Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSignsCausesTypesTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Signs

Causes

Types

Treatment

Coping

Close

Emotional detachment refers to being disconnected or disengaged from the feelings of other people.This can involve an inability or an unwillingness to get involved in the emotional lives of other people. While this detachment may protect people from stress, hurt, and anxiety, it can also interfere with a person’s psychological, social, and emotional well-being.Emotional detachment can sometimes occur as a coping mechanism when people are faced with stressful or difficult situations. In other cases, it can be a symptom of a mental health condition.What Does It Mean to Be Emotionally Unavailable?What Are Signs of Emotional Detachment?There are a number of signs and symptoms of emotional detachment. These may include:Ambivalence toward othersAvoiding people, situations, or activitiesDifficultyempathizingwith othersDifficulty opening up to other peopleFeeling disconnected from other peopleLosing interest in people and activitiesLosing touch with peopleNot paying attention to other peoplePoor listening skillsPreferring to be aloneProblems forming and maintaining relationshipsProblems expressing emotionsStruggling to feel positive emotionsIt is important to remember that emotional detachment is not a mental health condition, but it might be a symptom of some mental disorders.If you think you might be experiencing symptoms of emotional detachment, you should talk to a doctor or mental health professional. Such symptoms can be a response to an acute but temporary situation, or it may be a sign of a mental health condition.Your doctor can assess your symptoms, look at your health history, and evaluate your physical health to help rule out any medical conditions that might be contributing to the symptoms you are experiencing. they will ask whether you have experienced recent changes in these areas and will want to know more about the impact these symptoms are having on your life and how long they have lasted.What Causes Emotional Detachment?Emotional detachment can have many different causes. 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.ExperiencesPast abuse, neglect, and trauma can contribute to emotional detachment. Children who grow up in abusive situations may use this detachment as a way to cope.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.The Best Online Trauma Therapy, Tried and TestedMental Health ConditionsEmotional detachment can also be a symptom of a number of psychological conditions. These can include:Bipolar disorderDepressionPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and TestedMedicationsEmotional detachment can also be a side effect related to certain medications includingantidepressantssuch asselective 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 asubstance use disorder. If you have symptoms of a substance problem and are experiencing emotional detachment, discuss your treatment options with your doctor.Voluntary BehaviorIn 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.TypesEmotional detachment may also be a symptom of an attachment disorder. These may include:Reactive attachment disorder: This condition may emerge due to childhood abuse and neglect. As a result, children are unable to form healthy emotional bonds with their caregivers. Symptoms can include problems controlling and expressing emotions.Disinhibited social engagement disorder: This condition may occur when kids fail to form meaningful attachments with caregivers. Symptoms include being overly friendly and affectionate with strangers and showing little to no preference for their primary caregivers.How Do You Fix Emotional Detachment?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 includecognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)andacceptance and commitment therapy (ACT):CBT addresses negative beliefs and maladaptive behaviorsthat contribute to emotional detachment. It helps people learn new coping mechanisms that will allow them to develop stronger emotional skills without relying on detachment as a way to cope.ACT incorporates aspects of mindfulnessto help people become more aware of and in control of their emotions.We Tried 100+ Therapy Services and Apps—And These Are the 8 Best for Online CBTCopingIf 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:Practicing mindfulness:Mindfulnessis a technique that helps people focus on the present moment, including the physical environment and emotional responses. Learning how to engage in mindfulness can help you learn to pay attention to your emotions and build self-awareness.Strengthening your relationships: As you begin to build greater awareness of your own emotions, it is important to find ways to connect with safe people who will support your growth. This is particularly true if your emotional detachment is a response to adversarial relationships in your life.Finding ways to be emotionally vulnerable: Emotionally detached people can certainly love, but learning how to open themselves up to the other person emotionally takes time. Surrounding yourself with safe people who understand your needs are willing to give yourself the time you need can help you gradually work toward improving your emotional experiences and expressions.Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.Keep in MindEmotional detachment can occur for a number of different reasons. When used voluntarily, it can help protect people from potentially traumatizing experiences. However, it may also occur due to the effects of trauma or as a symptoms of a mental health condition.If emotional detachment is negatively affecting your life and ability to function, talk to your doctor or therapist. Treatments are available that can help you reconnect with your emotions and re-engage with important areas of your life.How to Be More Emotionally Available in Your Relationships

Emotional detachment refers to being disconnected or disengaged from the feelings of other people.

This can involve an inability or an unwillingness to get involved in the emotional lives of other people. While this detachment may protect people from stress, hurt, and anxiety, it can also interfere with a person’s psychological, social, and emotional well-being.

Emotional detachment can sometimes occur as a coping mechanism when people are faced with stressful or difficult situations. In other cases, it can be a symptom of a mental health condition.

What Does It Mean to Be Emotionally Unavailable?

What Are Signs of Emotional Detachment?

There are a number of signs and symptoms of emotional detachment. These may include:

It is important to remember that emotional detachment is not a mental health condition, but it might be a symptom of some mental disorders.

If you think you might be experiencing symptoms of emotional detachment, you should talk to a doctor or mental health professional. Such symptoms can be a response to an acute but temporary situation, or it may be a sign of a mental health condition.

Your doctor can assess your symptoms, look at your health history, and evaluate your physical health to help rule out any medical conditions that might be contributing to the symptoms you are experiencing. they will ask whether you have experienced recent changes in these areas and will want to know more about the impact these symptoms are having on your life and how long they have lasted.

What Causes Emotional Detachment?

Emotional detachment can have many different causes. 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.

Experiences

Past abuse, neglect, and trauma can contribute to emotional detachment. Children who grow up in abusive situations may use this detachment as a way to cope.

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.

The Best Online Trauma Therapy, Tried and Tested

Mental Health Conditions

Emotional detachment can also be a symptom of a number of psychological conditions. These can include:

The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and Tested

Medications

Emotional detachment can also be a side effect related to certain medications includingantidepressantssuch asselective 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 asubstance use disorder. If you have symptoms of a substance problem and are experiencing emotional detachment, discuss your treatment options with your doctor.

Voluntary Behavior

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. These may include:

How Do You Fix Emotional Detachment?

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 includecognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)andacceptance and commitment therapy (ACT):

We Tried 100+ Therapy Services and Apps—And These Are the 8 Best for Online CBT

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:

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Keep in Mind

Emotional detachment can occur for a number of different reasons. When used voluntarily, it can help protect people from potentially traumatizing experiences. However, it may also occur due to the effects of trauma or as a symptoms of a mental health condition.

If emotional detachment is negatively affecting your life and ability to function, talk to your doctor or therapist. Treatments are available that can help you reconnect with your emotions and re-engage with important areas of your life.

How to Be More Emotionally Available in Your Relationships

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dvir Y, Ford JD, Hill M, Frazier JA.Childhood maltreatment, emotional dysregulation, and psychiatric comorbidities.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2014;22(3):149-161. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000014Weilenmann S, Schnyder U, Parkinson B, Corda C, von Känel R, Pfaltz MC.Emotion transfer, emotion regulation, and empathy-related processes in physician-patient interactions and their association with physician well-being: a theoretical model.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:389. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00389Cleveland Clinic.Reactive attachment disorder.Minnis H.What happens to disinhibited social engagement disorder over time?J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;57(5):304-305. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2018.03.001Bisson JI, Cosgrove S, Lewis C, Roberts NP.Post-traumatic stress disorder.BMJ. 2015:h6161. doi:10.1136/bmj.h6161

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dvir Y, Ford JD, Hill M, Frazier JA.Childhood maltreatment, emotional dysregulation, and psychiatric comorbidities.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2014;22(3):149-161. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000014Weilenmann S, Schnyder U, Parkinson B, Corda C, von Känel R, Pfaltz MC.Emotion transfer, emotion regulation, and empathy-related processes in physician-patient interactions and their association with physician well-being: a theoretical model.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:389. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00389Cleveland Clinic.Reactive attachment disorder.Minnis H.What happens to disinhibited social engagement disorder over time?J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;57(5):304-305. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2018.03.001Bisson JI, Cosgrove S, Lewis C, Roberts NP.Post-traumatic stress disorder.BMJ. 2015:h6161. doi:10.1136/bmj.h6161

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Dvir Y, Ford JD, Hill M, Frazier JA.Childhood maltreatment, emotional dysregulation, and psychiatric comorbidities.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2014;22(3):149-161. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000014Weilenmann S, Schnyder U, Parkinson B, Corda C, von Känel R, Pfaltz MC.Emotion transfer, emotion regulation, and empathy-related processes in physician-patient interactions and their association with physician well-being: a theoretical model.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:389. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00389Cleveland Clinic.Reactive attachment disorder.Minnis H.What happens to disinhibited social engagement disorder over time?J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;57(5):304-305. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2018.03.001Bisson JI, Cosgrove S, Lewis C, Roberts NP.Post-traumatic stress disorder.BMJ. 2015:h6161. doi:10.1136/bmj.h6161

Dvir Y, Ford JD, Hill M, Frazier JA.Childhood maltreatment, emotional dysregulation, and psychiatric comorbidities.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2014;22(3):149-161. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000014

Weilenmann S, Schnyder U, Parkinson B, Corda C, von Känel R, Pfaltz MC.Emotion transfer, emotion regulation, and empathy-related processes in physician-patient interactions and their association with physician well-being: a theoretical model.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:389. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00389

Cleveland Clinic.Reactive attachment disorder.

Minnis H.What happens to disinhibited social engagement disorder over time?J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;57(5):304-305. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2018.03.001

Bisson JI, Cosgrove S, Lewis C, Roberts NP.Post-traumatic stress disorder.BMJ. 2015:h6161. doi:10.1136/bmj.h6161

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?