Learn4 min
The spectrum of dissociation
From everyday zoning out to more persistent disconnection.
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Dissociation is not one single experience — it covers a wide range, and most people move along this spectrum at different times depending on stress, safety and history.
A rough spectrum
- Everyday: daydreaming, driving on 'autopilot', losing track of time while absorbed
- Mild: feeling a bit foggy, distant, or 'not quite there' during stress
- Moderate: emotional numbness, feeling detached from your body or surroundings
- More persistent: depersonalisation, derealisation, gaps in memory, shutdown
Everyone's position on this spectrum can shift, sometimes within the same day. Recognising where you tend to sit is about self-understanding, not labelling.
