I must apologize... I thought I posted #5, but I did not open a new post when I did #6 so I inadvertantly erased it.
Let me see if I remember what I wrote-Oh yeah "Out of body Experience" I think that the author uses this to describe what a person feels like when they have no control over a situation. I mean when David describes this during the birth of his children... everything was happening TO him... he had no choice but to deliver the babies, I mean he was not an OB, so I think that he was just on "automatic." So he was like a voyeur- watching everything like it is a movie or something!
On the other hand....I also think that you might experience this feeling if you are putting events in motion that will have substantial consequences. This may be a way of "separating" yourself from what is taking place so that you don't have so much guilt. Kind of like - you know when children are molested...they remove themselves from the event as a defense- I don't know if I am expressing myself clearly. I don't remember when this happened to the other characters... but I could see it being a "Buffer" and an "escape"...
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I think David was on automatic for most of his life. He did the same things and did not deviate too much from his routine. Even when he was driving to the clinic for the births and taking Paul to the hospital when he broke his arm, he could not run a stop sign or traffic light. When david delivered his babies, he did it as he would any patient. He was totally detached! Its like he was not alive, but an autobon. This did not stop until he went back to his family home and Rachel tied him up. That's when he had to open up because he wanted to get free.
I agree with you Goins that he separated himself from his life so that he would not have to face the past and his guilt over his childhood and then about giving Phoebe away.
I can't remember feeling this way, but the closest I can come to it is when I was going through my divorce. I kind of felt detached from the whole situation. I kind of put everything in God's hands and did not worry about the outcome.
Oh!!! I actually remember a time now that I think about it more... it occurred early in my marriage...it involved Joey and Andre and it was really painful... I was on automatic then...I actually cannot remember about 6 years of my life...major things yes...but not all of it and not anything that had to do with anybody else. I did not feel like I was watching it happen though...just on AUTO!!!!!
I think if we all think about it, we have had some time in our lives that we were operating on "Auto". I think it is a natural defense mechanism!
I think is very common for doctors in general to have "outer body" experiences especially when dealing with patients. I think this is common with most doctors because when you get attached to a person you often tend to make irrational decisions. David was just following his doctor instinct when he was delivering his babies. I agree with both of you, this detachment he talks about it is also a defense mechanism. People tend to build walls and detach themselves from situations; for one, to erase harmful memories and also so it doesn’t happen again- it’s a guard. I think the author definitely tried to convey this in the development of the characters…Norah used alcohol, her job and her affairs, David used his work and his photography, Paul and his music etc.
There was a time in my life that I tried to block out what was going on. When my parents were going through their break up stage (which lasted about 4-6 years), there was a lot of tension in my house. I try to forget the times where there was tension and associate with the good things that where happening at that time. My mind tried to ignore/forget what was going on. I often felt like I was a stranger in my own family. Thankfully, our family recuperated from those times. I think as a unit we try not to think about what happened in the past and focus on the future. Sometimes it feels like the big elephant in the room that no-one really talks about. I think it’s a way of coping with past, present and future chaos. Learn from your past…but never forget.
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