DISSOCIATIVE SYMPTOMS

Hi there.

Is there any specialists in Upstate New York or psychologists familiar with dissociation/derealization.

[ILADVOCATE]

Generally to find a specialist you have to have an original consult by a psychiatrist. You can generally call your local NAMI Helpline. NARSAD is a good website but they don't offer specific information on providers but could provider general information. I know the American Psychiatric Association has  a variety of websites that may have specific information as to local hotlines for referrals. I would say what you need is a trained psychopharmocologist. There are so many things that can cause dissociation/derealization that first there would have to be an original diagnosis as to what caused it. You are posting on the anxiety forum. Anxiety disorder does not usually cause this (that doesn't mean you have anxiety disorder as well). Dissociative identity disorder is rare but can be diagnosed and confirmed. Dissociation is a form of psychosis so it can come from schizophrenia as well or schizoaffective disorder as I have or other psychotic disorders. However, in having recovered from schizoaffective disorder I am being studied for tardive psychosis as a criteria which in me does cause dissociation. The more important point is there are neurological disorders that cause it too. I'm not sure if there are specialists in dissociation/derealization in general because it all depends on the root cause. That's what must be treated. However, if your provider is not able to make a referral the three sites I gave you could give you a referral to a trained psychopharmocologist who could get a better understanding of the cause of it. They could either treat it or if it warrants a consult to a further specialist make one from there.