Emotional shut down is when someone becomes emotionally or physically unresponsive in response to overwhelming stress or trauma. It’s a natural reaction, but it can be distressing and confusing.

What does emotional shut down look like?

Emotional shut down - sometimes called shutdown dissociation - can happen suddenly and last for a short time or much longer. Common signs include:

• Feeling disconnected from your own body
• Feeling detached from the world around you
• Losing your sense of who you are
• Forgetting events or personal information
• Appearing numb, unresponsive, or as if “not there”

Why does it happen?

Emotional shut down is the mind’s way of protecting itself from feelings or experiences that are too much to handle. While it’s a natural response, it can be hard for both the person experiencing it and those around them.

How can you get support?

• Speaking with a mental health professional can help you understand and manage dissociation.
• Peer and community support, like talking to someone you trust or joining a support group, can make a difference.
• Self-help strategies, such as grounding techniques and keeping a routine, can help manage symptoms.

You can find more information about dissociation and support and ways to look after your mental health.