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Why Dissociation Isn't Always Bad

I spoke with someone recently who lamented they had episodes of being "there but not there" since I'd seen them last. They were worried; it's a scary thing to feel like you are in another world. One of the ways I try to understand how we work as humans is to consider the function of the problem. What problem does the mind shutting off solve? Usually, these events come up when stress or trauma levels are really high.

dissociation as protection

What if you thought about dissociation the same way you'd think about your phone? If you leave your phone in the hot sun for a bit or overtax its system, a device in good condition will shut itself down to avoid damage by overheating. Our brains are similar. When we understand that dissociation shows up when we are overtaxing our systems, it's easier to see the protective function of "zoning out".

Of course, context matters. If your phone or brain overheat frequently or in conditions where there's no stress that means something is up and you might need help figuring out what's going on.