342. The psychology of dissociation

Have you ever felt like the world around you isn’t quite real, or like you’re watching your life from the outside? Have you ever driven somewhere and suddenly wondered how you got there? It might be dissociation - a surprisingly common psychological experience that can be both protective and, at times, unsettling.

In this episode we look at the psychology behind dissociation – what is going on in our bodies and brains during this state, what triggers us and how it interacts with wider factors in our lives.

We explore:
• The science of why we freeze in this state
• How it can help us cope, and when it becomes maladaptive
• Interactions with ADHD, trauma and survival mode
• Why it feels so unsettling
• Strategies to pull you back in
• Reminders for when we don’t feel real

If you’ve ever felt like you were living on autopilot, this episode is for you.

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