Read on to learn more about emotional detachment and how to treat it.
What Is Emotional Detachment?
Emotions are more than just how we feel. They help determine how we react to situations, influence social functioning, and facilitate bonding with other people.
We affect and are affected by other people’s emotions, positively and negatively. Healthy emotional regulation allows a person to work through emotions without being consumed by them.
Emotional detachment means a person has difficulty tuning into their emotions and connecting with others on an emotional level.
While they may feel disengaged and appear to lack empathy, people with emotional detachment do experience emotions and usually want to express them and connect with others, they just have difficulty doing so in a way that is typically considered appropriate.
People experiencing emotional detachment may:
Find it difficult to show empathyHave trouble expressing and sharing emotionsHave difficulty committing to a relationship or partnershipFeel disconnected from othersFeel “numb”Find it hard to identify their emotionsBe unaware that their actions may be seen as rudePractice avoidance when a situation involves the expression of emotion
In Relationships
Emotional detachment can occur in relationships as well. Periods of disconnect are common in relationships and usually resolve once both partners are in a place to reconnect. If the detachment becomes pervasive or ongoing, it can cause problems in the relationship.
Emotional detachment in a relationship may look like:
Reduced availability or preoccupationNot communicating location or plansTerse communicationPlacing others before their partnerReduced affection and intimacyReduced investment in the relationship
Identifying Emotional Detachment
If you are experiencing emotional detachment, seeing a healthcare provider is a good place to start. They may:
Talk with you about your feelings, behaviors, and other symptomsDo an exam or run tests to look for physical reasons for your symptomsMake a referral to a mental health professional
Emotional detachment is a common characteristic of several disorders, so it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider who understands it and is knowledgeable about how it can manifest.
Causes and Triggers of Emotional Detachment
There are many things that can influence how a person regulates emotion, including emotional detachment.
Past Experiences
Exposure to traumatic events and interpersonal trauma in childhood is associated with many impairments in children and adults, including emotional detachment and emotional dysregulation.
Complex childhood trauma and a lack of adequately responsive and consistent emotional support in childhood can affect a person’s ability to tolerate intense emotions, form healthy attachments and relationships, and develop a sense of self.
Childhood trauma could involve inadequate care in an institutional setting or other out-of-home placement, or traumatic losses or changes in the child’s primary caregiver.
While childhood trauma can create problems that persist into adulthood, trauma that occurs in adulthood can also cause emotional detachment.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can develop after a single exceptionally threatening or horrifying event or from prolonged exposure to trauma such as abuse. Emotional detachment is one way in which PTSD may manifest.
Attachment Disorders
Emotional detachment can be a symptom of an attachment disorder, such as:
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
Stems from extremes of insufficient care in childhoodLess likely to interact with other peopleDo not seek comfort from others when stressed or upsetDifficulty responding to comfort when distressedChildren may appear sad, irritable, or scared while engaging in normal activities with their caregiver
Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED)
Stems from a child experiencing a pattern of insufficient careChildren may be overly friendly and affectionate, such as approaching strangers without fear and even hugging themUnafraid of strangers, and will often go with someone they don’t know without checking in with their caregivers
Mental Health Conditions
In addition to PTSD, emotional detachment can occur as part of several different mental health conditions, including:
Depression Dissociative disorder Borderline personality disorder Other personality disorders Bipolar disorder
Side Effects of Medication
Emotional detachment may be a side effect of some medications, such as certain antidepressants.
A 2016 study analyzed survey data of people who had been using antidepressants for three to 15 years. While the majority (89.4%) reported that antidepressants had improved their depression, many also noted side effects, including adverse emotional effects. 64.5% reported feeling emotionally numb.
Intentional Coping Strategy
Emotional detachment can be a useful tactic many people use to protect themselves in stressful situations. While pervasive use of this emotional coping strategy can be maladaptive (unhelpful), it can sometimes be a healthy way to set boundaries.
For example, having a healthcare provider who is skilled at regulating connection to their emotions is associated with:
Better patient adherence to treatmentImproved communication skillsBetter decision makingBetter disease managementReduced anxietyBetter health overallHigher quality of life in patients
Conversely, being overly connected to emotions can interfere with medical decisions, objectivity, and judgment. Being overly emotionally involved with patients and being exposed to high levels of negative emotions can cause providers to experience:
Personal distress Compassion fatigue Emotional exhaustion Burnout
Devoting too much time and commitment to patients can also lead to neglecting their personal time, hobbies, and family responsibilities.
Being able to engage in selective emotional detachment can allow providers to stay calm, be objective, perform painful medical procedures, and protect themselves from becoming emotionally overwhelmed. Learning how to regulate their emotions allows them to be empathetic when called for and detached when necessary.
Treatment for Emotional Detachment
Treatment for emotional detachment depends on what is causing it and what the individual’s goals are. If it is a component of another condition, such as depression or PTSD, the whole condition needs to be treated.
Psychotherapy (talk therapy) may be beneficial for people experiencing emotional detachment. This might include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which involves identifying and examining maladaptive thoughts and behaviors and transforming them into healthier processes and strategies. Or it could include psychodynamic psychotherapy, which emphasizes the acknowledgement and expression of affect, and examines our emotional defense mechanisms.
If there is a relationship component to the emotional detachment, therapies are available that address the couple or family as a whole.
Discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider or mental health professional, and tell them what you hope to achieve with treatment. They can help figure out which approach is best for you.
How to Cope With Emotional Detachment
In addition to professional treatment, there are some ways to help cope with experiencing emotional detachment.
Meditation and mindfulness: This can help reduce stress, promote calm, and improve reactions to negative thoughts and feelings. Writing: Keeping a journal can help you get your thoughts and emotions out instead of detaching from them. It may also help you notice patterns or triggers for your emotional detachment. Avoid self-medicating with substances: While they may provide temporary relief, substances like alcohol can make symptoms worse, or lead to more problems in the long run. Seek support: Support groups are a great way to connect with others who understand what you are experiencing. Allowing vulnerability: Being vulnerable can be hard and takes time and practice, but it’s worth it. Work on opening up with people you trust and feel safe with. Make art: Getting creative can be a healthy way to connect with and express your emotions.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you find emotional detachment is having a negative impact on your life, making relationships difficult, or may be a symptom of another mental health problem, see your healthcare provider.
Summary
Emotional detachment can be part of healthy emotion regulation, but it can be harmful if it leads to interpersonal problems. Trauma, mental health conditions, and medication side effects can all cause emotional detachment. Help for emotional detachment depends on the individual, but may include talk therapy. If it is a component of another condition, treatment will need to address that condition.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
A Word From Verywell
Healthy emotion regulation doesn’t come easily for everyone. Emotional detachment can be hard for the person experiencing it and for those around them. If you are experiencing emotional detachment that is negatively impacting your life, see your healthcare provider or a mental health professional to determine next steps.
