If you are feeling emotionally far away, you may be dissociated at that time. This is one way the mind copes with overwhelming emotions and may reflect a shutdown response. You may notice feeling numb, disconnected, or less able to access your emotions.
It is also possible that your conscious experience is divided, with the emotional component being handled by another part. This can create a sense of distance even when something meaningful is happening.
Feeling emotionally “far away” may also signal that you have been triggered by some cue. You may have no conscious awareness of the source of the trigger.
This page is part of the What Is Dissociation? section of the CommuniDID site, which explains how dissociation works and why it develops.
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