dissociation versus psychosis

If you have ever experienced both, what were the defining differences between the two?

If you haven't, what do you feel is the difference?

I've been researching it, and I've been wondering if maybe my last episode that ended so bad was dissociation instead of psychosis. I definitely had an escape from reality, as in I believed I was dreaming. I thought I was in my unconscious/sleeping, and that when I was really asleep (which wasn't all that much) I was actually awake. It doesn't explain the other symptoms I had, like my delusions, or my racing thoughts, or my hallucinations, etc. Or how I believed I knew all the secrets of the universe, and was becoming like the buddha or something, and that I was trying to make as much positive energy in my mind so that when I "woke" up I'd release it, eliminate all negativity, and pretty much save the world.

But I just wonder.

Thoughts?

this is a very interesting question and really i do not know the medical answer for this one

so here's for me only dunno how others would interpret this

dissassociation for me - no clue what has happened at all - people can tell me but i will just be like "huh? what? who? when? dunno WHAT you are saying"

or it could be like just "watching" but not "watching" like completely removed from myself if i dont like what people are saying or whatever

psychosis i am not sure i mean dissassociation may be a TYPE of psychosis

i get other TYPES of psychosis

hallucinations - hearing voices oh and sometimes i have seen people

sense of smell - no logical explanation as to why i have smelt something cos others around me will state it simply does not exist

confusion - thought disorder - disorientation - that is another one for me and damned if i know what's going on if people are confused what i am saying cos to ME it all makes perfect sense or sometimes its the reverse where NOTHING makes sense to me and i can't get why it makes sense to everyone ELSE

tactile - well thats kind of a new one for me i hate it

Thanks for the response. I had never heard of the word dissociation until recently and find it really interesting.

To dissociate means to seperate, detach, withdraw to avoid a traumatic situation. Depersonalization is more the out of body experience where you are seeing yourself doing things.

I had a similar experience once before. I lied down to sleep, but I never went to sleep. I felt like I was disembodied and saw that I was in a house with 20 people or more. We made small talk, but I wasn't to involved because they were gathered amongst themselves drinking and laughing. I was a little disturbed. I tried to get up but my body was rigid, like I was being held there. We were all in a dark room where we lived. I said "Hey, let's go in the kitchen", then there was a lit kitchen, so we moved in there. I then started making them all rooms which they can do what they want in it. Was it a dream? It didn't feel like one. Some how I feel that I might have been interacting with the other alters. I wasn't exactly too accepting at that point, but I'm now a lot better for it.