Hmm~ Looking up the definition, it says "avoidance of emotional connections." So not wanting to feel emotions about things.

I think it's a very grey thing. If someone struggles to form an emotional connection to anything, they might struggle in life. But it can also be a healthy coping mechanism. If I detach myself from caring about what certain people say, it makes dealing with them far healthier for me.

Dissociation is also a form of emotional detachment, I think. A coping mechanism when it's all too much.

Not sure if that helps. I hope your musings take you somewhere productive. And you can vent and speculate here as much as you like. Supportive hugs.

For me personally, I know I am engaging in emotional detachment when I find myself indifferent to everything. triple hugs of support~

Emotional detachment, not to be confused with dissociation, is where you can step back and look at a scenario without feeling involved. E.g. a therapist is emotionally detached when we tell our trauma tales.

Inside of many therapy programs, "Detaching with love" is a goal of co-dependency therapy. I still love you, but your problems are yours to sort.

Im so lost n afraid right now so many things on my mind. Its been ok but now its starting to make me cry

Crying can be a tremendous relief for repressed emotions.

So can sharing. Listening. . .

Nooy--Emotional Detachment isn't about "wanting" to feel detached, it's just the way a person's wired. Depending on the reason a person has it (usually it's a coping mechanism from something in their life) can either be a blessing or a curse. For me, it kinda sucks because it makes a meaningful relationship damn near impossible. On the flip side, though, about 10 years ago I was convicted of a felony, lost my federal job, etc etc, and was able to retain my sanity because my emotional detachment allowed me to distance myself from it. I was totally aware of what was going on, worked on digging myself out of the hole I was in but I wasn't overwhelmed by it. A good example would be the main character from House, MD.

arfie pretty much nailed its definition, dyinginside35. In my post grad training to become a hospital chaplain, I went through 3 days of psych testing to be screened for my hospital residency year. I passed the screening because my own PTSD diagnosis had not turned into dissociating, but on the other hand I was capable of emotional detachment when counseling trauma survivors.

Having boundaries on the one hand is tricky for those of us who've survived trauma, and on the other hand we don't want to build walls like the ones in that movie by Pink Floyd (sorry for the outdated reference).

I just wanted to give you a big hug dyinginside…. I think people have described it well..... xo