Coping with Dissociation

I’ve spent a lot of the last few months discussing and posting about dissociation and the ways in which it shows up for people.

And now I’d like to begin focusing on ways to cope with or deal with dissociation.

First and foremost, as with most mental health issues is to focus on the basics. The more consistent and stable you are in your self-care, the less likely you are to be thrown off into a dissociation by a stressor.

By self-care, keeping in mind that these suggestions are very general and it’s okay if they don’t work for you and your situation or your particular needs.

So, this means focusing attention on getting sufficient sleep. Getting to bed at a regular time and not mindlessly scrolling, having a routine bedtime and wake time, and situating your space so that you are most comfortable to fall asleep in it.

Make sure you are having regular, healthful meals, whatever that looks like for you. If you know that a lot of sugar or caffeine may trigger an episode, watch your intake of those items.

Alcohol and other substance use can also trigger dissociation, whether due to the direct effects of the substance, or by lowering your protective energetic fields.

Get sufficient rest and exercise to keep your body healthy. The healthier the body is, the less need there is to disconnect from it via dissociation.

To the extent that you can, get into a routine that provides you with structure. Get outside, move your body. And to whatever extent you can, reduce the stressors in your day to day life.

More to come in future posts about ways to cope with or manage dissociation in particular.