Disassociative

The adjective 'disassociative' describes a state of mental detachment or disconnection. It refers to the separation of thoughts, feelings, memories, or perceptions from one's conscious awareness. This disconnection can manifest in various ways, including feelings of unreality, detachment from one's body or emotions (depersonalization/derealization), memory gaps, or a sense of being outside of one's own experience. Often, disassociative experiences occur as a response to trauma, stress, or overwhelming circumstances, serving as a coping mechanism to protect the individual from intense emotional pain or distress. It is important to be assessed by a medical professional.

Disassociative meaning with examples

• After the car accident, Sarah felt disassociative, as if she were watching the scene unfold from a distance. The sounds were muffled, and she couldn't quite grasp that it was happening to her. Her feelings were detached, and she only vaguely noticed the pain of her injuries. Everything felt unreal and surreal.
• John's therapist noted that during the sessions, he displayed disassociative tendencies, often spacing out or changing the subject when discussing his childhood trauma. His emotional expression was flat, as though there was no way to access those painful memories directly. It appeared he was protecting himself from the severity of the situation.
• During the period of extreme stress, the artist experienced disassociative symptoms; he forgot details of the previous few months. He felt his body wasn't his own, and he was watching himself painting and working in the studio. His ability to concentrate was impaired, further compounding his distress.
• The soldier described moments of disassociative detachment during combat, where he felt as though he was a spectator, watching the violent events. He was there and not there simultaneously, a survival mechanism. He would not feel any emotions and focus on the task.
• The psychologist observed that, when experiencing panic attacks, the patient might show disassociative features, such as feeling detached from reality and like her body wasn't her own. This often came from the extreme anxiety she experienced. The feelings were temporary and triggered.