Many individuals start their day feeling detached, casually describing it as ‘dissociating’ amid morning fatigue and overwhelm. While such language fosters discussions on mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, OCD, and ADHD, it risks undervaluing severe conditions.
TikTok features over 113,000 posts under #dissociation, blending clinical guidance with memes that highlight everyday experiences of this phenomenon.
The NHS describes dissociative disorders as a group of conditions causing physical and psychological issues, such as disconnection from oneself or surroundings, identity uncertainty, or memory gaps for events and periods.
Recent data indicates that 1% to 3% of the UK population experiences some form of dissociative disorder.
What Are Dissociative Disorders?
The NHS identifies three primary types:
- Depersonalisation-derealisation disorder: Surroundings appear foggy or lifeless, with individuals feeling detached from their own existence.
- Dissociative amnesia: Involves unexplained memory loss for personal information, skills, or events, sometimes leading to arriving at places without recall of the journey.
- Dissociative identity disorder (DID): Formerly known as multiple personality disorder, characterized by distinct identities with unique voices, behaviors, and traits.
Why Do Many People Relate to Dissociation?
Even without a diagnosis, numerous individuals connect with the sensation. Dr. Lauren Lebois, a cognitive neuroscientist and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, attributes this to dissociation existing on a spectrum.
She explains: ‘Most people have had the experience of becoming so absorbed in a task or thought that they lose awareness of surroundings – like during a captivating book or the drive home.’
These normative instances rarely disrupt daily life. However, persistent, trauma-linked dissociation that invades routines and impairs work, school, or relationships signals complex disorders.
Dr. Lebois stresses caution: ‘We need to ensure that labeling everyday absorption as “dissociating” does not diminish the intense distress faced by those with dissociative disorders.’
What Does Everyday Dissociation Feel Like?
Matt Bordonada, deputy clinical director at the Clinic for Dissociative Studies in London, views dissociation as a standard response to stress, overwhelm, fear, or boredom.
‘It involves the mind and body disconnecting to cope,’ he states. Common examples include boarding a train and arriving with no memory of the trip, often called ‘zoning out.’
Others describe floating away from their body or perceiving the world as unreal, akin to a video game.
Distinguishing Dissociation from Anxiety and Depression
Dr. Lebois offers a clear analogy: Picture driving through a tense intersection.
- Anxiety grips the wheel tightly with sweaty palms slipping.
- Depression brings reluctance to drive, feeling others fare better without you.
- Dissociation places you in the backseat, observing yourself drive; in extremes, the driver seems like another person.
