An altered sense of self and identity that causes a sense of separation from oneself, one’s environment is known as depersonalization/derealization disorder in this we discuss symptoms of depersonalization and its treatments. It frequently manifests as a feeling of separation or unreality from one’s body. Dissociative feelings can be brought on by stressful situations or by seeing or watching upsetting things, and in these situations, they might be normal, especially if they are fleeting. Most people have gone through at least one of these episodes, which are regarded as a typical reaction to extreme threat. Depersonalization/Derealization episodes (DP/DR) can sometimes happen as a side effect of recreational drugs like cannabis. They can also happen in many mental illnesses, particularly panic disorder and social anxiety disorder.
Many people at some point have a brief experience of depersonalization or derealization. Depersonalization-derealization disorder, however, is what happens when these symptoms persist or never go away fully and interfere with your capacity to work. People with traumatic experiences are more likely to suffer from this illness.
Symptoms Of Depersonalization:
- Having a sense of being outside of your body, and occasionally, feeling as though you are gazing down on yourself
- Feeling far from oneself, as if there is no real you
- Numbness in the body or mind, as if all senses were shut off
- Sense that you have no control over your actions or words
- feeling that certain body parts are the wrong size
Symptoms of Derealization:
- Having the impression that your surroundings are unreal, flat, hazy, too far away, too close, too big, or too small
- Having a confused perception of time Even when recent events just happened, the past may seem like it happened yesterday
- Hearing noises that are louder or softer than anticipated
- A sense that something is the wrong size or color
- Finding it difficult to distinguish your surroundings or that they are fuzzy and even dreamy
Causes of Depersonalization Disorder:
It is difficult to understand DP/DR. Depersonalization/derealization, like other dissociative disorders, is characterized by a breakdown in the integration of consciousness, memory, identity, perception, motor control, and behavior. And like them, it frequently happens after intense stress or trauma. What triggers these illnesses is unknown to researchers. Health care professionals are unable to pinpoint the disorder’s trigger in up to 50% of instances. Environmental and biological variables might be involved. Some individuals may be more vulnerable to acquiring a dissociative disorder because of:
- A less sensitive nerve system to emotional stimuli.
- Certain personality disorders or other types of mental illnesses.
- Problems of the body, such as a seizure disorder.
Intense stress or trauma can also result in dissociative disorders, including:
- Significant mental disease in one of the parents.
- Abuse (witnessing or experiencing it).
- Accidents.
- Peril that could kill you.
- Natural catastrophes.
- Unexpected loss of a loved one.
- Violence.
- War.
How common the depersonalization is?
Depersonalization and derealization that lasts just briefly are fairly prevalent. When you momentarily encounter symptoms of depersonalization, this circumstance arises. You briefly experience a sense of detachment from yourself or your surroundings. You might experience a sense of self-reflection. According to experts, roughly half of the population has it. Less than 2% of people have this condition. Depersonalization and derealization rarely need for medical attention.
Who is it in depersonalization disorder?
The majority of those who have this illness start off young. Depersonalization disorder typically appears between the ages of 16 and 25. Rarely does it start after age 40.
How to diagnose the depersonalization disorder?
Addressing the stressors that cause the symptoms is the aim of treatment. Your healthcare professional bases the planning of your therapy on:
- General wellbeing
- Triggers.
- Severity of a symptom.
The main kind of psychotherapy for dissociative disorders is talk therapy. One or more of the following options are available to your provider:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) aims to alter unhelpful thought, mood, and behavior patterns.
- Dialectic-behavior therapy: DBT may be beneficial for people with severe personality disorders. It might make it easier for you to handle distressing feelings, such as dissociative symptoms. If you’ve been the victim of abuse or trauma, DBT can help.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: You can manage post-traumatic stress disorder using EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (PTSD). It can lessen other symptoms, such as recurring nightmares and flashbacks.
- Family therapy: Your family will learn about the disease while collaborating. The group gains knowledge on how to spot recurrent warning indicators.
- Creative therapies: You can explore and express your thoughts and feelings in art or music therapy.
