Codependency Support Group

"Dissociation is a word that is used to describe the disconnection or lack of connection between things usually associated with each other. Dissociated experiences are not integrated into the usual sense of self, resulting in discontinuities in conscious awareness. In severe forms of dissociation, disconnection occurs in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. For example, someone may think about an event that was tremendously upsetting yet have no feelings about it. Clinically, this is termed emotional numbing, one of the hallmarks of post-traumatic stress disorder. Dissociation is a psychological process commonly found in persons seeking mental health treatment."

I hope this helps. I was curious about your question and did some research online. In layman's terms, I believe the difference is that with dissociative behavior there is a subconscious "switch" that turns off or alters emotional memory of a past traumatic event. It is as though the event did not happen to that person, and in some instances another "identity" is created to house the harmful memories.
With deatchment, there is a conscious decision to no longer invest our emotions into controlling the lives of another person. We no longer accept that our happiness is dependent upon the actions/feelings/results of another person. We leave those we love to account for their own lives.

Hey thanks seeker1-I too did a little research, and have found a bunch of information over the past several months even through required material for classes that I'm taking in psych to finish my degree. I'm almost to the point of declaration that dissociation is the minds normal way to "deal with" trauma, unless it hangs on and continues to affect one's life.?-? Thanks for your input

hey i must have this bad because i know all the bad stuff and some times i can cry but most of the time it is just a fact and not as if it happened to me, moore like something i read in a book not realy me