnessing or suffering violence – Any form of violence – from domestic violence to witnessing/surviving assault – can cause a teen to regress or seek shelter from emotional pain through dissociative symptoms. Children are particularly vulnerable to trauma, as their minds are still developing. Some experiences that may serve as initial triggering events for dissociative disorder include, but are not limited to:Ĭhildhood abuse – One of the more common causes of a dissociative disorder is emotional and/or physical abuse in early childhood. These are typically severe enough to cause a person to disconnect from who they used to be, in some form. Causes of Teen Dissociative Disorderĭissociative disorders are triggered by very traumatic experiences. Teens may also experience depression and anxiety. A teen with DID exhibits distinct personality states, with separate memories, independent initiative, and a sense of individuality for each personality.ĭepersonalization Disorder – This subtype is characterized by teens experiencing a sense of detachment from their own lives, as if they’re living in a dream-like state.

The personalities are called “alters” and may exhibit extreme differences, including gender, age, and background. It was previously known as multiple personality disorder. These periods of confused disconnect can last from hours to years, and in some cases, may result in the teens coming up with different personalities as a result.ĭissociative Identity Disorder – This subtype is characterized by teens having two or more personality states present at once. Teens will often still have memories that aren’t connected to the traumatic event but occurred at a similar time.ĭissociative Fugue Disorder – This subtype is characterized by teens feeling extremely disconnected from their normal surroundings, such as where they are and why they’re there. Personality changes that reflect an effort of moving away from othersĭifferent Types of Teen Dissociative Disorderĭissociative Amnesia Disorder – This subtype is characterized by teens having difficulty remembering events or experiences related to a past traumatic experience.Despite unique symptoms, the overarching theme of the condition is: What Does Teen Dissociative Disorder Look Like?ĭissociative Disorder looks different from case-to-case. Instead of enduring a persistent emotional pain because of trauma, teens with dissociative symptoms undergo at times drastic personality changes to reflect a separation between their old and current self.

This is distinct from PTSD, which is similarly caused by trauma. These coping mechanisms help the brain to separate from the event enough to function in everyday life and responsibilities. Teen dissociative disorder is a personality disorder in which the brain shuts down in certain ways, to distance itself from a severe traumatic event or experience.

Depersonalization disorder treatments