In the clinical literature that I've come across,dissociation seems to be regarded solely as being caused by a traumatic event;since this is not always the case,I'll offer the following perspective which may be useful.
If a child is subjected to high degrees of stress while their brain is still maturing,the pathways in the frontal lobes that modulate responses to emotional stress may never properly develop,leaving the person with little more than a childs resources with which to deal with such matters.
Often children may internalise pieces of adult behaviour,and use them as defence mechanisms,which in some cases may be mistaken for "alternate personalities",as well as using denial and dissociation as coping strategies.
If timeline work with dissociative behaviour is not producing the expected response,it is likely that the dissociative respone may be a developmental disorder rather than a reaction to trauma.

Andrew,

I find this very interesting, but I'm wondering what led you to post it?

Venus

wonderful wrote:

If a child is subjected to high degrees of stress while their brain is still maturing,the pathways in the frontal lobes that modulate responses to emotional stress may never properly develop,leaving the person with little more than a childs resources with which to deal with such matters.
Often children may internalise pieces of adult behaviour,and use them as defence mechanisms,which in some cases may be mistaken for "alternate personalities",as well as using denial and dissociation as coping strategies.

I have a relative who uses explosive anger as a mechanism for dealing with a variety of problems, as far as I'm aware only problems relating to other people. It's interesting to watch in family situations as everyone treads on egg shells for fear of detonating a nuclear reaction. I think she modelled this behaviour from her father.

I've wondered about her own children and whether, having witnessed regular erruptions (never directed at them but in direct proximity and enough to cause serious upset), they will adopt this pattern and use it as their mother does - as the one tool to solve all people issues.

And how someone could best go about equipping them with extra resources ?

venus_brown wrote:

Andrew,

I find this very interesting, but I'm wondering what led you to post it?

Venus

It had bothered me that the official view of things was often innaccurate,but I'd only just found out how else dissociative behaviour patterns can take root.
It was a matter of some concern because of the difficulties that could arise in addressing the issue,particularly as some people with such stress responses find certain concepts "unthinkable" and can develop dangerous blind spots in their thinking.
Renee,for anyone with young children,I'd recommend reading the book "What parents need to know"(which was where I came across the explanation),which is a neurologically based guide to what parenting practices can help to avoid stunting a child's neurological development,which should allow the higher cognitive pathways to be developed.

wonderful wrote:

Renee,for anyone with young children,I'd recommend reading the book "What parents need to know"(which was where I came across the explanation),which is a neurologically based guide to what parenting practices can help to avoid stunting a child's neurological development,which should allow the higher cognitive pathways to be developed.

Hi Andrew

Is this the book?

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Every-Parent-Needs-Know/dp/1405320362/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237546816&sr=8-1"]What Every Parent Needs to Know: The Incredible…Amazon.co.uk: Margot Sunderland: Books[/ame]

If not could you direct me to the one you mean, and if so, could you give a brief description of content and style?.....and why you would recommend it.

Chris

OK, Andrew,

So I agree ... that is all very interesting.

I guess that leads me to a couple of questions: 1) What is the difference between "trauma" and "high degrees of stress"? and, 2) If someone's neurological development has been stunted by high degrees of stress in early childhood, how do they learn to "grow up", so to speak?

Venus

Andrew,

Thank you for posting on this issue, as it is of particular interest to me.

Do you know what the author's source of data was in the book?

Thanks!

Happy Spring!

Phil

Yes,that's the one,thanks for the correction.
Basically the book uses findings in the neurological development of children to explain why certain childcare practices are essential to a child's development,though in a straightforward and accessible manner.

cmarkod wrote:

Hi Andrew

Is this the book?

What Every Parent Needs to Know: The Incredible…Amazon.co.uk: Margot Sunderland: Books

If not could you direct me to the one you mean, and if so, could you give a brief description of content and style?.....and why you would recommend it.

Chris

wonderful wrote:

Yes,that's the one,thanks for the correction.
Basically the book uses findings in the neurological development of children to explain why certain childcare practices are essential to a child's development,though in a straightforward and accessible manner.

Thanks Andrew.

I'll order a copy. it's good to see books linking newer neurological desoveries with practical advice.

Phil,I believe that a noted researcher in the field acted as consultant,but I can't remember their name offhand.
Venus,internally there's little difference between the two,my point was that there might not be a discrete triggering event.
Some people go through massive trauma without dissociating,to some extent,this response may depend on their pre-existing response style.
As to what can be done,developing the pathways at a later age may be difficult,so probably it would be useful to install more useful strategies that would be cued when the persons arousal level would be close to triggering a maladaptive response.

Other points to consider;since people often adapt to their problems in some way,the person may be adept at hiding the problem,and may simply seem "evasive".
A very important point to consider is what happens after the person dissociates,they will need to confabulate a response,since this is one which must enable them to reassociate,it is likely to be maladaptive.
Moreover,since this is essential to the persons continued functioning,they may well adopt perspectives which,although irrational,they are inclined to defend at all costs.

Hi Andrew

Fantastic post, im glad to see someone looking deeper into proper psychology in helping others, i believe this is what all so called 'nlp'rs' should be inspiring to achieve.

Again, very refreshing

Thanks.

Andrew,

You say:

"A very important point to consider is what happens after the person dissociates,they will need to confabulate a response,since this is one which must enable them to reassociate,it is likely to be maladaptive."

Would you please elaborate? What does confabulate mean when you use it here? And why will they "need" to confabulate a response? And, if it helps them to reassociate, why would you consider that maladaptive.

Sorry for being so thick about this... it all just sounds very vague to me.

Thanks,

Venus

Since the person is incabable of processing the information,they need to invent something to fill the gap.
The problem is that this cannot be "real",the only way to be associated is to adopt a perspective at variance with reality,which would tend to be one that is useful in this respect,rather than one which closely resembles the way things actually are.

Andrew,

That may be one type of dissociation, but I am sure there must be many more.

Venus

Quite true,unfortunately the MPD type seems to be the only aspect that gets much attention,despite the number of people with the sort of problem I referred to.

Andrew,

I don't know for sure, but I suspect there are a wide variety of things that can cause dissociation -- besides the type you are referring to and MPD.

Venus

Again true,but it's always helpful to have some idea of how to approach things if you happen to be dealing with people who are estranged from reality.

Again, Andrew, there are lots of folks I run into on a daily basis who are "estranged from reality." That doesn't necessarily mean they're dissociating, though. Could be that they just have a belief system that is rather non-functional.

Venus