The human brain can disconnect from the body as a protective shield during times of extreme stress or trauma.

Think of dissociation as your brain's automatic circuit breaker. When stress or trauma gets too heavy, this safety switch trips to protect you. It creates a mental distance between you and your physical body. It acts as a psychic escape route when you cannot physically run away. This is why people going through scary events often feel like they are floating above themselves, watching a movie instead of living it.