Ideas of Dissociation in Martha Stout’s When I Woke Up Tuesday Morning, It Was Friday,”

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Even though our bodies are in one place, our minds may be in another. In Martha Stout’s essay “When I Woke Up Tuesday Morning, It Was Friday,” the author introduces us to the idea of dissociation. Dissociation is when one’s mind is away from the body and he or she does not know what is going on in the physical world. Those that have traumatic histories may experience this. But because of dissociation, victims may not know if they had a traumatic past because a memory of it never really formed. Stout also finds that individuals may use dissociation as a way to protect themselves from trauma. Sometimes the slightest and smallest piece of a traumatic memory may bring into play the dissociation. When these individuals experience dissociation and become their “flyaway selves,” they do not remember what happened to them in the time they were “away.” For example, whenever “Los Angeles” was mentioned to Julia, one of Stout’s patients, she would “flyaway” as a way to protect herself from remembering any of the traumatic experiences that happened to her when she lived in Los Angeles. But Julia did not remember going through any traumatic experiences in her history because the memory never really formed. When she would “flyaway,” Julia would blackout and not recall any of the things she had done in the days previous to her “waking up” again. Stout came to the conclusion that Julia was abused as a child and as a way to escape during the abuse, she would become dissociated with her surroundings and what was happening to her. To not remember one’s own past puts them on a very vulnerable and difficult trail; dissociation may seem a way to protect oneself, but at the same time it’s harmful.
If a patient were to not know their past and go into a ...

... middle of paper ...

...ike they are dying, but Julia had no clue anything was the matter with her. Being in a dissociative state could have hurt Julia more than protect her. One moment she could be well and the next in a hospital with no way of knowing how she got there. Even though she has tried to kill herself, she knew what was happening, she was in control. But when she was in a flyaway state, and she was dying, she wasn’t in control. Julia wants to take back the control on her life. If Stout’s patients cannot find a way to control their dissociation, they may see dangerous outcomes.
In conclusion, dissociation can leave those that have it vulnerable. The may be manipulated into thinking their past was something it really was not and the people they are surrounded by may become distant. Stout never finds a real cure, so her patients may have to live with not knowing their real pasts.

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