Imagine that a loved one of yours has been missing for days without any news, and then suddenly turns up in another place. But the surprise is, he doesn't remember you. He doesn't even know who he is, where he came from, or where his home is. Doesn't it make you cringe when you hear about an experience like this? Although it may seem like a scene from a movie, it is a mental condition that is rarely seen in real life. Today we are talking about this strange and serious condition, which is Dissociative Fugue .
Simply put, what is Dissociative Fugue?
Dissociative Fugue (pronounced: dissociative fugue) is a condition in which a person temporarily loses their identity, that is, their memory of who they are and their past (amnesia). With this, the person leaves where they are and goes to an unexpected place without any plan and gets lost. The Latin word "fugue" means "to flee." So the name itself tells you the nature of this condition, right?
Although this was previously considered a separate mental illness, according to the latest classifications in psychiatry, Dissociative Fugue is now considered a symptom of other mental illnesses.
What does this condition look like? How long will it last?
This is the strangest thing about this condition. A person in a fugue state often appears normal on the outside. He talks and does useful work, so it is difficult for others to immediately realize that he has lost his memory. The person himself does not realize that he has lost his memory until he has evidence to remind him of the past.
Imagine this scenario. A person working in a large company in Colombo, under severe financial stress, suddenly disappears. Family and friends search everywhere. About two months later, this person is found working in a shop in the Anuradhapura area. But he does not remember his name or anything about his life in Colombo. He has started a new life there, using a new name. Only after his memory gradually returns does he realize, "How did I get this far? What happened in these two months?"
This fugue state can last as short as a few hours, or it can last for days, weeks, or months. The shorter the duration, the less likely it is for others to notice it.
What are the main reasons for this?
Dissociative Fugue is caused by two main mental health conditions: Dissociative Amnesia and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Let's look at these two separately.
| Caused illness | Description |
|---|---|
| Dissociative Amnesia | This is when a person loses their memory of a particular event or period in their life. The main cause of this is a severe psychological shock (trauma) that is too much to bear . For example, facing a serious accident, a natural disaster, war, the sudden death of a loved one, or losing a job or breaking up a relationship. What happens here is that the brain temporarily 'blocks' that memory to protect itself from that painful memory. This is more common among women. |
| Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) | This used to be called "Multiple Personality Disorder." This is when two or more distinct identities (personalities) develop within the same person. Each of these identities can have their own unique voice, behavior, and memories. 99% of the time, this condition is caused by severe, long-term physical, sexual, or psychological abuse that occurred during childhood . The brain creates different identities to escape this trauma. Since one identity has no memory of what the other identity did, fugue states (going from one place to another and getting lost) are common among these patients. |
How is this treated?
Treatment for dissociative fugue depends on the underlying medical condition that caused it.
If caused by Dissociative Amnesia:
The main goal here is to help the patient regain the lost memory. For this, psychotherapy methods are used. Sometimes techniques such as hypnosis can also be used. The most important thing is to help the patient successfully deal with the original traumatic event that caused that memory after the memory is regained. This requires long-term psychotherapy.
If caused by Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID):
This is more complex than that. The goal of treatment here is to help these different personalities gradually connect with each other and eventually form a single unified identity. This requires highly specialized, long-term psychotherapy. In addition, pharmacological treatment is also provided for conditions such as depression and anxiety, which are common among these patients.
Can I treat this on my own at home?
Absolutely not. This is something that needs to be kept in mind very clearly.
Dissociative fugue is something you should never try to diagnose or treat at home on your own.
There are several reasons for this:
- This is a rare, complex symptom of mental illness that can be difficult to diagnose even for a trained doctor.
- Amnesia can also be a symptom of other serious physical illnesses, such as a brain tumor or stroke. Therefore, if you have any memory problems, it is essential to see a doctor immediately.
- When memory returns after a fugue state, they may experience overwhelming sadness, shock, fear, and guilt. This is why they definitely need professional help.
- Importantly, more than 70% of patients with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) attempt suicide. Also, the risk of self-harm is high in cases of Dissociative Amnesia. Therefore, treatment under the supervision of a qualified physician is essential for life safety.
What do you do if you have thoughts of harming yourself or others?
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of harming themselves, especially suicide, seek emergency help immediately.
- Call the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 24-hour helpline number 1926 .
- Call the emergency ambulance service 1990 (Suvaseriya) .
- Go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
- If you think someone you know is in danger right now, call these numbers for them or take them to the hospital.
Take-Home Message
- Dissociative Fugue is a serious mental illness that causes people to forget who they are and become lost in an unknown place.
- The main reason for this is unbearable trauma or long-term stress.
- Never try to diagnose or treat this condition yourself at home. Memory loss can also be caused by other serious physical conditions.
- If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, seek the advice of a qualified psychiatrist or your family doctor (GP) immediately.
- Because of the high risk of suicide associated with this condition, it is essential to seek professional help. In an emergency, call 1926 (Mental Health Helpline) or 1990 (Emergency Ambulance Service).
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