I have had this before, and experienced it yesterday while I was EXTREMELY depressed. I just sort of...shut down. I was awake physically, but emotionally I wasn't there. Felt a lot like emotional numbness...I could sense my surroundings and what was around me, but I may as well have been a table or something.

When my brother came home later, I was still in this state, but was able to pull myself out of it just long enough to talk to him and seem "normal". I wasn't even trying, it was like an automatic change...a defense mechanism. Then I went into my room and returned to that emotional nothingness.

Has anyone experienced this...and does anyone know what it's called?

[Secretum]

I experience that a lot. It's like I don't even exist...I hate it. For me, it can last for months, oftentimes out-living the depression that caused it. Sometimes I'll feel emotions, but they are as superficial as everything else. I'm normally very cold-sensitive (have really been suffering the last few days; the wind here is brutal!) but around this time last year I was in such a state and I just didn't care. I went outside without a coat. I was numb to the frigid environment; I was numb to everything.

From what I've read, it's a form of dissociation. If you don't feel real, then it is called depersonalization. If your surroundings are unreal, it's called derealization. Many people (including yours truly) deal with both. I hope that this helps you, and that you can get back to feeling (and hopefully something other than depression!) soon.

[Charlie_J]

I get that a lot too when depressed. Sometimes I wonder if it meets the criteria for catatonia. I know not to sit looking into space, but sometimes it's not a choice, I'll just lose ten or fifteen minutes at a time. Like being in a hypnotic trance.

That defence mechanism of seeming normal is only a brittle veneer though and it doesn't stand up to much.

Hope you feel better today, Melissa. I did read your other thread, and I know it's been horrible for you lately.

[sugahorse1]

I experience this sometimes. Usually for very short times, because I shake myself out of it. It's happened while I drive too. I don't know if it's depersonalisation or derealisation though.
I don't necessarily have to be depressed to feel this way

Originally Posted by Charlie_J

I get that a lot too when depressed. Sometimes I wonder if it meets the criteria for catatonia. I know not to sit looking into space, but sometimes it's not a choice, I'll just lose ten or fifteen minutes at a time. Like being in a hypnotic trance...

This is something that happens to me too, but it goes on for hours and hours sometimes. Sucks.
BF finds it very scary, and I'd do anything not to have him see it, but my mind up and leaves (even a few words takes effort) and I can barely move my body, so it's too obvious that something is very wrong to be able to hide it. Again, sucks.

melissa!

Melissa I hope you feel better soon. I too have had that experience. I refer to it as my robot mode or autopilot, when I become so terribly depressed there comes a point where the only way I'm able to cope is to basically shut down emotionally. I don't purposely shut down it just sort of happens. Life simply passes me by while I go through the motions of it. I cannot hide it from my husband because I live with him but I am able to put on a brave face briefly to deal with a person or situation I cannot avoid. I wish you all the best and just hold on because it will eventually get better.

[Moose72]

I have experienced derealization & depersonalization.

Thinking of you, Melissa, and wishing you well.

[venusss]

I get that at times and ****ing sucks. I am more danger to myself at these times when I am numb than when I am depressed.

but it is a sort of defense mechanism.

[Capriciousness]

Yeah, I totally had that very bad last Thanksgiving. It almost felt good after the mixed state I had been in. I felt totally numb and disconnected. It freaked me out.

[espritlibre]

I get it all the time, but it often passes quickly - I just "zone out". Sometimes when I have a really bad depressive episode I'll simply go to bed and shut everything out. I'm aware of my husband trying to get me to respond, but I simply don't feel able to. It's really unpleasant. Hope you feel better soon xx