Dissociation, Alienation, and Fragmentation Flashcards
How do trauma and self-alienation relate?
Trauma can lead to self-alienation. To survive, the sense of self needs to be psychologically distanced from the ongoing trauma. Disown the traumatized part of self to survive (preserve self-esteem, hide away shame, anger, etc, preserve ability to be a ‘good child’)
What do alienation and fragmentation accomplish?
They help maintain attachment to family, but at the expense of self-acceptance
What are some manifestations of self-alienation?
Self-loathing, attack self-esteem, terminal ambivalence, self-sabotage, numb (no emotion), overwhelmed, emotional outbursts, acting-out, addictions, contradictory behaviour, mood shifts, regressive/ aggressive behaviour, dissociative disorders
How are the left and right brains affected by trauma?
The left brain (normal part of personality) carries on after trauma/ avoids trauma. The right brain (emotional part of personality) holds traumatic memories and survival responses
How does the nervous system help defend us against threats?
The Sympathetic Nervous System provides an adrenaline rush to help individuals engage in a ‘fight or flight’ response. The Parasympathetic Nervous System slows down the body for a ‘freeze or submit’ response
What are the different defence strategies?
Fight (protector), flight (distancer), freeze (terrified), submit (ashamed), attach (needy)
What characterizes chronic hyperarousal?
Emotionally overwhelmed, panic, impulsive, hypervigilance, defensive, reactive, angry
What characterizes the window of tolerance?
Feelings are tolerable and reactions fit the situation
What characterizes chronic hypoarousal?
Emotionally underwhelmed, numb, passive, no energy, can’t think, disconnected, trouble saying ‘no’
How might the alienated parts of oneself be experienced?
Overwhelming emotions (ex: despair), chronic expectation of danger, body sensations (ex: tight chest/ jaw), impulses, beliefs (ex: ‘I hate myself’), loss of ability to communicate, hearing voices, constriction (ex: withdrawal), regressive behaviour, alternating dependence and counter-dependence, unchecked self-harm
How can we repair self-alienation?
Need internal compassion for oneself (therapy should focus on this). Need to connect to ‘higher self’ (capable of being the self-healer)
What are the dissociated parts of the self?
Exiles (hold disowned feelings, phobias, needs, hopes, and memories), Managers (suppress the exile’s feelings or needs to carry on with normal life), Firefighters (play a ‘back-up’ role to ensure exiles remain in hiding)
What is the result of disorganized attachment in therapy?
Preoccupation with abandonment, mistrust, view therapist as a rescue or threat, chronic crisis, desire for close connection but it feels threatening, long for contact but fear dependency
