Matt Temperley

I'm a trauma survivor and mental health advocate with a lifetime of living with a dissociative disorder (OSDD), FND and complex PTSD. I began writing to share some of the techniques i've found useful for living with and healing my dissociative disorder. *Disclaimer: Content on this site is for educational purposes and doesn't replace professional medical advice. Always consult healthcare providers for personal medical decisions.*

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Dissociation vs Daydreaming: Understanding the Differences

Understanding the Confusion Before we explore these different experiences, take a moment to ground yourself. Notice your breathing, feel your feet on the ground, and remind yourself that you are safe in this moment. You can pause reading at any time if you need to care for yourself. Many people wonder whether their experiences of […]

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What is DDNOS/OSDD? Understanding Other Specified Dissociative Disorder

Understanding DDNOS and OSDD DDNOS (Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) and OSDD (Other Specified Dissociative Disorder) are diagnostic categories for people who experience significant dissociative symptoms that don’t quite fit the criteria for other specific dissociative disorders like Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or Dissociative Amnesia (Brand et al., 2016). In 2013, the diagnostic manual (DSM-5)

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What is Depersonalisation?

Understanding Depersonalisation Depersonalisation is a dissociative experience where you feel detached or disconnected from yourself—your thoughts, feelings, body, or sense of identity. It’s like watching yourself from the outside, as if you’re an observer of your own life rather than actively living it. People experiencing depersonalisation often describe feeling like they’re “not themselves,” living in

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What is Derealisation?

Understanding Derealisation Derealisation is a dissociative experience where the world around you feels unreal, dreamlike, or somehow “off.” It’s as if you’re looking at the world through a fog, a glass barrier, or like you’re watching everything happen in a movie rather than experiencing it directly (Sierra & David, 2011). People experiencing derealisation often describe

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Dissociation vs Other Experiences: Understanding the Differences

Why Understanding Differences Matters Grounding Check-In Take a moment to notice: Where are you right now? What can you see, hear, and feel? You are safe in this moment, and you can pause or stop reading at any time if you need to. Dissociation is often confused with other mental health experiences, which can lead

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The Neuroscience Behind Dissociation: How Your Brain Protects You

Understanding the Protective Brain A common misconception is that dissociation is a malfunction of the brain; it’s not. When we dissociate we are experiencing an incredibly sophisticated protective mechanism that’s evolved to help us survive overwhelming experiences. When begin to understand the neuroscience of dissociation, we can appreciate it as an adaptive response rather than

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