Dissociation Treatment in Dubai
Do you feel emotionally numb, disconnected, spaced out or like you’re not fully present?
Many people describe feeling emotionally numb, experiencing brain fog, being forgetful or unable to think clearly, like they’re watching life from the outside, out of their body, floaty or unreal, spaced out, unable to concentrate, distracted all the time, as though they’re on autopilot, and unable to feel emotions properly.
Many people do not realize that these experiences can be related to dissociation. Dissociation is a subconsciously driven protective response of the brain towards overwhelming stress, trauma, attachment injuries and Complex PTSD.
It can also be seen in those experiencing chronic pain, substance misuse disorders, panic attacks and depressive symptoms.
Dr. Millia works extensively with Complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders at the First Psychiatry Clinic in Dubai, offering specialized therapies for those experiencing dissociation.
Key Insights: Dissociation
- When an experience feels overwhelming, unbearable to be with, or inescapable, people may feel that their attention, clarity of mind, memory, and body awareness may be altered. This alteration may be experienced `as numbing, slowing down, or feeling immobilized, while others may remain highly activated but feel unreal, detached, or disconnected. Dissociation is usually an involuntary response from the deeper parts of the brain.
- Common dissociation symptoms include emotional numbness, brain fog, confusion, feeling “far away” or on autopilot, out-of-body experiences, and sensory changes such as muffled hearing or visual distortions.
- Dissociation is treatable. You can learn more about what it is and the therapies that can help:
If episodes are frequent, frightening, or affecting daily life, trauma-informed help can make a difference. Book a confidential consultation with Dr. Millia, a trauma-focused psychiatrist in Dubai.
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What Is Dissociation?
Dissociation is a psycho-physiological experience in which a person feels disconnected from aspects of their internal or external experience. This may include a sense of detachment from one’s thoughts, emotions, body, memories, or surroundings.
This protective response can help a person endure distressing situations.
Dr Millia Explains Dissociation of Trauma in this Video
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Book at First Psychiatry ClinicFew examples of dissociation are
I feel like I am getting sucked out of my own body
I feel like nothing around me is real and everything seems robotic.
Why does dissociation happen?
Dissociation can happen when a person’s brain registers that they cannot fight or escape something that is overwhelming.
I am trapped, helpless, I cannot seem to come out of this
This seems endless, there is no way out of this situation
This pain is unbearable; it is too much to be with.
At that point, the survival parts of the brain may automatically shift to dampen the intensity of those amplified emotions, and sensations to help the person survive overwhelming danger or endless pain along with helplessness.
What are the symptoms of Dissociation?
Dissociation can be mild or severe. Some of the signs are:
- brain fog, blanking out, spaced out, and feeling “not present.”
- Forgetfulness, difficulties concentrating
- Muffled hearing, sensory changes, or feeling floaty or lightheaded.
- Emotional numbness, shutting down, or difficulty comprehending information.
- Losing the sense of time, memory gaps, absence of presence.
- Identity switching
- Feeling like you’re on autopilot
Mr X stops driving because each time he feels anxious about getting hit by a car. He starts to feel dizzy (a dissociative symptom), which gives him a sense of loss of control over his body. This then triggers a panic attack. In response, a fogginess (dissociative symptom) develops, which escalates the panic attacks further. This cycle becomes endless.
What Is Depersonalization and Derealization?
Depersonalisation
- Feeling disconnected from yourself.
- Sense of observing your body from outside yourself.
- Emotional numbness or feeling “not fully here.”
- Thoughts or actions may feel unreal or automated.
- Disconnecting from your own feelings, identity, or physical presence.
Derealisation
- Feeling disconnected from the external world.
- People or surroundings feel unreal, dreamlike, or distant.
- Foggy or visually altered environment.
- Sounds, time, or space may feel distorted.
- Sensation that the world feels muted or unfamiliar.
How Do Different Therapies Explain Dissociation?
Different therapeutic approaches understand dissociation in slightly different ways, but most agree that it develops as a protective response of the mind and nervous system when experiences become overwhelming.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
Internal Family Systems therapy views dissociation as the activity of protective parts of the mind that attempt to prevent emotional pain from becoming overwhelming. These protective parts may distance a person from difficult feelings or memories. In therapy, the goal is not to remove these parts but to understand their protective role and help them relax once safety is established. Read more here- IFS Therapy
EMDR Therapy
In EMDR therapy, dissociation is often understood as a sign that traumatic memories remain unprocessed or insufficiently integrated. Because dissociation can interfere with trauma processing, EMDR therapy typically emphasizes stabilization and preparation before working directly with traumatic memories. Learn more about EMDR Therapy here.
Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)
Deep Brain Reorienting explains dissociation in terms of neurochemical release—opioids and endocannabinoids of the brain—when the deep brain detects a threat response, experiences shock responses, and has no way to turn to (inescapable situation). When these responses become interrupted or frozen during trauma, dissociation may occur as the nervous system attempts to manage overwhelming activation.
Although these models use different languages, they share a common understanding: dissociation is usually a protective adaptation in the face of overwhelming stress. Therapy, therefore, focuses on helping the nervous system regain stability and safely process underlying experiences.
Does dissociation come from the brain’s chemicals?
Dissociation and the Brain’s Protective Chemistry
After overwhelming stress or trauma, the brain and nervous system can shift into a protective survival state known as dissociation or shutdown.
Research suggests this state involves changes in several natural brain systems, including the endocannabinoid system (which produces molecules such as anandamide (AEA) and 2-AG) and the brain’s endogenous opioid system. These systems help regulate fear, pain, stress responses and emotional processing, and may contribute to the protective “shutdown” response seen in some people following trauma. A Review of the Neurobiological Basis of Trauma-Related Dissociation and Its Relation to Cannabinoid- and Opioid-Mediated Stress Response: a Transdiagnostic, Translational Approach – PubMed
Read also about Dissociative subtype of PTSD– a concept developed by Dr Lanius and her team.
Dissociation Self-Check
Dissociation is the mind and body’s way of protecting you from overwhelm. This reflection explores whether you may be experiencing dissociative patterns.
1. I feel disconnected from myself, my body, or my surroundings.
2. I feel “spaced out,” foggy, or not fully present.
3. I lose track of time or feel like time has passed without me noticing.
4. I feel emotionally numb or detached, even in situations that should feel meaningful.
5. When I feel overwhelmed, my mind seems to “shut down” or go blank.
6. I feel like I am watching myself from the outside or not fully “in” my body.
7. My attention suddenly narrows or disappears when I feel stressed or unsafe.
8. I find it difficult to stay connected to my internal experience (thoughts, feelings, body sensations).
9. These experiences tend to happen when I feel overwhelmed, stressed, or emotionally triggered.
10. I feel like part of me “switches off” to protect me from difficult experiences.
Low frequency:
Occasional dissociation can be a normal protective response.
Moderate frequency:
You may be using dissociation to manage stress or overwhelm.
High frequency:
Dissociation may be a more established protective pattern linked to trauma or nervous system overwhelm.
Dissociation is a protective response that develops when the nervous system is overwhelmed and unable to fully process an experience.
⚠️ This is a self-reflection tool, not a diagnosis. A professional assessment can help you understand your experience more fully.
Book a Confidential ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions — Understanding Dissociation
These are some of the most common questions people ask when trying to understand dissociation, trauma, and how the mind protects itself under stress.
What is dissociation — and is it the same as spacing out?
When does dissociation become a problem?
Can dissociation be a normal response?
What commonly triggers dissociation?
How can I tell if I’m dissociating or just tired or distracted?
Can dissociation go away on its own?
Is it safe to process trauma if I dissociate easily?
How long does dissociation last?
Does medication help dissociation?
What role does childhood trauma play in dissociation?
Can dissociation be confused with ADHD or psychosis?
Is EMDR therapy suitable for dissociation?
🔗 Related Trauma & Therapy Resources
Explore related trauma conditions, attachment-focused therapies, grief support, and recovery pathways.
Healing wounded and protective parts. EMDR Therapy
Processing traumatic memories. Complex PTSD
Developmental and prolonged trauma. PTSD Therapy
Trauma-focused treatment options. Dissociation
Depersonalisation and derealisation. Attachment Trauma
Early relational wounds and survival responses. Grief & Traumatic Grief
When shock, loss, and attachment pain become intertwined. Psychiatry Services
Integrated psychiatry and trauma therapy.
Considering DBR Therapy for trauma, attachment wounds, dissociation, PTSD, or traumatic grief?
📞 Book a Confidential ConsultationAbout Dr. Millia
Dr. Millia Begum
is a British-trained Consultant Psychiatrist and an expert trauma specialist with over 25 years of clinical experience in psychiatry and therapy.
She is a EMDRIA Approved Therapist & Consultant, an EMDR researcher, and a former board member of the EMDR Association UK. She uses EMDR, Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) Therapy and is a Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist. She brings a compassionate, parts-informed approach to her work with clients in Dubai.
