What causes someone to mentally check-out?
Editor:
Helena Georgiou
Reviewer:
Dr. Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.
Question
What is the condition or syndrome that causes someone to mentally check out during certain situations? A common example I have noticed is in the medical field. A shy and self-conscious female patient undergoing a significant procedure with a male doctor may mentally check out just before or as the procedure begins and not fully come back until it is over.
As a result, she cannot remember what happened, what was said, any advice given, or questions asked. After dressing, she leaves the office completely unaware of what just took place. I have a family member who experiences this (not just during medical visits) and I would like to help her find appropriate support.
Answer
What you are describing sounds like it could be in the ballpark of dissociation, a phenomena defined by the presence of ‘checking’ or ‘spacing’ out, memory loss, alterations in identity, etc. Everyone probably dissociates a little from time to time (as in normal ‘spacing out’ behavior).
However, frequent and severe dissociation is considered to be a serious mental problem. At its most severe, dissociation problems culminate in what is termed, “Dissociative Identity Disorder” (commonly known as Multiple Personality Disorder) in which dissociation is such an integral part of life for a person that they don’t have a coherent single sense of self. In milder forms, dissociation is associated with amnesia (forgetting) for events.
Dissociation is frequently associated with trauma and abuse. The behavior you describe is not considered normal and would raise enough flags for me that I would investigate past or current abuse (possibly sexual abuse?). This is not to say that abuse is happening or has happened, but rather that it would be something to inquire about. Help for dissociation would best be sought from a Clinical Psychologist, or specialist Psychiatrist specializing in dissociation.