What Is Pain Dissociation or Pain Asymbolia?

Pain dissociation, also known as pain asymbolia, is a condition where individuals experience pain but are unable to recognize or respond to its unpleasantness. In other words, while they feel pain, they do not perceive it is as distressing or significant. This detachment means they may not react to painful stimuli or even to threatening gestures or verbal attacks as others typically would.

Causes

Several factors may contribute to the development of pain dissociation. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Neglect and body schema disorders. These conditions can disrupt a person's ability to integrate sensory experiences with their sense of self. When the brain's body schema is impaired, it can affect how pain is perceived and related to the self.
• Lesions. Damage to specific areas in the brain that are involved in processing pain and emotional responses can lead to pain dissociation. These lesions can interrupt the sensory and emotional connections necessary for the usual experience of pain.
• Dissociative states. The theory is that lost feelings of pain might reflect how individuals relate to their sensory experiences. Rather than changing the sensation of pain itself, it alters the individual's experience of themselves in relation to the pain. This altered self-perception means that the emotional significance of pain is diminished or absent.

Conclusion

Because individuals with pain asymbolia do not experience pain as distressing, they might not withdraw from harmful situations or learn from past pain experiences in the same way that others do. This can impact their ability to regulate their behavior and respond to potentially dangerous situations appropriately.

Additional source: Journal of the American Medical Association