Attachment disorder vs Dissociative disorder

Hi everyone,

So I'm starting to read " Coping with Trauma related dissociation" book. In it there is a particular focus on DID (Dissociative Identify Disorder previously known as Multiple personality disorder) and past trauma and abuse.

To my current understanding, CPTSD is an attachment disorder, we can't relate to ourselves and others in wholesome way. We also have developmental arrests, or a disowned parts that we need to integrate to experience ourselves fully.

The definition of the dissociation in the book suggests that " it also leaves one or more parts of the self stuck in unresolved experiences and another part forever trying to avoid these unintegrated experiences". It also defines dissociation as something contrasted with " integration; viewing ourselves as a whole and not fragmented.

I'm more confused now, because dissociation in the past was to me when I gravitate to the unhealthy aspect of the Freeze response.

Is CPTSD regarded as an attachment disorder or dissociative disorder, or both?

Good question....for someone who knows a lot more than I do Will be watching for an answer and comments

As far as I understand it, I've always interpreted it as a bit of both. Granted, dissociation is often more a symptom and/or a result of trauma that coincides with C-PTSD. Of course, I always assumed attachment disorder(s) as, yet, another symptom. Honestly, due to these things I've contrasted and presumed C-PTSD/PTSD to be of it's own trauma-related-disorder with additional disorders as a result.

Interesting read from a CPTSD site
https://www.welldoing.org/article/di...ational-trauma

Thanks Trace for sharing. Yeah its basically what the " Coping with Trauma related dissociation" book is talking about at the beginning.

The book also says that " trauma-related disorders have extensive overlap in symptoms, so its possible for a person to fit several diagnostic categories. This does not mean more is wrong with you; rather, it speaks to the fact that descriptions of trauma-related disorders are not very precise and have a lot of overlap"

The book suggests that CPTSD lies between DID and PTSD, which makes sense to me.

Anyway, gonna finish reading the book and maybe post questions along the way so we can all learn and understand better.

by googling the words reactive attachment disorder you will find this link where you can find information on what attachment disorder (or if in america what america now calls reactive attachment disorder ) is....

CEBC » Search ? Topic Areas ? Dsm 5 Criteria For Reactive Attachment Disorder Rad

short version...this disorder label is now mostly just for babies, toddlers, pre school and elementary school aged children who have trouble bonding with adults and peers.

information on what america now calls dissociative disorders can be found in the links at the bottom of my post.

the difference in the two is reactive attachment disorder is one of many mental disorders in the category of trauma and stressor related disorders where as dissociative disorder is a category label that contains many mental disorders.

reactive attachment disorder is not bonding with others where as dissociative disorders contain dissociative symptoms like feeling numb, spaced out and disconnected.

Awesome, thanks and I agree with you. I posted something before about how so many MH issues overlap in symptoms and it must be very hard for T's to sort that out to get a correct diagnosis. Well it would if the T wanted to put the time in to do that. T are like others, some are good at their job and some...not so much sadly. Keep us posted.

From my understanding C-PTSD is not just one experience of a traumatic event but it is layered in many trauma's over years. The attachment disorder is usually when you are a kid and they are unable to form healthy secure bond with their caretakers as a result of the neglect/trauma. Causes issues down the road in terms of forming relationships/friendships because people who experience these type of trauma don't trust people after all the people who were suppose to be safe wasn't. The dissociation is the minds way of safeguarding from the trauma it creates a safe place in your mind where you could escape.

I agree it gets hard for therapists to get the right diagnosis with so many symtoms. Many get dx'ed with personality disorders when it's really trauma. T's need to get trauma informed at the very least so they do not harm their patients. Do tests such as the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) is a good indicator of trauma. Trauma informed care is not a treatment either (big buzz lately) it just means they are trained better to spot the trauma and ethnically they have to refer you to someone who specializes in trauma for treatment

I've noticed that a lot of T's advertise that are trained in trauma but once you get in there you see that's far from the truth. It's seems to be so popular right now that they would see a need for specialized training in trauma in order to sort out the right diagnosis and help the patient. In my experience in the past three years if you mentioned CPTSD the T would have this deer in the headlights look on their face. When you would explain it to them they would promptly explain this is not a diagnosis according to the DSM but that there were sub sections of PTSD that cover it. I wish they would recognize the difference in the two.
BTW welcome to the CPTSD forum

My thought on why trauma is popular now is with the epidemic of addictions hitting communities. Underneath all this addiction could have a trauma story for many of the people abusing drugs. It's a step in the right directions but if trauma does exist there needs to be more than trauma informed care for these people.

C-PTSD most therapists like you said deer in the headlights no clue. Something funny and sad. I asked a potential therapist recently who assured me she is trained in trauma I asked if she was familiar with Bessel van der Kolk's book. She replied back anyone can write a book. I wanted to laugh so bad....this woman has no clue this person I was referring to is the leading trauma expert in the world. I wanted to say back to her I guess anyone can be a therapist as well. I think this will be a new way for me to screen new therapists asking about Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine, and Judith Herman. They all are topic in their field when it comes to trauma. If the therapist has no clue about them pretty good indication not a good fit.

Another therapist just recently who does EMDR you would think is a good fit and they have trauma training. The woman she terrified when I was answering the basic questions, her body was tensing up, she was struggling with her facial expressions and making me feel bad and guilty that I was making her so dang uncomfortable. After that appt I made an appt for following week. The T calls back and says she not trained enough in complex trauma. Probably for the best she would probably re-traumatize me.

Sadly the DSM doesn't include C-PTSD. Most of who have it fall under PTSD for billing purposes. The definition of PTSD does not match the symptoms of complex trauma not does it have the same treatment models. The two are very different. What is hopeful is in the ICD 11 (international classification of diseases) will include complex trauma in 2018.

I think one day the DSM will recognize this and then maybe others will take it more seriously. I had EMDR way too soon by someone who was not well trained and ended up worse off. I didn't know, it was my first therapy experience in my life, and was through work. I now know there's a lot more involved in making a client feel safe before ever starting EMDR. Geesh, no wonder people are in such a mess

Thanks for pointing to Bessel Van Der Kolk, Peter Levine, and Judith Herman. They are on my to read list books.