[eclipelightning]

So far I have had about 4 times where I have dissociated. I can remember bits and pieces of what happened but some major parts are missing.

The first time it happened I was in a counseling session and I remember I wasn't feeling like myself and I just felt super mad, which is nothing like me. I ended up blowing up in my counselors face but I don't remember why or what set me off.

Is this sort of experience normal for early dissociation?

[-jimi-]

I wouldn't know if this is similar but I have a friend who is dissociative. He unfortunately doesn't see dissociation as a problem because he doesn't remember going in and out of dissociation like you did. He plain denies it happened. He has only done it a very few times and I have known him forever, but if he feels threatened it can happen.

What comes out is not like a named alter but it is still someone I can't say I know. This other is more alert and sharp than my friend and also he is a trouble maker big time. When he comes out all he does is lies. This created issues for my friend because he didn't know he did this and didn't want to hear about it. When this other has created trouble he tried to sweep it under the rug even if it once cost him his home.

I'm glad you have another attitude, no matter what this is that is happening to you.

Dissociation isn't anything school book, this thing we call DID is just a small part of how dissociation can appear. Mostly it isn't clear cut DID. For most with dissociation it's very different from the stereotypical idea of named alters which are fully distinct from each other.

Some people think this is just a less complete form of DID, but I think it is a thing in itself. But that is just my own personal take on it.

[gayleggg]

When I was raped I dissociated, to where I was watching what was happening instead of the one being hurt. I was still me but the me that was being hurt wasn't "home". When I get really distressed I can still enter this state of being removed from myself. I remember what happens but I withdraw from the situation. Usually, rock back and forth and my eyes usually start to shift back and forth. My therapist, would have to force me back when I did this in therapy.

So I assume there are many facets to dissociation.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by eclipelightning

So far I have had about 4 times where I have dissociated. I can remember bits and pieces of what happened but some major parts are missing.

The first time it happened I was in a counseling session and I remember I wasn't feeling like myself and I just felt super mad, which is nothing like me. I ended up blowing up in my counselors face but I don't remember why or what set me off.

Is this sort of experience normal for early dissociation?

your topic line .....DID without alters.....are you asking if there is a mental disorder where a person has DID but does not have alters?

if so, and if you are in the USA the answer is no. Here in america DID diagnostics require a person to have at the very least two alters. these alters can be perceived in many different ways but must by a special type of alter due to many mental disorders can have the symptom of having altered personalities that are mood swings, hallucinations or delusions, medication induced, drug or alcohol induced.

heres where you can read more about what American treatment providers go by when diagnosing the mental disorder known as DID here in the USA...

http://forums.psychcentral.com/disso...s-dsm-5-a.html

the body of your post....dissociation and whether its normal to do it during therapy.....

dissociation is different then DID.

in general.....its basically spacing off, feeling numb, having trouble remembering (some people call this having a foggy or clouded mind)

in general people do normally dissociate, its a basic automatic response to emotions, stress, boredom, habitual actions like driving......there are many different examples to normal dissociation. from there it moves into the many dissociative disorders (you can also read about those in the same link as above, keep in mind that these standards are what American treatment providers go by, if you are in another country your treatment providers may go by something different)

so the answer to your question in your post is yes for some people what happened to you is normal, and for others it is not. for me yes this kind of dissociating you posted in your post is normal. its part of my stress/anxiety automatic reaction called flight or fight.

I can not say whether this is normal ....for you, .....only your treatment providers can tell you whether this is normal ......for you.

my suggestion if this continues to bother you consult with your medical or mental health treatment provider. they can assess whether its normal for you, whether its meds related or a mental disorder/physical health problem with in you.

[(JD)]

I'd talk to your T and see if 1) she/he has diagnosed you with DID and if so 2) if she/he will share what she knows of your alters.

Everyone dissociates.
Not everyone has "alters".
Those who do not have alters do not have DID.

[-jimi-]

I sort of want to add you can have a dissociative disorder and not have DID. Sure everyone dissociates but most people do not lose chunks of time or forget what they have done or said. It would probably be helpful if the therapist said what was said that was not remembered. It's not either normal dissociation or DID, there is also pathological dissociation that is not DID.

[possum220]

Originally Posted by eclipelightning

So far I have had about 4 times where I have dissociated. I can remember bits and pieces of what happened but some major parts are missing.

The first time it happened I was in a counseling session and I remember I wasn't feeling like myself and I just felt super mad, which is nothing like me. I ended up blowing up in my counselors face but I don't remember why or what set me off.

Is this sort of experience normal for early dissociation?

Expect the unexpected at any session.

[lifelies]

The main symptom of DID is the presence of two or more alters... So it's not DID if you don't have alters.
Depending on the symptoms (see: DSM-5 Dissociative Disorders criteria) you would be diagnosed with Derealization/Depersonalization Disorder, Dissociative Amnesia [with dissociative fugue]* or DD-NOS.
Hugs,
Lana

* On DSM-5, the former "Dissociative fugue" disorder has been added to a Dissociative Amnesia specifier.