disassociating
Separating from reality
Disassociating is separating or disconnecting something from something else: The company is disassociating itself from the scandal.
In psychology, dissociating (the more common spelling in clinical contexts) describes mentally detaching from one's thoughts, feelings, or surroundings—often as a response to trauma or stress: I kept disassociating during the meeting.
The casual use has spread beyond clinical settings to describe any feeling of mental disconnection or unreality.
Mental separation from surroundings
- derealizationPerception that surroundings aren't real
- depersonalizationDetachment from one's identity
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- numbingCausing loss of sensation
fragmentation · splitting · repression · coping · defense · compartmentalization · amnesia · fugue
Breaking an established link
- uncouplingAct of disconnecting
- decouplingRemoval of interdependence
- disentanglingSeparating intertwined things
- disengagingReleasing from attachment
severing · detaching · splitting · partitioning · segregating · dividing · breaking away · untethering
Emotional separation between people
- alienationState of being isolated
- distancingCreating space or separation
- isolationComplete separation from others
- disconnectionState of being severed
rift · disaffection · rejection · exclusion · abandonment · withdrawal · separation · breach
Separation or emotional uninvolvement
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- numbnessLoss of sensation
- distancingCreating space or separation
- disengagementWithdrawal from involvement
indifference · apathy · disconnection · aloofness · coolness · reserve · stoicism · dispassion
dissociation
Mental separation from surroundings
- derealizationPerception that surroundings aren't real
- depersonalizationDetachment from one's identity
- traumaLasting psychological wound
numbing · fragmentation · splitting · repression · coping · defense · compartmentalization · amnesia · fugue · detachment
disconnecting
Breaking an established link
- uncouplingAct of disconnecting
- decouplingRemoval of interdependence
- disentanglingSeparating intertwined things
disengaging · severing · detaching · splitting · partitioning · segregating · dividing · breaking away · untethering · unlinking
estrangement
Emotional separation between people
- alienationState of being isolated
- distancingCreating space or separation
- isolationComplete separation from others
disconnection · rift · disaffection · rejection · exclusion · abandonment · withdrawal · separation · breach · disunity
detachment
Separation or emotional uninvolvement
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- numbnessLoss of sensation
- distancingCreating space or separation
disengagement · indifference · apathy · disconnection · aloofness · coolness · reserve · stoicism · dispassion · impassivity
disassociatingassociating
Mentally linking concepts
affiliating · connecting · allying · joining · linking
disassociatingassociating
Mentally linking concepts
integrating · combining · merging · consolidating · unifying