I've recently read an  article in the Independent on the growing issue affecting teens -  a particular kind of absence that's becoming more common. You're physically present but mentally gone. Going through the motions but not really there. Scrolling without seeing. Talking without connecting. Existing somewhere outside your own body.

It's called dissociation, and it's becoming an epidemic—especially among young people.

Dissociation isn't just zoning out occasionally—apparently it's your nervous system's way of protecting you from overwhelm by disconnecting you from the present moment. And in a world of constant notifications, chronic stress, information overload, and relentless demands, more and more of us are living in a state of low-grade dissociation without even realising it.

Why dissociation is on the rise (especially for young people)

Our nervous systems weren't designed for this. The constant stimulation. The digital overload. The 24/7 accessibility. The pressure to be productive, present, and performing at all times.

But for young people growing up with smartphones, social media, and instant gratification culture, the problem is even more acute. Their brains are developing in an environment of constant dopamine hits—likes, notifications, endless scrolling, algorithmic feeds designed to keep them hooked.

"Distressing content is also streamed directly to teens’ devices. Violent videos, cyberbullying or hate-based online abuse can all trigger overwhelmed feelings".

I'm a mother to 13-year-old twins. I see this every day—the pull of screens, the dopamine loops, the dissociation that comes with constant stimulation. My kids are happy and grounded, but I'm acutely aware of what they're navigating.

My daughter has learned that real results come from what actually works, not what's trending. She initially wanted the newest skincare fad, but now the Organic Frankincense & May Chang moisturiser is her go-to. She sees the results overnight and openly loves it. That's the kind of discernment we need more of—the ability to recognise what actually resources you versus what just promises empty dopamine hits.

Research shows that excessive screen time and social media use are directly linked to increased rates of dissociation, anxiety, and depression in adolescents and young adults. The constant switching between apps, the comparison culture, the overstimulation—it's training their nervous systems to stay in a state of hyperarousal or, when that becomes unsustainable, to disconnect entirely.

Dissociation becomes the escape route. When you can't handle the input anymore, when the dopamine hits stop working, when the instant gratification leaves you feeling empty—your system does what it's designed to do: it disconnects. It's a survival mechanism. But when it becomes your default state, you lose access to your body, your emotions, your ability to be truly present.

And it's not just young people. For mothers—especially those navigating hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, and the relentless demands of caregiving while also being constantly accessible via devices—dissociation can become a daily coping mechanism just to get through.

The problem is, when you're dissociated, you're not resourced. You're running on autopilot. You're not making conscious choices. You're not connected to yourself or the people around you. And over time, that disconnection compounds.

The dopamine problem: Why instant gratification leaves you empty

Here's what's happening: our brains are wired to seek dopamine—the neurotransmitter associated with reward and pleasure. But technology has hijacked that system.

Every notification, every like, every swipe gives you a tiny dopamine hit. Your brain learns to crave that hit. But the more you get, the more you need to feel the same effect. It's the same mechanism as addiction.

The problem with these artificial dopamine hits is that they're empty. They don't actually resource you. They don't fill you up. They just keep you chasing the next hit, the next scroll, the next distraction. And when you're constantly chasing external stimulation, you lose the ability to be present with yourself.

You become disembodied. Disconnected. Dissociated.

And the cruel irony? The more dissociated you feel, the more you reach for your phone to escape the discomfort. It's a loop that's incredibly hard to break.

The challenge: You can't think your way back in

Here's what makes dissociation so tricky: when you're dissociated, you can't just decide to come back into your body. Your thinking brain isn't fully online. Logic doesn't work. You need something sensory, something tangible, something that interrupts the pattern and guides you back through your body, not your mind.

I know this because I've been there. Staring at my phone for 20 minutes without absorbing a single thing. Standing in the kitchen with no memory of why I walked in. Having entire conversations I couldn't recall later. Like for as long as I can remember. Feeling like I was watching my life from behind glass.

I tried the usual advice: "Be more present." "Practice mindfulness." "Put your phone down." But when you're already dissociated, those instructions are useless. You need something that meets you where you are and brings you back step by step.

Why sensory rituals work for dissociation

Dissociation happens when your nervous system disconnects you from sensory input to protect you from overwhelm. So the way back in is through safe sensory input—the kind that signals to your body that it's okay to come back, that it's safe to feel again.

This is why rituals work. Especially rituals that are:

- Tactile: Physical sensation on your skin grounds you in your body
- Olfactory: Scent bypasses your thinking brain and connects directly to your limbic system
- Repetitive: Familiar patterns help your nervous system feel safe enough to re-engage
- Low-stakes: You don't need energy or willpower—you're already doing it
- Offline: No screens, no dopamine traps, no digital overstimulation

For me, that ritual was skincare. It was the one thing I showed up for even when I was completely checked out. And because it was sensory, repetitive, and familiar, it became the doorway back into my body.

How ROOTED cards help with dissociation

 

The ROOTED cards are designed to work with your skincare ritual to guide you back into your body when you're dissociated. They're not another thing to remember or another app to open—they're something you hold in your hand while you're already doing the thing you do twice a day.

Here's how they help:

1. They interrupt the pattern

When you're dissociated, you need something to break the loop. Pulling a card is a small, physical action that interrupts autopilot and brings your attention back to the present moment.

2. They provide sensory anchors

The cards guide you through sensory prompts—noticing the scent of your serum, the texture on your skin, the temperature of the water, the weight of your body. These aren't abstract mindfulness instructions; they're concrete, embodied cues that pull you back into sensation.

3. They guide you through regulation

The ROOTED framework moves you step-by-step from dysregulation back into your body: Regulation (calming your nervous system), Observation (noticing what's present), Openness (allowing what's there), Transformation (witnessing the shift), Embodiment (reconnecting with your body), and Devotion (committing to the practice).

When you're dissociated, you can't access these steps on your own. The cards walk you through them while your hands are already doing the familiar, grounding work of your skincare routine.

4. They're tangible and offline

No screens. No apps. No notifications. No dopamine traps. Just something physical you can hold, read, and return to. When digital overload and instant gratification culture are part of what's driving dissociation, having an offline tool matters.

This is especially important for young people who've grown up with screens as their primary coping mechanism. The cards offer an alternative—a way to resource yourself that doesn't involve another device, another app, another hit of empty dopamine.

5. They work in the moment

You don't need to carve out extra time or have the bandwidth for a full meditation. You're snatching the two minutes you already have while your serum sinks in. That's it. And in those two minutes, you're being guided back into your body through prompts you can actually follow when you're already checked out.

Which cards help most with dissociation?

While all the ROOTED cards support nervous system regulation, certain prompts are especially effective for dissociation:

- Regulation cards: Sensory grounding prompts (scent, texture, temperature) that signal safety and pull you into present-moment awareness
- Observation cards: Body scan prompts that guide your attention to physical sensations—feet on the floor, breath in your lungs, tension in your jaw
- Embodiment cards: Direct invitations to feel your body—the aliveness of your skin, the weight of your limbs, the sensation of touch during your ritual
- Openness cards: Permission to notice what's happening without needing to fix it—creating space to acknowledge "I'm dissociated" without judgment, which itself can help you come back

Why the skincare ritual specifically works

Skincare is uniquely suited to addressing dissociation because it's:

- Already a habit: You don't need to remember to do it—you're already showing up
- Sensory by nature: Texture, scent, temperature, touch—all the inputs your nervous system needs to reconnect
- Mirror work: Seeing yourself while doing your routine can support reconnection with your physical self
- Low cognitive load: You can do it even when you're exhausted, overwhelmed, or checked out
- Screen-free: A break from the devices and dopamine loops that contribute to dissociation

When you pair that ritual with prompts that guide you back into your body, it becomes more than skincare. It becomes a practice of returning to yourself.

This isn't about perfection

You're not going to eliminate dissociation entirely. It's a protective mechanism, and sometimes your nervous system needs it. But you can build the capacity to notice when you're dissociated and have a tool to help you come back.

That's what ROOTED is for. Not to fix you or make you perfect, but to give you something tangible to reach for when you realise you've been gone for a while and you're ready to come back.

The beauty is it's doable. You're not carving out extra time. You're snatching the moments you already have. And once you've invested in the cards, they're yours. Your practice. Your own personal anchor. No subscriptions. No apps. Just something you can return to whenever you need it.

A tool for right now

Dissociation is growing—especially among young people—because the world is asking more of us than our nervous systems can handle. Technology has rewired our brains for instant gratification and constant stimulation, leaving us disconnected from our bodies and unable to be present.

We need better tools. Not more apps. Not more courses. But something simple, sensory, offline, and tied to a ritual we're already doing.

If you've been feeling disconnected, checked out, or like you're watching your life from behind glass—you're not alone. And you're not broken. Your nervous system is doing what it's designed to do.

But you deserve to come back. To feel present. To be in your body. To experience your life instead of just surviving it.

ROOTED by Skin Elixir ™ is here for that. A more-than-skin-deep offering for anyone who needs help coming back into their body, one sensory moment at a something I know we can introduce the younger people in our lives to help with the overwhelm felt by young people.

The cards are available from 17 December. Portable, tangible, and designed to meet you exactly where you are—especially when you're dissociated and need a way back in.