The Dissociation Project

By

Dissociation: a break in how the mind handles information.

Common symptoms: Feeling disconnected from one's thoughts, feelings, memories, and surroundings. Altered sense of identity and perception of time

The symptoms often go away on their own, though it could take hours, days, or weeks (webmd.com)

Why

An interview with a person who experiences chronic severe dissociation in addition to two evocative art pieces that represent how a light dissociative experience makes a person feel

How

Although dissociation is a common trauma response, it is not well known and often can go unrecognized, despite the severe effects it can have on a person's life

Precedents

Prototypes

Sketches Option 1

Compile all sketches in one slide (delete this)

Interview Background Info

Depersonalization

Derealization

Heavy Dissociation / Shutdown Dissociation (colloquial term)

"A mental state in which one's thoughts and feelings seem unreal or don't belong to oneself, or in which one loses all sense of identity."

"A mental state where you feel detached from your surroundings. People and objects around you may seem unreal. Even so, you're aware that this altered state isn't normal."

"Shutdown dissociation includes partial or complete functional sensory deafferentiation, classified as negative dissociative symptoms ... An evolutionary-based concept of shutdown dissociative responding."

Interview Q&A

Dissociation is unique to each person and experience. These are subjective summaries. This does not always apply to every person and every experience

How would you describe your experience with depersonalization, derealization, and heavy dissociation

“I feel like I am living a fake life where nothing around me is real. Like I'm in a movie or a video game where I am controlling myself but it feels off or fake.”

"I feel like everything around me is real but I'm not. Sometimes it feels like someone else is controlling me and i’m just watching it happen."

“Heavy dissociation feels and looks similar to zoning out, but amplified by 1000. You don’t realize it’s happening when you start experiencing severe dissociation. It’s feels like you take a step away from your body. It feels like I'm not seeing anything and all my thoughts feelings senses and consciousness disappear”

Interview Q&A

Dissociation is unique to each person and experience. These are subjective summaries. This does not always apply to every person and every experience

How do you feel after dissociating?

• Annoyed
• Drained
• Numb
• Sad
• Lonely
• Mad at herself

Interview Q&A

Dissociation is unique to each person and experience. These are subjective summaries. This does not always apply to every person and every experience

What was the earliest dissociative experience you are aware of?

“When I was younger I had sudden emotional outbursts where I felt younger than I was and like I lost all control of my body. I was unaware of those events after they occurred. I couldn't remember any of it even after someone else told me what happened or showed me videos of it happening."

Interview Q&A

Dissociation is unique to each person and experience. These are subjective summaries. This does not always apply to every person and every experience

How does dissociation affect your life?

“It affects everything. I can't do things I want to do sometimes. I can't remember parts of my life or even things I did yesterday. Sometimes I can’t be active in conversations or class. I struggle with homework because dissociation makes it take longer.”

Why is it important to educate people about dissociation

“To destigmatize the reality of dissociation and help remove the fear around it. So people can better understand other people who dissociate and be better supports because it’s likely they know someone who dissociates. So they can learn and not feel alone if they find out or know they struggle with dissociation.”