What is the definition of dissociation in relation to complex trauma?

I, I wanna preface first to say that everybody's a bit different, and maybe some of the things I say don't fit for everyone, and that's perfectly okay because nobody should feel like they have to fit into a box.

And so what I will say on this podcast is my understanding.

Of course, everybody has a bit of an incomplete understanding.

So just prefacing with that.

And then what is dissociation is actually a pretty complicated issue because it ranges from things like checking out, spacing out that we all do, right? When we're sick or tired or whatever, stressed, all the way to feeling like you have different identities, like feeling a, a split or a dissociation in your self or personality.

And so it's really important when, when somebody says, "I think I'm dissociating," to understand exactly what that individual is experiencing because I think our treatment approaches are a bit different.

What is that?