This brief video provides an introduction to dissociative disorders, using the analogy of driving on autopilot to explain the concept of dissociation. It highlights how, for some people, this feeling of disconnection can become so intense and frequent that it interferes with daily life, leading to a diagnosis of a dissociative disorder.

Perhaps you've had the experience of driving on autopilot. One minute you get in your car, and the next minute you've arrived at your destination, but you can't actually recall the details of the drive. This is an example of normal, everyday dissociation, a term that describes a mental state of disconnection from what's happening around you. Normally, this daydreamy state doesn't last very long, and most people can snap out of it if something or someone requires their attention. However, for some people, dissociation is more pervasive and can't be tuned out so easily. In fact, the feeling of disconnection may become so intense and occur so frequently that it prevents a person from functioning in their daily life. When this is the case, we say that the person has a dissociative disorder. Sign up for a free trial today and watch the full video on osmosis.org.