I think you're exactly right and my pdoc (who is also my psychotherapist) suggested the same thing, that this was to cope. I feel a bit like a loser because it wasnt life threatening situations or even situations that are particularly traumatic but I still had this reaction.

I didnt feel like I was out of my body, more like my body was holding me down. If I didnt have my big heavy body holding my head on I felt as if it would float away. I wasnt distressed by that at all, it was actually a bit nice to have a break from the constant white noise in my head. The first time it happened I did try to do a mindfulness CD, I recognized I was not right and thought it might help, but 2 minutes in the anxiety was so severe I couldnt stop myself from "floating away". The next time it happened I stayed like that for a fair few hours before turning to drugs, which "fixed" me.

I might do a google on grounding techniques for next time it happens. I hope it doesnt start to become a regular reaction.