A Patient's View of the Challenges and Blessings of Her Dissociative Disorder

People who live with dissociative disorders and a history of childhood trauma are less rare than commonly thought and can be challenging for unfamiliar medical practitioners. Many of us present as apparently normal people and live full and satisfying lives. But under the stress of a medical situation, we can become unpredictable. On the basis of my own experiences, I offer, in this article, some instructive anecdotes and tips for health care practitioners on how to work with patients with a trauma-related diagnosis such as a dissociative disorder.