Understanding Agantuja Unmada w.s.r. to Dissociative Disorders

Abstract

Dissociative disorders are mental health conditions where there’s a disconnect or breakdown in memory, identity, emotions, or perception of reality, often as a way to cope with trauma or stress. It ranges from depersonalization to dissociative identity disorder i.e., dissociating from one original self and switching into the another or alter character, according to the way of perceive, think and feelings. In Ayurveda texts, it can be correlated with Agantuja Unmada, which states that one occupies new or altered unwanted character according to Devadi Prakopaja Unamda i.e., Deva, Rishi, Pishacha etc. possess one’s body. This results from Pragyapardha - performing righteous duty in an irrelevant or improper manner.