Dissociative Disorder Treatment in San Diego
During our dissociative disorder treatment in San Diego, Solara Mental Health strives to free our veterans from emotional and physical pain, return them to full psychological health and allow them to live healthy lives. To achieve this goal, our program combines the strengths of individual therapy, group therapy and holistic therapies for comprehensive and effective treatment.
Our clinicians also integrate innovative, trauma-specific therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to address each veteran’s individual experiences, symptoms and needs. This combination of treatment modalities offers veterans specific, effective and compassionate treatment—treatment that helps veterans address the complex symptoms and effects of dissociative disorders and come to live satisfying, healthy, and full lives.
Dissociation to Unity
By definition, “dissociation” is the act of disconnecting one thing from another thing. In dissociative disorders, it is the brain that does this disconnecting. Following a traumatic event, the brain disrupts the usual process of integrating upsetting or frightening memories and emotions. When this process is disrupted, people find themselves unable to fully make sense of what happened to them, and thus unable to process the traumatic event in healthy ways. This can lead to a rift in the mind-body connection, leaving people with dissociation disorders feeling physically or psychologically incomplete.
Types of Dissociation
Symptoms range from amnesia to alternate identities but it all depends on what disorder an individual has. The most common symptoms that are seen in an individual include the experience of detachment or feeling almost as if one is outside of their body and can include loss of memory or amnesia. Other symptoms can include things like:
- A perception of the people and things around you as distorted and unreal (READ: Why Doesn’t Reality Feel Real?)
- A blurred sense of identity
- Significant stress or problem in relationships, work or social settings
- Inability to cope will with emotions/professional stress
- Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts
These symptoms generally show up in an individual diagnosed with Dissociative Disorder. There are four main dissociative disorders defined by the American Psychiatric Association.
Dissociative Amnesia
People with dissociate amnesia find themselves missing memories related to the trauma, including the time when the event happened, specific details of the event, or events immediately after the trauma itself. Sometimes, after a traumatic event, people experience complete amnesia, where they cannot remember anything about the event at all.
Dissociative Fugue State
This is an altered state where patients find themselves unable to remember anything about their past, and as a result, complete confusion over their personal identity. To cope, those in a fugue state form new identities, which can last from just a few hours to several years.
When the fugue state ends, people remember their old experiences and original identity. However, the consequences of this change can cause shame, guilt, confusion and depression as they grapple with both the trauma itself and the fugue state they were in.
Dissociative Identity Disorder
In this disorder, people form alternative personalities, called “alters,” in response to traumatic experiences and stressors. These alters protect the authentic self from painful thoughts and emotions and are very distinct: they can be a different sex, age, race, and nationality from the authentic self, and often have characteristics and habits that vary greatly from that of the original individual.
Those with identity disorder may or may not be aware of when their alters appear, which can lead to intense disorientation, and often anxiety, insomnia, depression, compulsive behavior, and hallucinations.
Depersonalization Disorder
People with depersonalization disorder feel detached from their physical body and their sense of self. Often, this makes people feel as though they are watching themselves in a movie, having an out-of-body experience or simply dreaming. This sensation is distressing and frightening and can cause anxiety, panic and depression.
Dissociative Disorder Treatment
Solara Mental Health understands that the unique nature of dissociative disorders makes them particularly disruptive to everyday life and how it can feel impossible to feel truly whole again. To aid in our veterans’ healing, we have created a psychiatric facility that is calm, quiet and comfortable. It is the perfect oasis from the stresses of day-to-day living. At our mental health treatment facility, veterans are free from potential stressors or triggers, they can simply relax and focus on recovering.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is one of the most common and effective ways to treat dissociative disorder. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based therapeutic modality that provides veterans with concrete steps and practices to develop a healthier and positive way of thinking. Another form of psychotherapy that has proven to treat dissociative disorder is Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT). This form of psychotherapy utilizes self-reflection and interpersonal skill-building exercises in order to change the individual’s damaging behaviors and encourages self-acceptance.
Get Help Today!
Through this dissociative disorder treatment, veterans can receive the reassurance and support they need to finally heal physically, psychologically, and emotionally. While our veterans make considerable and rapid improvements, dissociative disorder is often a long-term condition. Through years of experience, our mental health treatment center has learned how to provides the entire spectrum of care for our veterans.
The peaceful environment of our facility is supported by our compassionate staff. In addition to fostering a sensitive, respectful environment, our clinicians will provide comprehensive, expert holistic treatment to all veterans, helping them safely uncover the causes of their disorder and face the trauma. With our help, they can finally feel secure, safe, and whole.
Contact us now to start the healing process.
Solara’s Dissociative Disorder Treatment for Veterans
An upsetting or frightening event disrupts the brain’s usual process of integrating memories and emotions which could lead to violence. Our program combines the strengths of individual therapy, group therapy, and holistic therapies for comprehensive and effective treatment for veterans. With the assistance and support of our staff of clinicians and specialists, Solara Mental Health San Diego is ready to assist each veteran depending on their specific needs.
Solara Mental Health is VA contracted as a community care provider, which gives us the unique opportunity to help veterans with their mental health needs, including dissociative disorder treatment. Once authorization is approved, we provide housing, transportation, and accommodations.
Proudly Serving Veterans
with TriWest Insurance
