Why do some people feel disconnected from daily life after consciousness work?
Short Answer
Consciousness work expands awareness faster than the brain's meaning-making systems can adapt, creating temporary disconnection from previously automatic responses to familiar situations.
Why This Matters
The brain's default mode network, which generates our sense of familiar selfhood and automatic responses, gets disrupted when consciousness practices reveal its constructed nature. This results in a temporary gap where old patterns no longer feel authentic but new integrated responses haven't yet formed. The disconnection occurs because expanded awareness highlights the arbitrary nature of many social conventions and personal habits that previously felt natural and meaningful.
Where This Changes
Integration typically occurs over weeks to months as new neural pathways stabilize. Some people experience waves of connection and disconnection rather than a linear process, particularly during periods of intensive practice or major life transitions.