My older brother has dissociative disorder?!? help?!?

Question

k so i just heard my brother arguing with my mom and he starts bursting into tears which he NEVER does. he's saying it feels like he's on a drug and his mind is foggy he can't remember what he's done this last year because of it. it feels like he's on the other side of the room watching himself. and these are ALL the symptoms i looked up, that i have felt since the beginning of 8th grade. (i'm going into 9th this year)

i know he's serious because he always said to my mom that he has anxiety issues but she always dismisses it and blames it on counter strike type video games, or the protein pills he takes to work out. he said it started with his last girlfriend cause she was 3 years older than him and in college and he says before he saw he he would get totally stressed out and worked up and i know that he shifted his mind into the dissociative disorder to cope with the stress. i went into his room and told my mom that it's a stress disorder, etc. and said that he NEEDS to see a therapist cause thats the only way he'll deal with it. and i'm gonna make sure he sees one.

Question: but i guess my question is.. is this hereditary? becuase i've felt this before and know somewhat of what it feels like. should i see a therapist too or what.

and ever since i've been on yahoo answers, ive asked questions about this so it's almost like a blog in a sense.

Answer 1

Dissociative Disorder is under harsh criticism in the Psychology community.  There are similar symptoms in various case studies, but unlike people with anxiety, they haven't been able to do any studies besides case studies because of the nature of the disorder.  

Dissociative Disorder occurs when a person can't deal with certain emotions.  They adopt an alternative personality that can deal with these issues.  When this personality is needed it comes out.  It is not likely that the original personality will know what is going on at this time.  Sometimes this other personality will have a very different identity (name, etc) than the first personality.  A person with this kind of problem needs therapy in order to integrate the personalities into one.  It is a long process that takes a lot of work.  I am sorry to hear that your mom neglects this in your brother.  Maybe he should seek treatment on his own?  I know if he is under 18, this could be difficult.  If he is unsuccessful in persuading your mom, he needs to get into it immediately after he turns 18 (if he's not already).

It can be genetic.  That does not mean that it will be without a doubt or that you will develop Dissociative Disorder.  It depends on the individual, like all mental disorders.  Chances are, this disorder developed in your brother because he did not have the resources or the tools to deal with whatever was going on in his life.  Then, it progressed until it got worse and worse.  He definitely needs therapy and if you are concerned that you may be headed in that direction, you should try and get therapy too.  Maybe your request and his request for therapy will convince your mom.  Tell her she doesn't have to support you both on it, but you want to do it for yourselves.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Answer 2

Black Glory needs to study her textbooks a little more.  Dissociation is the distancing from reality.  It is not in controversy.  It actually is not that uncommon.  She jumped to the most extreme which is dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder).  That's not what you are describing regarding your brother.

Dissociation generally is a coping skill problem.  It often is due to environmental circumstances where it is safer for the person to cut off their feelings than to feel them.  It becomes a problem when the on/off switch no longer is within the person's control.  It's not inherited.

Answer 3

sorry, don't know about the hereditary issue, but good for you on waking up your mother...

Answer 4

Here is a good website about this : http://strangerinthemirror.com/index.sht...