Nature of dissociative symptoms
Some of the most distressing symptoms that clients report include dissociative symptoms. These symptoms include persistent daydreaming, forgetfulness and amnesia for recent events, feelings as though one's body does not belong to oneself, feelings as though things (perhaps even the world itself) are not real, and a sense of acting so differently on occasion that it seems as though they were another person. Often people do not report these symptoms because they may fear how others might respond. Otherwise they may assume that everyone reacts in a similar fashion. They may also sense that health professionals whom they see will not understand or believe them. Indeed, dissociative symptoms are probably the least understood symptoms by mental health professionals despite there having being much research on such reactions spanning over 100 years.

 One of the most useful and widely used Positive Psychology strategies for promoting wellbeing is to identify and draw upon our signature character strengths, which relate to our enduring key virtues. These character strengths are the kind of virtues which are recognized by all cultures.

There is an accessible scientific method of identifying signature character strengths which involves completing a Character Strengths Survey. This is obtained by accessing the Authentic Happiness website of Martin Seligman at  http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx. It is also the first link on the links page of our website at http://www.chrismackey.com.au/pages/links.html. When we act on our most developed, or signature, character strengths to address challenges or goals we are more likely to be engaged, effective and to find satisfaction in what we are doing.