Dissociative

Reality can be switched off.

Dissociative experiences cover a wide range. At one end are common ones such as daydreaming, deep absorption and doing things on autopilot. Further along are feeling detached from oneself or one's surroundings, and gaps in memory. This questionnaire cannot tell these apart, and it cannot say what causes them.

These are patterns often described for this style in general. They are not statements about you.

Characteristic feelings

Numbness, anxiety, and confusion about what just happened.

Inner conflict

Staying present with something hard versus switching off.

Core fear

Being overwhelmed, and losing the thread of oneself.

Ways of coping

Attention moves away from what feels overwhelming (dissociation).

Sources of self-esteem

Getting through difficult situations. A sense of self that can feel different from one setting to another.

How others often experience it

Others may notice that the person seems far away at times, or comes across quite differently in different settings.

Strengths

Adaptability, deep focus, imagination, and staying functional under pressure.

Where it gets in the way

Losing track of time or of conversations. Feeling unreal. Other people may feel that the person is "not there".

Work that often feels comfortable

Often drawn to absorbing, imaginative work: art, acting, writing, design. Some do well in fast-moving, high-pressure settings.

What can happen under prolonged stress

Under prolonged stress, detachment and lapses of memory can become more frequent.

In relationships

Often comfortable with someone calm, predictable and grounding.

Fictional characters with similar traits

Elliot (Mr. Robot), Moon Knight, Gollum.

If gaps in memory or a feeling of detachment are frequent, distressing, or get in the way of daily life, it is worth discussing them with a doctor or a mental health professional.