Emotionally detached why

These can include past experiences and psychological conditions, but it can also be purposeful behavior that can be used as a way to cope or set boundaries in overwhelming situations. Some common causes of emotional detachment are listed below. Past abuse, neglect, and trauma can contribute to emotional detachment. In other cases, kids may develop attachment problems as a result of their abuse that contributes to problems with becoming emotionally attached and involved in the lives of other people.

Emotional detachment can also be a symptom of a number of psychological conditions. These can include:. Emotional detachment can also be a side effect related to certain medications including antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs. You should talk to your doctor if you begin to experience emotional detachment while taking your antidepressant.

Your doctor may need to adjust your dosage or consider switching you to a different medication. Emotional detachment can also be a problem associated with a substance use disorder. If you have symptoms of a substance problem and are experiencing emotional detachment, discuss your treatment options with your doctor.

In other cases, people detach emotionally as a way to cope with stress, establish boundaries, and reduce feelings of anxiety. This can sometimes be a positive coping mechanism in cases where you are facing a temporary problem, but it can become problematic if it becomes an overused pattern of behavior that affects your ability to form healthy relationships with other people. In some instances, emotionally detaching can help protect people from the effects of traumatic experiences.

Emotional detachment may also be a symptom of an attachment disorder. The treatment approach used to address emotional detachment depends on what exactly is causing it. Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms and may make a diagnosis that can then help determine your treatment plan.

If your symptoms are related to a mental health condition such as depression, PTSD, or a personality disorder, your doctor will likely recommend treating the condition to help relieve your symptoms.

Treatments that your doctor may recommend include psychotherapy and medications. Psychotherapy approaches that might be utilized to treat emotional detachment include cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT and acceptance and commitment therapy ACT :. If you are experiencing emotional detachment that is causing problems in your life and relationships, there are things that you can do to help reintegrate your emotional connections in your life.

These include:. Once you can overcome emotional numbing and identify your feelings, take the time to sit with them and observe how they make you feel emotionally and physically. Over time, this will become more natural, and you will no longer experience emotional detachment as often. In relationships, emotional attachment is very important. Perhaps you have suffered emotional abuse in the past and now struggle to make an emotional connection. A professional can help you work through any problems with emotional distance or detachment.

Alexithymia is when a person has trouble expressing and even identifying emotions. People with alexithymia often feel emotionally numb. Alexithymia is not considered a mental health disorder, but it has links with autism and can co-occur with depression.

Those living with schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, schizophrenia, sociopathic personality disorder, and psychopathic personality disorder may also experience alexithymia.

It is very difficult to develop an emotional connection and emotional attachment with someone emotionally unavailable. Emotionally unavailable people often experience depression and anxiety. Emotional detachment is strongly related to fear : the fear of intimacy, of being hurt, of being judged, or of something else entirely. In relationships, emotional intimacy is very important. While it is difficult to form a strong and healthy relationship with someone emotionally unavailable, there is professional help available, and it is possible to change.

The first step to take with an emotionally distant partner is to have an honest conversation about your emotional distance. Please do your best to create a space where your partner will feel safe letting their walls down and vulnerable. While some people may be open to this, others may refuse to communicate. In this case, it may be best to end the relationship rather than hoping that your partner will change someday. Search Topics. Can Stress Cause Spotting? This thought process, while totally understandable, can lead you to bring emotional detachment into your relationship — often, without even realizing it.

For example, do you find yourself or your partner avoiding tough conversations that require vulnerability and openness? Are they holding back from being completely invested the way you want them to be? At its root, emotional detachment means someone is physically present in an interaction or relationship, but is not emotionally present or involved. Psychologist Dr. In fact, your relationship might feel functional e. This unhealthy behavior comes to a head when emotions begin to surface, and you or your partner may push them down in an effort to remain cool, calm, and composed.

When misdiagnosis of EDD occurs, it can lead to improper or inadequate treatment. For an accurate diagnosis, it is important to consult a doctor who knows about EDD and can discuss your symptoms and concerns. The earlier EDD is identified and diagnosed, the better the chances of successful treatment and the development of healthy attachments.

What Is Emotional Detachment Disorder? Online therapy has been found to be just as effective as in-person therapy. In particular, cognitive behavioral therapy is a common and effective approach to treating EDD.

Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy ICBT has been found to actually be more effective in the medium and long term, even post-therapy, in treating behavioral and mood conditions like depression, EDD, PTSD, and many others.