Therapy. “Therapy can often help treat depersonalization, as it helps identify what specifically triggers a dissociative state and how you can stay grounded,” says Dr. Albers. “And a professional can also walk you through what you're experiencing and provide additional coping tips.”
There is no depersonalization cure, but treatment can reduce distressing symptoms and even lead to full remission of the disorder. It's important for people experiencing depersonalization or derealization to talk to a professional about their symptoms so they can begin treatment and start feeling like themselves again.
For those with DP, unfortunately, you're probably not going to suddenly wake up and find yourself cured overnight. However, you can recover. It just takes time and effort, and most importantly, changes to your understanding of DP and to your life.
Episodes of depersonalization-derealization disorder may last hours, days, weeks or even months at a time. In some people, these episodes turn into ongoing feelings of depersonalization or derealization that may periodically get better or worse.
The outlook for people with this disorder is good. The symptoms associated with depersonalization disorder often go away. They may resolve on their own or after treatment to help deal with symptom triggers. Treatment is important so that the symptoms don't come back.
The disorder is usually triggered by severe stress, particularly emotional abuse or neglect during childhood, or other major stresses (such as experiencing or witnessing physical abuse). Feelings of detachment from self or the surroundings may occur periodically or continuously.
An episode of depersonalization can last anywhere from a few minutes to (rarely) many years. Depersonalization also might be a symptom of other disorders, including some forms of substance abuse, certain personality disorders, seizure disorders, and certain other brain diseases.
No, Depersonalization Is Not A Permanent Condition.
Depersonalization episodes are relatively common. About half of all Americans are thought to experience at least one or two depersonalization episodes during their lifetime. Roughly 200,000 people in the United States each day experience a depersonalization event.
Because it's part of the body and brain's natural response to anxiety and trauma. And for the vast majority of those people, the DP fades away naturally in a few minutes or hours as the anxiety does, which, since DP is just a symptom of anxiety, is exactly what it's supposed to do!
Derealization can last for as long as the panic attack lasts, which can range in length from a few minutes to 20 or 30 minutes. In some cases, however, these sensations can persist for hours and even days or weeks.
Introduction: The phenomena of depersonalisation/derealisation have classically been associated with the initial phases of psychosis, and it is assumed that they would precede (even by years) the onset of clinical psychosis, being much more common in the prodromal and acute phases of the illness.
Four stages of the formation of depersonalization were identified: vital, allopsychic, somatopsychis and autopsychic.
Severe stress, anxiety, and depression are common triggers for DPDR. A lack of sleep or an overstimulating environment can also make DPDR symptoms worse.
Many people experience depersonalization as a result of intense stress and/or anxiety. Although the exact reason(s) why depersonalization occurs, there are some hypotheses around it being a way one's brain copes with stress. When a person becomes extremely overwhelmed by emotion, the result is intense stress.
What does derealization feel like? Often people describe derealization as feeling spaced out or foggy. People and objects in the environment may begin to seem unreal, distorted, or cartoon-like. Others report feeling trapped by their environment or viewing their surroundings as surreal and unfamiliar.
Many of us have had the thought, “I feel like I'm losing my mind” at one time or another. This thought may surface in times of heightened stress, but it can also be a manifestation of a mental health condition, such as anxiety,1 panic disorder,2 or depersonalization.
Since Depersonalization is a symptom of anxiety, it can be lessened as the anxiety is reduced. So SSRIs can, temporarily at least, diminish DP. I took SSRIs for a while and found that they had that effect. However -- and this is extremely important: Medication alone will not change the thought-habits of DP.
Depersonalization disorder is not the total mystery it once was. Celebrities like rappers Logic and Elro, vlogger /musician Dodie have openly discussed their experiences of Depersonalization and Derealization. And there are entire YouTube channels dedicated to discussing the condition.
So remember -- you are absolutely safe when driving with Depersonalization! Yes, feelings of dissociation while driving can seem scary initially, but don't let anxiety stop you from doing any of your day-to-day activities, and that 100% includes driving. Get into your car and drive, even if it's for a short distance.
Derealisation is where you feel the world around is unreal. People and things around you may seem "lifeless" or "foggy". You can have depersonalisation or derealisation, or both together. It may last only a few moments or come and go over many years.
In depersonalization disorder, reduced gray matter volumes (GMV) in right thalamus, caudate, and cuneus, and increased GMV in the left dorsomedial PFC and the right somato-sensoric regions were observed [93•]. As abovementioned, these areas have been implicated in dissociation [10, 61, 62, 85].