[Lrad123]

I had never heard this term before I started therapy about a year ago. I understand that there is a spectrum of dissociation and if anything, I would fall on the mild end. When explaining a childhood experience, my therapist once said, “oh, so you dissociated,” in response to my explanation. We didn’t talk about it any more, but since then I’ve done a little bit of online research. Yesterday he said something to get my attention (he may have said my name but I can’t remember), and then he said it again loudly. I think I heard him the first time, but maybe was a little slow to respond. He doesn’t typically speak loudly so it really got my attention. I think I was just spacing out a little or just processing things which does not seem like a big deal to me. I’m wondering if this spacing out could be considered dissociation and if it even matters???

Nearly everyone spaces out/ dissociates. Its nothing to be overly concerned about. Its our brains way of giving us a mental break.

[ChickenNoodleSoup]

I agree with Starry Night. Everyone dissociates to some degree sometimes (for example while driving home from work or when you're not interested in what the teacher talks about in school). Spacing out is a form of dissociation.

If it does not interfere with your life in general, it is fine. For me, I can tell it's not fine when there's an emotional situation that triggers it and I can't get out of it anymore. I might sit there for 5 minutes while my T tries to get my attention and I don't notice he's even there. In those cases I'm generally in a state where if I were out on the streets I might walk in front of a car just because I was spacing out so much.

Whether or not it matters in my opinion mostly depends on whether this is a repeated pattern in certain situations. For example whenever your T asks about X you dissociate. For me that usually happens with things that were traumatizing for me. That's a good indication that on the one hand there's something there that might need some investigating and understanding. But on the other hand my brain doesn't want to go there right now and I should slow down a bit. In such cases it is helpful to notice this, since it can help you to not get overwhelmed. You can tell your T when you start noticing you dissociate and practice for that not to happen or what to do when it does happen.

But if you just were not engaged for some reason, or if it's a one time thing that doesn't happen again or is not bothering you, then dissociating is a pretty normal response.

[coolibrarian]

I occasionally feel, not dissociation, but depersonalization. It usually only happens if I am anxious about something, but it can also happen if I am overtired.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Lrad123

I had never heard this term before I started therapy about a year ago. I understand that there is a spectrum of dissociation and if anything, I would fall on the mild end. When explaining a childhood experience, my therapist once said, “oh, so you dissociated,” in response to my explanation. We didn’t talk about it any more, but since then I’ve done a little bit of online research. Yesterday he said something to get my attention (he may have said my name but I can’t remember), and then he said it again loudly. I think I heard him the first time, but maybe was a little slow to respond. He doesn’t typically speak loudly so it really got my attention. I think I was just spacing out a little or just processing things which does not seem like a big deal to me. I’m wondering if this spacing out could be considered dissociation and if it even matters???

your question is spacing out considered dissociation?

my answer...

first there is something you might not be aware of... in may 2013 the USA changed over to a completely whole new mental health system of definitions, diagnostics, symptoms.....

what that means is what you may find online may not be what it is now..there are somethings that were called dissociation before 2013 that are no longer called dissociation now.

quick way to remember what is dissociation now and what isnt is the new definition of dissociation is that its a natural thing that happens due to some sort or positive or negative trigger.

you know how if someone says or does something you dont like, your automatic reaction is to feel different forms of being angry.

well dissociation is like that... something happens (this is called a positive or negative trigger) to cause the feelings of dissociation (mentally feeling numb, spaced out, disconnected from whats going on)

these problems associated with medications, drugs, alcohol, other mental disorders or physical health problems or a high level of concentration, or daydreaming are no longer called dissociation.

examples

when I take my medications and they make me feel spaced out this is not dissociation, its a medication side effect.

When i was in a room where someone was doing weed and I felt spaced out this is no longer called dissociation, its now called getting accidentally high.

When I am sitting there daydreaming in therapy or where ever, this is no longer called dissociation. its now called daydreaming and in some places maladaptive daydreaming disorder.

when I am watching tv and suddenly I start thinking about my bills, I am thinking so much about this that I dont hear my wife talking to me. this is no longer called dissociation. it is now being distracted, having a high concentration / great cognitive abilities.

see what I mean...

on the other hand spacing out is called dissociation when something happens to make a person stop thinking, the mind just suddenly goes blank.

example my therapist and i will be talking and suddenly I'm watching her talk but not thinking or feeling anything at all. Im just watching her talk but no reactions, no thoughts, no emotions, just sitting there watching with an empty mind. Im not catatonic because I can move, function, Im not psychotic (delusional/ hallucinating) reality is intact. just suddenly my mind has just shut off.

this is a normal form of dissociation, how often and how severe it is says whether it is a dissociative disorder or not.

hope this has helped explaining it in general terms. to find out exactly what your treatment provider meant you will need to talk to them.