Wondering if you might be dissociating? If you’re feeling disconnected from yourself or your surroundings, you could be experiencing dissociation.

Recognising the signs of dissociation

Dissociation can show up in different ways for different people. You might notice:

• Forgetting certain time periods, events, or personal information
• Feeling disconnected from your own body, as if you’re watching yourself from the outside
• A sense of detachment from the world around you, like things aren’t real
• Not having a clear sense of who you are
• Sometimes developing more than one identity
• Feeling little or no physical pain when you would expect to
  
  

These symptoms can last for a short time or, in some cases, much longer. Dissociation often happens as a response to stress or trauma, or as part of another mental health condition.

It’s important to remember that experiencing these symptoms doesn’t always mean you have a dissociative disorder. But if they’re frequent or distressing, it’s a good idea to seek professional advice​.