The Difference between ‘Meditation’ and ‘Dissociation’

What is the difference between meditation and dissociation?

When we teach clients to meditate, aren’t we teaching them to dissociate? And if, dissociation is the problem, then are we not adding to the problem?

Dissociation is created by fear, either chronic or acute.

The sense of self that is associated with the body, leaves the body. It is localized elsewhere, as if looking at the body. For example, a child sex abuse victim saying she watched the abuse from the light fixtures, as if removed from her body.

That is the survival brain at work. The thinking part of the brain, which I think is the cerebral cortex, is not being activated. That is because, in survival the brain doesn’t access thinking, it just reacts and in this case, the mind separates from the body.

The choice to go there is not conscious. It is forced upon awareness by violence that makes staying int he body as the body’s consciousness, not possible. In that moment, it is not a choice, because what it is seeming in the body/mind/human experience is not tolerable, – it is traumatic.

Meditation is relaxing the connection between the self and the body. To de-localize the sense of self and see that it is not integrally attached to the body. The body and the sense of self are not the same thing, however, they always seem to appear together.

When the sense of self separates from the body, there can be a sense of no-self and there can also be a sense of self removed from the body, and in this way, dissociated.

Are these two the same?

In the first case, the ‘re-localized’ self is the result of fear, in the second case (meditation) the ‘re-localized’ self is the result of conscious choice, relaxation and intention.

How are these different?

In the first case, the survival brain is triggered by fear, anger, grief. This results in a sympathetic stimulus response in the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic freeze response.

It may be that in the second case, the survival brain is accessed by “opening” the brain so the circuits are open and relaxed, allowing for the development of the parasympathetic response, which is para-sympathetic freeze.

It seems to me that it is possible that there are two different types of dissociation, and the second type is helpful to the effective functioning of the human being. In fact, the first type (unconscious dissociation from stress for fear) did serve to assist in the survival of the human being, it’s just that when it happens unconsciously, it can cause difficulties for the person.

Another part of this is the assumption we make that the “sense-of-self” goes with, or is attached to the body. And localized, for all intents and purposes, somewhere within the body.

That may not be true.

  • Can there be a sense-of-self without a body?
  • Can there be a body without a sense-of-self?

The sense-of-self (awareness) is the ‘reality’ of the body, in the same way that the ocean is the ‘reality’ of the wave. You can’t have a wave without an ocean but you can have an ocean without a wave.

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Dr. Amber Quaranta-Leech, LPC-S

Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy. 

Dr. Jose Carbajal, LCSW

Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.

Dr. Amanda Martin, LMFT-S, LPC, BCN

Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.

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