symptoms of depersonalization: Depersonalization disorder: Symptoms and treatment

Depersonalization disorder or derealization disorder is a mental health disease that can make you feel disconnected from your surroundings and from yourself physically or psychologically.

Almost everyone has occasionally experienced an out-of-body experience. However, if you consistently feel disconnected from your physical body or cerebral functions, you may be suffering from depersonalization disorder.

While it may sound unrealistic, depersoanlization disorder is extremely common. (Image via Pexels/ Ricardo)

Depersonalization disorder: What is it?

Formally called depersonalization-derealization disorder, depersonalization disorder is a mental health condition. This revised nomenclature highlights the two main problems DDD sufferers encounter:

Depersonalization

It influences how you feel about yourself and may give you the impression that you aren't real.

Derealization

It has an impact on your relationships with both people and things. You can start to feel as though your environment or other people aren't genuine.

When these problems come together, they may cause you to feel distant or alienated from both yourself and the outside world. It's normal to experience these feelings occasionally. These emotions, though, can remain for a long time and can interfere with daily tasks if you have depersonalization disorder.

It's unclear what causes depersonalization-derealization disorder. Depersonalization and derealization may affect some people more easily than others, presumably because of genetic and environmental factors. Episodes may start when stress and terror levels get elevated.

Depersonalization disorder symptoms may be linked withtraumatic experiences in childhood or other situations that result in high levels of emotional stress or trauma.

Signs & symptoms of depersonalization disorder

How do we identify depersonalization disorder? (Image via Pexels/Cottonbro)

DDD is characterized by two primary traits or symptoms: a false sense of reality or a sense of detachment. They may be self- or body-related (depersonalization) or external to you (derealization).

You may also encounter the following:

Feeling as though your thoughts, feelings, perceptions, bodies, or actions are being observed by an outsider
Encounters with a sense of separation from the environment
Physical and emotional numbness
Cognitive processing issues like memory, attention, and logic issues
Visual distortions that cause objects to appear disproportionately huge, two-dimensional, or tiny

Depersonalization or derealization events that are persistent and recurring or both can be distressing and interfere with daily life like job or school. You're conscious during these times that your sense of detachment is merely a feeling and not a reality.

It can be challenging to adequately define the symptoms and feelings of the disease. The fear of going insane can make you obsessive about making sure you're still alive and figuring out what's genuine. Often, symptoms appear in the late teens or early 20s. In toddlers and elderly individuals, the depersonalization-derealization condition is quite uncommon.

Is treatment of depersonalization disorder possible?

Depersonalization disorder is treatable. (Image via Pexels/Gustavo)

Therapy, particularly psychodynamic therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, is typically the most successful way of treating depersonalization disorder. You can learn about DDD, identify and address any prior trauma or risk factors, and investigate coping mechanisms to get through upcoming episodes with the aid of a therapist.

Long-term treatment can be aided by mindfulness training that teaches patients how to become more observant of their surroundings and guard against recurrences of symptoms. There isn't a specific prescription drug for DDD, but most medications for depression also work for anxiety, so they can be beneficial.

Always get advice from your doctor, who can help you choose the best course of action. Psychologists, therapists, and psychiatrists are among the medical professionals that can assist with treatment.

Here're the techniques to return to the present if you believe you may be displaying DDD symptoms:

1) Resist fearing the symptoms

If you make an effort to reduce your concern around the symptoms, a depersonalization disorder episode will come and go. Strive to unwind your entire being.

2) Be Meditative

Detachment is the exact opposite of mindfulness. It's crucial to live in the present moment. By concentrating on your breath and taking in your surroundings, you can bring yourself into the present moment.

3) Try Talking

Choose someone who can help you feel more aware of the circumstances and your presence, such as at a party.

Although it's frequently tough to discern if someone is having a DDD episode, level of present-moment attention is a crucial indicator.

Encourage them to interact with their environment if you suspect someone is suffering from DDD. Asking them questions can help bring them back to reality. "You might say, 'Wow, you looked like you were far away. Where exactly were you?"

Being out of touch with reality can be uncomfortable and upsetting, especially if you go through it frequently. You may begin to believe that your symptoms won't go away. It may be beneficial in these circumstances to get in touch with those going through similar things. That's very useful in between visits to the therapist, as depersonalization disorder is not the end of things.

Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a Master's degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.

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