ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dissociative

adj.
C1 Advanced UK //dɪsˈəʊsiətˌɪv// dis·so·cia·tive

adj. describing a mental state where you feel disconnected from your body, your thoughts, or the world around you. It can also describe drugs that cause this feeling.

adj. relating to a psychological state of detachment from one's thoughts, feelings, memories, or sense of identity. Often describes substances that induce a trance-like state or a feeling of being outside one's body.


SIMPLE

The patient reported a dissociative feeling during the stressful event.

CONTEXTUAL

Some dissociative drugs are used in medical settings for anesthesia, though they are also known for their hallucinogenic properties.

COMPLEX

The therapist noted that the patient's dissociative symptoms were likely a protective mechanism developed during early childhood to cope with overwhelming trauma.

Origin

From dissociate + -ive.

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