Glossary
Conversion Disorder
A disorder where a person experiences physical symptoms, such as paralysis or blindness, that cannot be explained by medical examination and are thought to be psychological in origin.
Example:
After a highly stressful event, a student might suddenly lose the ability to move their arm, despite doctors finding no physical damage, which could be a manifestation of conversion disorder.
Dissociative Disorders
A category of psychological disorders involving disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity, or perception.
Example:
Experiencing a sudden, unexplained loss of personal memories after a traumatic event could be a symptom of a dissociative disorder.
Dissociative Fugue
A rare dissociative disorder where a person suddenly travels away from home or work, experiences amnesia about their past, and may assume a new identity.
Example:
A person under extreme stress might suddenly disappear from their life and be found weeks later in a different city with no memory of their past or how they got there, indicating dissociative fugue.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
A severe dissociative disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities that alternately take control of the individual's behavior.
Example:
A person diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder might exhibit sudden shifts in voice, mannerisms, and memories, as different 'alters' emerge.
Illness Anxiety Disorder
A disorder characterized by a preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness, despite having few or no somatic symptoms.
Example:
Someone with illness anxiety disorder might interpret a common cough as a sign of a rare lung disease, constantly seeking medical reassurance even when tests are negative.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A trauma-rooted anxiety disorder triggered by past traumatic events, leading to lasting negative impacts on daily life.
Example:
After experiencing a severe car accident, a person might develop PTSD, frequently reliving the crash through flashbacks and avoiding driving altogether.
Posttraumatic Growth
Positive psychological changes experienced by an individual following a significant life crisis or traumatic event.
Example:
After overcoming a serious illness, someone might find new meaning in life and develop a deeper appreciation for relationships, demonstrating posttraumatic growth.
Psychogenic Amnesia
A type of dissociative amnesia characterized by an inability to recall important personal information, usually following a traumatic or stressful event, without any physiological cause.
Example:
After witnessing a horrific accident, a person might develop psychogenic amnesia, completely forgetting the details of the event itself, but retaining other memories.
Resilience
The ability of an individual to adapt well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress.
Example:
Despite facing numerous setbacks, a student who consistently bounces back and maintains a positive outlook shows great resilience.
Somatic Symptom Disorder
A psychological disorder characterized by a significant focus on physical symptoms to the point where it causes major emotional distress and functional impairment.
Example:
A person with somatic symptom disorder might experience mild headaches but become so consumed by worry about them that they cannot go to work or socialize.