Understand trauma and its effects with clear, trauma-informed insights. Explore dissociation, CPTSD, emotional abuse, and how trauma shapes identity, memory, and the nervous system.
Trauma does not only live in memory. Understanding how it shapes the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex — and what this means for healing — can be one of the most clarifying and compassionate things a person living with trauma’s effects can do for themselves.
How Trauma Affects the Brain Read More »
Complex PTSD (CPTSD) develops after prolonged, repeated trauma and goes beyond PTSD to affect your sense of self, relationships, and emotional regulation. This guide explains the symptoms, causes, and evidence-based treatments for CPTSD in clear, compassionate terms.
Complex PTSD Explained: Symptoms, Causes, and the Path to Healing Read More »
Dissociation is the mind’s protective response to overwhelm: a disconnection from thoughts, feelings, body, or identity. This comprehensive guide explains the types of dissociation, signs and symptoms, why it happens, and grounding techniques to help when it occurs.
What is Dissociation? A Comprehensive Guide to Types and Symptoms Read More »
Dissociation has been poorly understood for most of history. This article traces the journey from Pierre Janet’s 19th-century discoveries, through a century of neglect, to the modern trauma-informed understanding we have today — and what that history means for you.
The History of Understanding Dissociation in Psychology Read More »
Films, television, and popular culture have long shaped public understanding of dissociation, and not always for the better. This article examines six of the most harmful and widespread myths about dissociation and dissociative identity disorder (DID), setting the record straight with evidence from peer-reviewed research. Understanding what dissociation actually is and is not matters enormously for those living with it, and for everyone around them.
Common Misconceptions About Dissociation in Media and Culture Read More »
Dissociation often begins in childhood — but the way it looks in a child is very different from how it presents in an adult. This article explores how dissociation manifests across the lifespan, the key differences in symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, and what the research tells us about the developmental path from childhood dissociation to adult experience.
Dissociation in Children vs. Adults: Key Differences Read More »
Comprehensive guide to recognising dissociative episodes, including early warning signs, different types, triggers, and practical strategies for responding safely and effectively.
Understanding Dissociative Episodes Read More »
Explore the deep connection between trauma and dissociation, understanding how our minds protect us from overwhelming experiences and pathways to healing.
Understanding the Trauma-Dissociation Connection Read More »
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
Dissociation vs Daydreaming: Understanding the Differences Read More »
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)
What is DDNOS/OSDD? Understanding Other Specified Dissociative Disorder Read More »