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It happens to everyone, and those few seconds of seemingly being out of one's body may seem funny at first until it happens all the time. But why do people zone out?

Zoning out, or not being present at the moment while physically being there, is a type of dissociation that often happens due to exhaustion. A person may be daydreaming without realizing it, or it could also be because of fatigue, distraction, or stress. 

Therapist Lily Ewing explains that zoning out is due to the body's fight or flight response. But instead of fighting or fleeing, the brain resorts to a third option, which is freezing. The brain recognizes stress or fatigue as a threat, and so it temporarily shuts down to cope.

When to seek help

In most cases, zoning out is nothing serious as it is primal, and it does happen to everyone. However, in some cases, it can be related to a medical condition. People with hypotension, for example, have reduced blood flow to the brain. This results in dizziness or loss of focus. The same happens in cases of hypoglycemia -- low blood sugar can cause a person to lose focus.

Some other medical conditions that can cause a person to zone out are migraines, intoxication and narcolepsy, among others. It is also common in people with anxiety.

While zoning out is common, it can be concerning if it happens too often, especially when there is no obvious reason. In extreme cases, some people get injured while they are zoning out and even forget how it happened. In this case, it is time to see a medical professional. The same is true when zoning out results in loss of bladder or bowel control.