Have You ZONED OUT?

Have You ZONED OUT?

Have You ZONED OUT? That situation wherein you would go through some mild forms of DISSOCIATION, which is the ability to DISCONNECT from our thoughts, feelings, environment OR actions?  On the positive end, DISSOCIATION can even help athletes do their jobs as it allows people to focus on the most salient or life-preserving aspects of a situation without mental interference.  BUT there are times when we experience a major form of DISSOCIATION, sometimes in the aftermath of overwhelming trauma.  In those moments, the DISSOCIATIVE symptoms become more extreme and frequent💵💴💷

Let's face it, everyone 'ZONES OUT' from time to time.  It might happen more frequently when you feel bored OR stressed, OR when you'd rather be doing something else.  It's also pretty common to experienc a prolonged 'SPACINESS' or 'BRAIN FOG' if you're dealing with grief, a painful breakup OR other difficult life circumstances.  In those cases, ZONING OUT can serve as a coping tactic of sorts which ISN'T necessarily a bad thing📗📙📘

ZONING OUT is considered a form of DISSOCIATION but it typically falls at the 'mild end' of the spectrum.  So what causes it?  Often, ZONING OUT just means your brain switched over to 'AUTOPILOT'.  This can happen when your brain recognizes that you can compete your current task whether that's folding laundry OR walking to work, without really thinking about it.  That is an example of going into DEFAULT MODE📌📌📌

BUT there are telling factors that can cause us to be ZONING OUT.  For one, SLEEP DEPRIVATION.  Remember the nights where you DIDN'T get enough sleep?  When you felt quite foggy OR easily distracted OR seemingly 'OFF'?  True, SLEEP DEPRIVATION is no big deal but it can take its toll on your mental functioning and make you more prone to ZONING OUT.  And seriously, this can be risky and dangerous if you're driving, right❓❓❓

Getting overwhelmed, stressed OR going through something traumatic can also leave you FEELING OFF.  You might feel going through the motions of daily life BUT not really thinking about WHAT you're doing.  Eventually you emerge from that 'FOG' with very little recollection of how much time has actually passed OR how you got through it.  In the face of extreme stress, some people respond by 'SHUTTING DOWN' or completely detaching❎❎❎