During traumatic situations, people might experience an unexpected wave of emotional numbness or feel like they've detached from reality and are having an out-of-body experience. These symptoms of disconnect describe dissociation, a defense mechanism that separates threatening feelings and ideas from the rest of someone's psyche. But why do our minds sometimes dissociate when we're experiencing distressing events?
In short, dissociation can be useful for situations in which someone can't physically get away from stress or danger, such as being the victim of a violent crime or abuse, said Steven Dubovsky, a professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University at Buffalo in New York.
