Hey. I think it is a kind of a dissociation. Where dissociation is conceived of as 'not being aware' of certain mental states (perceptions, memories, thoughts or whatever). One way to dissociate from some things is to become absorbed in others.

I do this a lot. In therapy I fiddle with my hands or something. Stare intently at the rug. I'm aware my therapist is there... But I'm not aware how how he looks or whatever because my mind is diverted.

Happens a lot with traumatic memories. They can be absorbing sometimes. Sometimes it is like I almost get lost in them. They capture my attention so fully that I'm not really aware of what is going on in the present room right now. Instead I'm back in the past somewhere even though my eyes are open.

Trauma, yeah. Sometimes my t tries to help ground me in the present by encouraging me to hear the birds outside the window or to look at something on his desk or something like that. To feel my feet on the floor even.

Hang in there. Can be hard sometimes.