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Structural dissociation of the personality

From Dissociative Identity Disorder, Dissociation and Trauma Disorders
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FMRI scans are able to capture distinct states (ANP) switching with one another in DID. This is the only disorder where two or more distinct states (ANP) have ever been observed. The smaller lit up areas on the images are seen in all the Dissociative and Trauma Disorders. These are "less than distinct states (EP)," or as the DSM calls them, "discontinuities in sense of self and agency (EP)." OSDD images show one distinct state only, and it switches with the less than distinct states at random times, without ever needing a trigger. All states can literally be lit up on a scan at one time. In PTSD there is only one less than distinct state (EP) and only one distinct state (ANP), and both states stay lit until a trigger causes the less than distinct state (EP) to respond (flashback or other reaction to unprocessed trauma events) and then the distinct state (ANP) disappears from the image and the less than distinct state (EP) takes over. When an individual has the complex version of PTSD there is always two less than distinct states (EP), which stay together in the scans. In Borderline personality disorder (BPD) the distinct state (ANP) is always visible until the individual is in distress, and then the two distinct states (EP) show up together, but don't take over, as is seen in PTSD, and so there are no flashbacks or other symptoms reacting from the unprocessed trauma events, but there are other dissociative symptoms. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

"The Haunted Self: Structural DissociationStructural dissociation (SD) is one of the three accepted etiological ideas for the etiology of dissociative identity disorder. {{Rp|158-165}} It also explains other specified dissociative disorder, dissociative forms of borderline personality disorder, and dissociative posttraumatic stress disorder {{See also| Structural dissociation}}Structural dissociation of the personality is a theory that describes the effect of trauma on the personality. It applies to PTSD, complex PTSD, other specified dissociative disorder and dissociative identity disorder. and the Treatment of Chronic Traumatization" authored by Onno van der Hart, Ellert Nijenhuis (pronounced Nee-An-Hoff), and Kathy Steele, is the landmark book that brought enough reason to known neurological factors that researchers, at that time took notice as the authors introduced the "theory of structural dissociationStructural dissociation (SD) is one of the three accepted etiological ideas for the etiology of dissociative identity disorder. {{Rp|158-165}} It also explains other specified dissociative disorder, dissociative forms of borderline personality disorder, and dissociative posttraumatic stress disorder {{See also| Structural dissociation}}Structural dissociation of the personality is a theory that describes the effect of trauma on the personality. It applies to PTSD, complex PTSD, other specified dissociative disorder and dissociative identity disorder. of the personalityEvery individual has a personality that is composed of many diverse, fragmentary and generally illusory images of [[Personality|self]]. (see multiples) The DSM-IV uses the term identity in its definition of dissociation. (see identity) {{Rp|127}}." The theory has advanced in many ways since 2006, and van der Hart and Nijenhuis have been strong advocates for its advancement. [7]

Exposure to multiple types of trauma over multiple developmental epochs is associated with a wide range of clinical problems including emotion dysregulation (numbness, dissociationDissociation is a compartmentalization of experience, where elements of a trauma are not integrated into a unified sense of the self. {{Rp|4-810, 127}}The lay persons idea of [[dissociation]], that which exists in the normal mind, is not what is referred to in this document. {{Rp|233-234}} alternating with hyperarousalIncreased arousal response, which is a diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Symptoms include "hypervigilance, exaggerated startle, sleep disturbance, concentration difficulties and anger"{{Rp|82}} plus physical tension, and emotions include anxiety and fear, a feeling of "experiencing too much" {{Rp|3,40,213}}. and emotional flooding); behavioral dysregulation (impulsive, self-destructive and aggressive behavior); identity problems including difficulties with body image and eating disorders; disruption in meaning (e.g., feeling life has no purpose); interpersonal problems; and somatization and medical problems including chronic fatigue, heart disease and autoimmune disorders. -Bethany L Brand and Ruth A Lanius [8]

Structural dissociationStructural dissociation (SD) is one of the three accepted etiological ideas for the etiology of dissociative identity disorder. {{Rp|158-165}} It also explains other specified dissociative disorder, dissociative forms of borderline personality disorder, and dissociative posttraumatic stress disorder {{See also| Structural dissociation}}Structural dissociation of the personality is a theory that describes the effect of trauma on the personality. It applies to PTSD, complex PTSD, other specified dissociative disorder and dissociative identity disorder. is the mechanism that brings all crucial childhood "endured" elements to culmination, ultimately resulting in the following disorders: posttraumatic stress disorder, other specified dissociative disorder, and dissociative identity disorder. Borderline personality disorder is the exception in that it is not caused by structural dissociation, but some with the disorder fall victim to it. [2] [9] [3] Structural dissociation is a "neurological process", where an accumulation of unprocessed trauma events overwhelm the mind, brain and the individual as a whole, causing a separation in the functions of the personality. [10] One area of the personality is phobic of unprocessed trauma events, but being buffered from them it is capable of routine, daily activities. The other area which is barricaded off from the first, is emotionally affected by unprocessed trauma events and the lack of effective communication that is cycling between the mind and brain. [2] [9] [3] Structural dissociation is the only time a "split" will ever occur; there is never any action that could be properly called a split during state (ANP/EP) creation. Which mental disorder results when structural dissociation takes place is dependent on many factors including the chronological age of the earliest traumas, the value of the traumas, and if a secure attachment was formed with a primary caregiver or not during childhood. [3] A secure attachment defines what results in the brain, and perhaps even the mind when a child's basic needs are met by any primary caregiver in the earliest years of childhood. If a child's needs were not met, then both the mind and brain were affected enough that the individual suffers an inability to process trauma events, which ultimately results in one of a few select mental disorders. The innate ability to handle stress has been suggested as a contributing factor by some researchers, but as of late that idea is not very popular. [2] Acute stress disorder (ASD) and the simple Dissociative Disorders have not been associated with structural dissociation in recent literature and so will not be addressed here.

"When individuals do not succeed in integrating an adverse embedded event, they will evolve different dissociative subsystems of the personality as a whole embedded biopsychosocial system." - Ellert R.S. Nijenhuis: [11]
The personality is not a container that holds states, but instead is a region where neurons, chemicals, electrical activity and other aspects of the mind and brain interact. It would be appropriate to think of the personality as one area divided into two by a dissociative boundaryA dissociative boundary separates dissociated states. {{See also | Amnesia}}. On one side of the boundary are the "apparently normal parts of the personality" (ANP) and on the other side are the "less than distinct parts of the personality" (EP). The ANP is a "distinct state" characterized by unusually narrow thinking, a lack of curiosity, forgetfulness, and it lacks the ability to access the full extent of an individuals life. When there are two or more ANP, which only happens in dissociative identity disorder, intense phobia and true amnesia are highly evident between distinct states. In posttraumatic stress disorder, and to a much lesser extent, other specified dissociative disorder, there is a lack of identification between states, but in dissociative identity disorder the states are highly separate and phobic of one another.

Primary, secondary and tertiary Structural Dissociation

As already explained, all mental disorders that subside within the "Structural Dissociation umbrella" officially begin when the personality is segregated, with one division containing a distinct state known as an "apparently normal part of the personality" (ANP) and the other division holding a less than distinct state, known as an "emotional part of the personality" (EP). [12] [3] If there are no more states created the individual maintains "Primary Structural Dissociation," which involves the well known disorder posttraumatic stress disorder. To be clear, there is only one ANP and one EP in Primary Structural Dissociation, and thus in posttraumatic stress disorder. This disorder can present at any time in an individuals life, but an abundance of evidence has been presented in an attempt to prove that individuals who were able to obtain a secure attachment during their childhood, with a primary caregiver are immune to ever having posttraumatic stress disorder. [13] [2] [12]

Primary Structural Dissociation

The next level of complexity is "Secondary Structural Dissociation," which consists of a complex form of posttraumatic stress disorder, other specified dissociative disorder and one more mental disorder that, because it complicates things, will be explained separately. For whatever reason, some individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder are able to create exactly one additional EP, and only one. [2]:243-493 Onno van der Hart and Ellert Nijenhuis have recently hypothesized that the second EP might be created as a necessity when the original EP is burdened with more unprocessed trauma events than it can handle. [5] The authors of "Neurobiology and Treatment of Traumatic Dissociation toward an embodied self," Ulrich F. Lanius, Sandra L. Paulsen, Frank M. Corrigan, have a slightly different thought on why the personality of individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder have the capacity to evolve and create an additional EP. They hypothesize that when the original EP is active enough, it matures and then unprocessed trauma events leak to the ANP, and another EP is created in response. [2]:243-493 Both ideas entertain good thinking, and time will have to sort out who is right.

Secondary Structural Dissociation

Other specified dissociative disorder is a complex Dissociative Disorder, which establishes itself securely during the childhood years, and it's thought it is caused by child abuse, and a lack of a secure attachment. An absence of these two important childhood accomplishments, eventually result in an accumulation of unresolved trauma, which determine structural dissociation. [14] In this disorder, there is always one distinct state (ANP), however there are always two or more EP. What makes this disorder unique from all other mental disorders is the EP, of which there are usually far more than two, are highly capable of functioning as a seemingly whole individual, with the ANP acting like a "front." The EP in many with this disorder can take over executive control and mimic dissociative identity disorder, but this is not a disorder that is "almost like" dissociative identity disorder in any respect, other than the fact that the EP in both disorders have the capabilities in some individuals to take over "full control." The EP do not have this ability in any other mental disorder. [2]:243-493 This disorder probably always exists in childhood, but sometimes does not show itself until an individual is in an extreme situation. Examples include individuals who are long term political prisoners, recruits into cults or terror organizations, prisoners of war, kidnap victims, or involved in brain washing and thought reform programs. [15] }

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Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is considered under the umbrella of Secondary Structural Dissociation, but the disorder is not caused by structural dissociation. Some individuals with borderline personality disorder do have unprocessed trauma events that build up, and it's that build up that overwhelms the mind, brain and the individual causing structural dissociation. It's important to note, that this disorder comes first, and is followed by structural dissociation, and not the other way around. [13] [16] [17]:3-120

Tertiary Structural Dissociation

The most complex level of Structural Dissociation is called "Tertiary Structural Dissociation", and only dissociative identity disorder is thought to exist in this realm. [3] The reasons are as complicated as the disorder, but to put it in simple terms, it's the fact there are two or more distinct states, which are, of course, the apparently normal parts (ANP) of the personality, and only this disorder has two or more distinct states. [17]:3-120 [18] [3] Like other specified dissociative disorder, dissociative identity disorder has at least two less than distinct states (EP) and usually many more. [17]:3-120 [18] [3] Onno van der Hart and Ellert Nijenhuis strongly believe the reason for the two or more distinct states is that this disorder manifests itself during infancy, and then during the next "phase of childhood" during which, massive changes to the brain and mind take place. [6] [17]:1-190 The individual with dissociative identity disorder is altered severely, and is no longer the person they were genetically born to be, in very important ways including their thought patterns and their innate way of being. [17]:3-120 [2]:243-493 There are always two or more EP in individuals with dissociative identity disorder, due to the overwhelming unprocessed trauma events and associated content and volume, and to put it simply; if an EP carries too many unprocessed trauma events then a new EP is created to hold the unprocessed trauma events. [17]:3-120 The mind and brain work in unison to keep unprocessed trauma events from the ANP's so the individual can literally survive, but not survive the pain of the unprocessed trauma events; they need to survive how disrupted the brain and mind have become due to unprocessed trauma events. [17]:3-316 [3] The ANP are disturbingly phobic of the unprocessed trauma events, even though they don't "act" like it when they are in "executive control" of the individual. As a result of the dissociative boundaries, the ANP in executive control can and usually does appear strong and confident, but that is far from reality. [3]

Individuals with dissociative identity disorder report that while "inside", the dissociative boundaries work to keep the ANP separate from all other states and from knowledge that the mind and brain hold. The ANP in executive control appear to be bound by an entirely different set of dissociative boundaries than they do while conscious inside, and not active "outside", which helps keep the ANP from sharing unprocessed trauma events with any inside state. To put it simply, the ANP are reported to share a different set of unprocessed trauma events when they are in the inner world than they do when they are in executive control. The unprocessed trauma events shared with ANP that are in executive control is not identical to the memory sharing they might have while not in executive control, because what is shared while in executive control is real memory and not unprocessed trauma events. This is one of the reasons that dissociative identity disorder is so very hard to understand. It's a distinctly complex system only experienced by those who truly have dissociative identity disorder.

Quick reference to Structural Dissociation

Primary Structural Dissociation

Secondary Structural Dissociation

Tertiary Structural Dissociation

True dissociation

This is a direct quote by Ellert R.S. Nijenhuis which brilliantly defines dissociation. [11]

Dissociation in trauma entails a division of an individual’s personality, i.e., of the dynamic, biopsychosocial system as a whole that determines his or her characteristic mental and

behavioral actions. This division of personality constitutes a coreThe terms "core" and "original" were used back in history to mean the part that body was born with, but today we know there is no such part. Many also incorrectly assume the host or ANP is what they call the core. {{Rp|59}} {{Rp|80, 87-88}} (see personality and alters) (see personality)Note: Outside of the dissociative disorders the term core is used by some to mean an individuals "suchness;" a part that is "beneath narrative and memory, emotional reactivity and habit." {{Rp|208-209}} feature of trauma. It evolves when the individual lacks the capacity to integrate adverse experiences in part or in full, can support adaptation in this context, but commonly also implies adaptive limitations. The division involves two or more insufficiently integrated dynamic, that is changeable, but excessively rigid subsystems. These subsystems exert functions, and can encompass any number of different dynamic configurations of brain, body, and environment. These different configurations manifest as dynamic actions and implied dynamic states. The dissociative subsystems can be latent, or activated in a sequence or in parallel. Each dissociative subsystemA system, within a system, is seen in otherwise specified dissociative disorder and possibly dissociative identity disorder if the individual were programmed., i.e., dissociative part of the personality includes its own, at least rudimentary

person perspectives, that is, its own epistemic pluralism and epistemic dependency. As each dissociative part, the individual can interact with other dissociative parts and other individuals, at least in principle. Dissociative parts maintain permeable biopsychosocial boundaries that keep them divided, but that they can in principle dissolve.Phenomenologically, this division of the personality manifest in dissociative symptoms that can be categorized as negative or positive, and cognitive-emotional or sensorimotor.

To summarize, Ellert R.S. Nijenhuis is saying that dissociation is only present when unprocessed trauma events have built up to the point they have overwhelmed an individual and as a result there is not a compromised personality system with dissociative barriers separating the distinct and less than distinct states from one another.

Dissociative boundariesA dissociative boundary separates dissociated states. {{See also | Amnesia}}

Without the contributions by Onno van der Hart, Ellert Nijenhuis and Kathy Steele, the prototype of this theory outlined by Pierre Marie Félix Janet would have probably been lost and psychology would have continued down the wrong path. [3] Ellert Nijenhuis and Onno van der Hart, in particular, have updated Janet's ideas and have taken into account modern day fMRI imaging, neurochemistry, interpersonal neurology, and of course the accumulated knowledge contributed by the field of developmental psychology. [1] [18] [19] A basic lesson in neurochemistry is needed before moving on, which can be summed up by saying what goes in does not always come out, and of course, visa versa. The dissociative boundaries around "parts of the personality" (states) in the various disorders involved in Structural Dissociation, differ as much as if you were to pour a pulp filled glass of orange juice through a tight knit sieve and compare it to pouring a corrosive acid through the same sieve. You can imagine the pulp of the juice would stay outside the boundary for the most part, where the acid would not only go right through, but it would destroy the sieve in places where it has contact. [20]:709-826 With that simple understanding, you should now be able to see that it's not only the parts of the personality that differ among the disorders encompassed by Structural Dissociation, but the boundaries around them as well. [4] In addition, there are neurological and psychological differences, so open your mind and think about more than psychology. ([20]:3-26 [2] [3]

Both ANP and EP appear to have dissociative boundaries associated with them consisting of various different chemical, physical, neurological and psychological makeups, and as a result, they respond to different stimuli. This is fascinating in other specified dissociative disorder as the ANP remains in "executive control," while the various EP take over enough to make the ANP do their "bidding". It's a complex system of one distinct state controlled by many less than distinct states. There is dissociative amnesia between the states, at times, but there is only one distinct state in other specified dissociative disorder, and true amnesia only exists between two or more distinct states, so it is only seen in dissociative identity disorder. [21] [1]

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True amnesia

There are many ways that time loss can be experienced, but the only "true amnesia" is that experienced between two distinct states, and only dissociative identity disorder has two or more distinct states. Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder sometimes don't remember traumatic events, people with other specified dissociative disorder might forget where their car keys are left, or they might have no memory of what a less than distinct state (EP) does when it switches with the ANP, but that is still is not true amnesia. Again, true amnesia can only occur between two distinct states (ANP).

The formal cause of trauma

Few could explain this better, so in the words of Ellert R.S. Nijenhuis: [11]

The formal cause of trauma is the existence of two or more conscious subsystems of the personality as a whole biopsychosocial system. Integration includes several actions: synthesis, personification, and presentification. Synthesis stands for creating cohesion and coherence among current sensorimotor, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral actions. The connection must be such that the actual present is experienced and known as the most real. The near past and anticipated future should also be quite real for the individual, and generally more real than the distant past and anticipated future. Presentification of the past commonly implies putting experiences in symbols. Normal autobiographical memories are thus mostly stories told, that is, narratives. Realization is more than experiencing and knowing that an event or fact is real. It includes acting responsibly on the basis of the experienced and conceived reality. Trauma involves major problems of integration. These symptoms relate to a lack of integration of the personality in trauma when that which traumatized individuals do not synthesize, personify, presentify, and realize is not gone from them.

Cyclic trauma processing in the traumatized mind, and overwhelming of the brain, mind and individual resulting in structural dissociation of the personality

Each bullet refers to an item on Chart A, which demonstrates the unyielding cycle of psychological trauma, referred to here as the "trauma cycle," which impairs individuals who are unable to stop this cycle. These individuals share common "environmentally caused characteristics," which revolve around a confusing childhood. A common aspect is none were able to form a secure attachment with a primary caregiver during childhood. The authors of have reported that this results in inadequate develop to a part of the brain that is normally developed in childhood, but Ellert Nijenhuis disagrees with them. [2] It is possible that the disturbance is in the mind, rather than the brain.

  • "MindThe mind exist independently of the brain, is made up of various parts, and is a mental, rather than a physical organ like the brain. It relates to our inner subjective experience and the process of being conscious or aware. In addition, the mind can also be defined as a process that regulates the flow of energy and information within our bodies and within our relationships, an emergent and self organizing process that gives rise to our mental activities such as emotion, thinking, and memory." {{Rp|1}} (see integration) seeking input" - A "trauma event" commences; the brain deals with the actual trauma event, and the unprocessed trauma events are processed in the hippocampus of the brain either immediately or within the next 30 days or so; at least that's what is normal, however the individual who had a confusing childhood and did not form a secure attachment does not fare as well. For these people, a trauma event commences, and the brain deals with it, but it leaves the brain confused as how to deal with the unprocessed trauma events. Their mind went into flight, freeze, fight, fright, faint "Polyvagal responses" during the trauma event, but after it's over the mind, which should not have, stayed stuck there. The person might appear calm on the outside, but inside it's a whole other story. After the trauma event has ended, their mind is seeking a signal from the brain so it knows what to do. If all were to be working well, the brain would have sent a signal in reply to the minds inquiry, telling it a unprocessed trauma event has been processed. In individuals who are unable to process unprocessed trauma events correctly, the brain sends a confusing signal back to the mind, and in response the mind sends a signal back to the brain asking for clarification. [2] [22] [23] [24] [17] [3]
  • "The brain is unable to respond to the mind" - The brain sends another signal to the mind indicating it does not know what the mind is trying to communicate, and a repeating and exhausting "trauma cycle" ensues, which takes valuable energy from the mind and the brain that could be spent elsewhere. This trauma cycle leaves a person exhausted, confused and even rattled. They are anxious, to one degree or another, but they don't know why. If the individual is able to process trauma, but just needs some time, this is called acute stress disorder (ASD). If the acute stress disorder does not resolve itself, then therapy is needed to bring those unprocessed trauma events that are rattling around in the head, to consciousness and process them. If acute stress disorder does not resolve, the brain and mind will continue the "trauma cycle". [2] [23] [24] [17] [3]
  • "The brain seeks information from the mind" - After a while of the trauma cycle repeating itself, the signal from the brain to the mind becomes slight, until it all but disappears, and this alerts the hippocampus, which is where in the brains unprocessed trauma events would travel for processing if the mind and brain could get their signals straight. The hippocampus is also where explicit memory is stored. In response to the alert, the hippocampus sends a signal out asking what is happening, and it gets a confusing reply. The hippocampus takes this information and interprets it to mean that it is not to process any more unprocessed trauma events, so it stops even trying. [2] [4] [17]
  • "Structural dissociation takes place" The personality is now no longer normal as it now has a barrier with two divisions, with one part only able to attend to daily life activities, and the other is left to hold and react to all the emotion of the unprocessed trauma events. Now the individual has a changed personality with an apparently normal part (ANP) and an emotional part (EP). The ANP find ways to avoid the EP who carry the unprocessed trauma events. The EP are confused, alone and isolated, and so they keep trying to contact the ANP. The mind is also trying to contact the ANP's, but they won't respond. The ANP's want no part of unprocessed trauma events at all and they are building dissociative boundaries around themselves. These boundaries, depending on the disorder have a different chemical, biological, neurological and physiological makeup. No disorder in the Structural Dissociation umbrella has ANP, EP or the boundaries around them that are the same, or even similar. Each is unique to it's own disorder. One disorder is not, "almost like another." [2] [17]
  • "The EP become exhausted from trying to contact the ANP which are getting harder to reach all the time" In dissociative identity disorder (DID), they are almost impossible to contact. The mind knows that it must contact both parts of the personality, but it's unable to, and the mind and brain are stuck in a constant, repetitive process of seeking and never making that essential contact." The ANP become more distant, distracted and dissociated as time goes on because that part of the personality cannot deal with the unprocessed trauma events it is phobic of, which leaves the EP feeling even more shunned. [2] [9] [17]
  • "ANP are unable to respond to the signals from where explicit memory(Facts, events and autobiographical consciousness). Explicit Memory is the second layer of encoded memory to be laid down. Both factual and autobiographical memory develop after 18 months of age. The narrative process is one way that the mind attempts to integrate."As a child develops, the mind begins to create a sense of continuity across time, linking past experiences with present perceptions and anticipations of the future. Within these representa­tional processes, generalizations or mental models of the self (see self) and the Self with others are created; these form an essential scaffold for the minds growing interactions with the world." {{Rp|11}} It is late memory - present beginning in the first year of life.■ Semantic : Factual memory. Initial development by one or two years of age.■ Autobiographical : Collections of episodic memory. Progressive development with onset after second year of life.■ Requires conscious awareness for encoding and having the subjective sense of recollection (and, if autobiographical, of self and time).■ Focal attention required for encoding.■ Hippocampal processing required for storage and initial retrieval. Cortical consolidation makes selected events a part of permanent memory and independent of hippocampal involvement for retrieval. {{Rp|57}} is stored, and so cannot recall those facts" - "Memory bits" are stored as explicit memory in the hippocampus, which is a unique problem after structural dissociation has resulted in one of the following disorders: posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex-posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), other specified dissociative disorder (OSDD), or dissociative identity disorder (DID), because now the individual has a lot of other symptoms that are also affecting them. Unprocessed trauma events being held in the mind and it will stay there until the individual, as a whole, is calm and ready and can mindfully work on processing those unprocessed trauma events in the hippocampus. In the meantime, the unprocessed trauma events cannot be accessed by the ANP, which now actually try, but are doing so now from a very protective area within their dissociative boundary. Some bits of unprocessed trauma events are not accessible by the EP either, even though they try, because even the EP can only handle so much. The hippocampus responds to the inquiries by the ANP and EP by sending signals out to both, which result in a response by the EP in the form of flashbacks, depression, startle response, night terrors, insomnia, restlessness, apprehension, angry outbursts, violent thoughts and even body pain. The ANP respond by isolating itself even more. Which mental disorder an individual gets depends on fairly consistent factors which are addressed on the pages of this site that focus on that disorder. This larger cycle now ensues, with the smaller, "trauma cycle" still taking place, and overtime, depending on the mental disorder that resulted when structural dissociation took place, the ANP and EP become more or less able to respond to the hippocampus and the unprocessed trauma events that belong to the individuals are sometime too vivid and other times not accessible at all. [2] [25]
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Cyclic unprocessed trauma events in the individual with structural dissociation

Chart B begins with structural dissociation already having taken place and the individual has some form of posttraumatic stress disorder, or one of the two complex dissociative disorders other specified dissociative disorder or dissociative identity disorder. These people are ill, and although they might put one foot in front of the other and go about their day, they are like a time-bomb ready to blow. Day to day life for them requires a great deal of energy, which exhausts their mental processes as well as their body. Overall health, longevity, stress levels, physical health, mental health is threatened or in effective. They are unable to gracefully address the entire spectrum of relationships and all that entails, and the very manner in which they think and act is affected, as well as how they function in society, and perhaps most important, how they react and interact with their children. Their very right to be normal has been taken from them. Processing trauma is normal and natural and anything else is a problem. [25] [2] [17] [3]

  • "The mind seeks input from the brain" - Due to structural dissociation, the communication between the mind and the brain is next to nothing, and so the trauma cycle continues. The individual is no longer able to function normally, and they put on a facade, often unknown even to them, but it's just a mask. They can't feel, or experience life like they once did, or worse those that had this happen to them in infancy or in childhood have never really known what it's like to have a mind and brain and are not traumatized. They are encapsulated in trauma, and that trauma is controlling who and what they are. They might feel edgy, antsy, anxious, angry, sad, seething, hopeless, pathetic or guilty and shameful. They are confused, and they have no idea why. In no other mental disorder is the person so imprisoned as they are when trauma directs their mood"Pervasive and sustained emotion" which affects a person's perception of the world.{{Rp|6}}, thoughts and feelings. Sadly, they are puppets, directed by past traumatic events. [25] [2] [3]
  • "The brain is dependent on the mind, and the mind is unable to respond" - The brain needs a decipherable signal from the mind before it can help with a unprocessed trauma event, and if the mind is sending any signal at all, It's a broken and confused one. When the brain does respond to a signal it becomes a source of pain to the individual. This horrible trauma cycle will continue until unification takes place. All this confusion leads to somatic illness. This so called "phantom pain" is very real pain, but it has no biological source. It's caused by all the miscommunication in the brain and mind. The brain can also cause fear, panic, and a wide arrays of physical symptoms that range from blindness and deafness, down to a simple itch. Needless to say, the brain's response is not helpful at this stage, and it's response can linger until the unprocessed trauma event is eventually processed, and all states (ANP and EP) have unified. [25] [2] [3]
  • "The EP become more distinct and elaborate" - EP wander through the mass of the mind looking endlessly for purpose, and responding to signals (triggers), more or less, depending on their degree of elaboration and isolation due to dissociative boundaries. [3]
  • "In dissociative identity disorder another ANP is created" - As if one ANP is not enough of a problem, individuals with dissociative identity disorder create a second one, and can create as many as they need to carry out daily life tasks. Having more than one ANP is the ultimate punishment among the disorders that are encompassed by structural dissociation. It causes all sorts of problems. [3]
  • "EP live in a constant cycle of flight, freeze, fight, fright, faint reactions response" - While the ANP are dealing with daily life, the EP are busy responding to all sorts of signals that come in the form of triggers. This results in a fluctuation of emotions that are experienced by the ANP, and the EP. [3]
5 possible reactions of the brain in response to certain stimuli: flight, freeze, fight, fright, faint
Chart B refers to Stephen W. Porges' polyvagal theory, and the additions to Porges' theory which were contributed by Ulrich F. Lanius , Sandra L. Paulsen and Frank M. Corrigan, as reported in their recent book: . When there is overwhelming fear, the brain responds in at least one of five ways: flight, fright, freeze, faint, fight. If a new traumatic experience is eminent, the EP respond to it. They will take over "executive control" and as a result they hold the unprocessed trauma events. Between the process of neural play and eventual reaction, there is time; it's an accumulation of unprocessed trauma events and not an immediate response that causes structural dissociation. The neuronal action that is responding to both new and old unprocessed trauma events which affects both the ANP and EP. After structural dissociation took place the ANP and EP kept repeating the cycle of flight, freeze, fright, freeze, faint, fight in response to neuronal play, and neuronal play in response to flight, fright, freeze, faint and fight.
  • "Information flow from EP to ANP" - ANP attempt to limit all contact, but some signals from the brain still get through and result in physical symptoms such as blindness, deafness, varied eye sight, hearing, allergies and long term illness. Due to these signals, ANP can also feel frail, sick, clumsy and over ridden with intense guilt and shame. Most of the extreme symptoms are limited to the most complex of the disorders, which is dissociative identity disorder. The gold star on this chart goes to those that can grasp the difference between a less than distinct state (EP) and a distinct state (ANP) and that true amnesia only occurs between distinct states (ANP). [2] [25]
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Structural dissociation in borderline personality disorder

Each bullet addresses a "box" on Chart C, and this diagram shows how structural dissociation happens in an individual who has borderline personality disorder. The only major difference, at least that would be outlined in a brief form as is here, is that the person already has the mental disorder and it is not caused by structural dissociation. [3]

  • "The mind seeks input" - A trauma event occurs and the mind is unable to process it, and it sends a signal to the brain for more information. [2]
  • "The brain is unable to respond to the mind" - The brain does not know what to tell the mind because it's confused. [2]
  • "Trauma events are not processed" - The mind and brain attempt communication back and forth, until the signals fade to where they are almost negligible. [2] [26]
  • "The brain seeks information from the mind" - The brain asks for information from the mind and the mind does not answer, and so the brain sends out signals that cause the individual distress. [2]
  • "The mind, brain and individual are overwhelmed" - The mind becomes overwhelmed, followed by the brain and then ultimately the entire individual. [2] [26]
  • "Structural dissociation occurs" - Overwhelming of the individual results in structural dissociation and the personality as a barrier forms creating two divisions, one part only dealing with daily life activities (ANP) and the other that handles unprocessed trauma events (EP). [3] [26]

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References

  1. ^ a b c Schlumpf, YR; Reinders, AATS, Nijenhuis, ERS, Luechinger, R, van Osch, MJP, et al. (2014). Dissociative Part-Dependent Resting-State Activity in Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Controlled fMRI Perfusion Study. PLoS ONE, volume 9, issue 6, 2014. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098795)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Lanius, Ulrich (2014) (coauthors: Sandra L. Paulsen, Frank M. Corrigan). . New York:Springer Publishing Company. 10: 0826106315.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Vanderhart, Onno (2006) (coauthors: Nijenhuis, Ellert; Steele, Kathy). . New York:Norton. 13: 978-0393704013.
  4. ^ a b c d Siegel, Daniel (2012). . Guilford press. 13: 978-1462503902.
  5. ^ a b Nijenhuis, Ellert; van der Hart, Onno (2011). Dissociation in Trauma: A New Definition and Comparison with Previous Formulations. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, volume 12, issue 4, 2011. (doi:10.1080/152992)
  6. ^ a b Dorahy, Martin; Bethany L Brand, Vedat Şar, Christa Krüger, Pam Stavropoulos, Alfonso Martínez-Taboas, Roberto Lewis-Fernández, Warwick Middleton (2014). Dissociative identity disorder: An empirical overview. Aust N Z J Psychiatry, volume 48, issue 5. (doi:)
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  10. ^ vanderHart, Onno; , E.R.S. NIJENHUIS, K. STEELE, D. BR (2004). TRAUMA-RELATED DISSOCIATION. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, volume 38, issue 11-12.
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  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Vermetten, Eric; Spiegel, Eric (2007). Trauma and Dissociation: Implications for Borderline Personality Disorder. Current Psychiatry Reports, volume 16, issue 2. (doi:10)
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