Zoning out in the middle of a conversation or an office meeting is strangely comforting, but it could be caused by several underlying mental conditions.
The human mind is complicated and factors beyond our control make it harder to focus on daily activities. However, if you find yourself zoning often, take it as a warning sign.
Psychotherapist explains why humans tend to zone out
Clinical psychologist Dr. Robert Duff says the tendency to lose concentration can explain several factors associated with mental health.
He has a private practice in Southern California and uses his YouTube channel alongside a popular podcast and other social media channels to talk about all things mental health.
His specialty is “taking complex psychological issues and breaking them down into plain language.” In one of his videos on YouTube, Dr. Robert Duff explains four reasons why we zone out.
Attention problem or ADHD
Dr. Robert Duff says people with ADHD tend to zone out a lot as they struggle to keep their focus retained.
People with this condition can either be inattentive or hyperactive, causing them to lose concentration over things easily.
This doesn’t mean they don’t have an attention span, but they tend to zone out to think about other things as opposed to focusing on what’s happening in real time.
Anxiety
Anxious people may get too lost in their heads while replaying certain incidents that induce anxiety in them.
They may be thinking about things they could have done differently to avoid embarrassment or dwell on it too much, thus zoning out from the present.
People suffering from anxiety can also find it hard to stay focused as they tend to dread possible future scenarios.
Depression
Depression can definitely affect your concentration, according to the psychologist.
Long-term depression can cause “pseudo dementia”, which isn’t a permanent condition, but takes a toll on your memory and concentration.
The lack of attentiveness can be taken care of by treating depression as it’s an emotional symptom.
Derealization or depersonalization
This happens when people feel they’ve lost control over their lives and it’s on “autopilot”.
You may be physically present in a certain scenario but feel disassociated or disconnected mentally.
This is common among people who have suffered childhood trauma and zoning out serves as a defense or coping mechanism in them.
In addition to the above reasons, factors such as hormonal imbalance vitamin deficiency, and more can also contribute to a lack of attentiveness.
If you notice the symptoms stated here, speak with a doctor or a therapist for further action.
