A disruption in the normal continuity of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. Dissociation exists on a spectrum — from mild and common experiences such as daydreaming or briefly losing track of a conversation, through to more profound states in which a person feels detached from their body, experiences the world as unreal (derealisation), or feels detached from themselves as if watching from the outside (depersonalisation). Dissociation is a normal protective response to overwhelming stress or trauma. In the context of cardiac arrest, co-survivors may describe feeling as though they were watching the resuscitation from outside themselves, or that the whole experience felt unreal. If dissociative experiences are frequent, severe, or distressing, they should be discussed with a GP or mental health professional, as they can be a feature of PTSD and other trauma-related conditions.
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