Symptom 4: Stolen Identity: The Unanticipated Loss of Self-Perception
The turmoil stirred by dissociative amnesia often leaves one feeling alienated from themselves. This symptom manifests as an unanticipated loss of self-perception, giving rise to a troubling sense of disconnection. It’s like peering into a shattered mirror, with each fragment reflecting a different aspect of self, but failing to create a comprehensive image.
This loss of self-perception is not a trivial matter of forgetting one’s likes or dislikes. It goes much deeper, obliterating the person’s understanding of their identity. They might struggle to recognize their reflection, or be confounded by personal items that clearly belong to them. It’s as though a thief has stolen their identity, leaving behind a vacuum of self-awareness.
As humans, we root our identities in the narrative of our lives – our experiences, achievements, and relationships. When significant chunks of this narrative vanish, it’s akin to erasing chapters from a book, making the storyline appear fragmented and incomplete. This disruption can cause a feeling of ‘strangeness’ towards oneself, and the resulting disorientation can be deeply unsettling. (4)
