+

Finding a therapist is exhausting.

That's why we vet therapists for you.

Find a vetted therapist
March 1, 2024

Emotional Detachment Test

Kristie Plantinga
,
MA
a person with short hair in a striped shirts stands on a boat alone looking out at the water; emotional detachment test
Guides
March 1, 2024
2 min to read
Show table of contents

It's understandable to want to protect yourself from painful emotions by detaching or disconnecting from certain situations or relationships. But emotionally detaching too often can leave you feeling empty inside, unsure of your true feelings, and distant from those who care about you. 

This quick quiz is designed to help you determine if you rely on emotional detachment to an unhealthy degree. Remember, needing space from emotional distress is human, but completely numbing yourself to avoid pain can also numb you to joy and love, too.

If the quiz indicates that you tend to detach yourself emotionally, please don't feel ashamed. This is often a common reaction to trauma or emotional overwhelm. 

Support and mental health resources are available to help you process difficult feelings, reconnect with your emotions in a healthy way, and start feeling whole again. You deserve to fully experience life's range of emotions while feeling safe and cared for.

How accurate is this quiz?

At Best Therapists, we believe that online mental health quizzes can be an excellent first step towards improving our mental health. Quizzes like this one can educate you and provide opportunities for self-reflection, but note that they are not a substitute for professional assessments and diagnoses.

Take our quiz below ↓

Your privacy is important to us, so all results are completely anonymous and no email is required.

Need more answers?

Frequently asked questions

What are some common signs of emotional detachment?

According to Verywell Mind (1), some common signs of emotional detachment are:

  • Ambivalence toward others
  • Avoiding people, situations, or activities
  • Difficulty empathizing with others
  • Difficulty opening up to other people
  • Feeling disconnected from other people
  • Losing interest in people and activities
  • Losing touch with people
  • Not paying attention to other people
  • Poor listening skills
  • Preferring to be alone
  • Problems forming and maintaining relationships
  • Problems expressing emotions
  • Struggling to feel positive emotions
What often causes people to emotionally detach themselves from others?

According to the Mayo Clinic (2), some common causes of emotional detachment are:

  • Having a history of trauma, abuse, or neglect
  • Having a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Having a personality disorder such as borderline, avoidant, or schizoid
  • Having a chronic illness or disability that affects your quality of life
  • Having a stressful life situation such as a divorce, a loss, or a conflict
Start Getting help from a vetted therapist

Learn how to feel again.

Written by
Kristie Plantinga
,
MA

Kristie Plantinga is the founder of Best Therapists. Along with being on the client-side of therapy, Kristie has had the honor of working directly with therapists in her marketing agency for therapists, TherapieSEO. While working alongside therapists, she learned about the inequities in our mental health system that therapists face on a daily basis, and she wanted to do something about it. That’s why Best Therapists is a platform designed to benefit not only therapy-seekers, but therapy providers. Kristie has a Masters degree in Written Communication and a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Music.

Reviewed by
Katelyn McMahon
,
Registered Psychotherapist, VT #097.0134200

Katelyn is a therapist-turned-writer with a passion for mental health. She has a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of England and is a Registered Psychotherapist in the state of Vermont. Katelyn has professional experience in aging care, addiction treatment, integrated health care, and private practice settings. She also has lived experience being on the client side of therapy. Currently, Katelyn is a content writer who’s passionate about spreading mental health awareness and helping other therapists and therapy-seekers Do The Work.

Ready to start therapy?

Find a Best Therapists vetted therapist.

Find a therapist
Show sources and research articles
  1. Grohol, J. M. (2020, October 29). What is emotional detachment? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-emotional-detachment-5121166
  2. Depersonalization/derealization disorder. (2018, January 6). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depersonalization-derealization-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352911