Something I wish I had known when first experiencing derealisation is that it is my brain's way of coping with levels of stress in the body – this means that even though it feels like a scary, out-of-body experience, it is my own body trying to protect me.
Derealization - when it comes from anxiety - is not considered dangerous. It generally goes away on its own and only comes during periods of intense anxiety symptoms.
Often, depersonalization is viewed as the mind's defense mechanism to help cope with stressful situations.
Depersonalization/derealization, and dissociative symptoms in general, have historically been conceptualized as defense mechanisms, which are unconscious coping responses to trauma that may be linked to personality factors (Kihlstrom, Glisky, & Angiulo, 1994).
The No. 1 treatment for derealization is psychotherapy. This form of talk therapy teaches you ways to share your experience and strategies to handle your episodes. Your doctor also may prescribe medication, mainly to ease any symptoms of depression or anxiety that come with the disorder.
This is Not Psychosis
People with schizophrenia or psychosis commonly experience hallucinations or delusions that are difficult to distinguish from reality. Individuals with DR may feel strange about themselves or their surroundings, but they do not typically experience hallucinations or delusions.
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.
Depersonalization is your brain's natural response to trauma. That may be from violence, a car crash, a panic attack, a bad experience from smoking weed etc. Your brain thinks it's in danger, so in order to deal with the perceived trauma, it kicks in with 'fight or flight' response.
Causes of Depersonalization-Derealization
The exact cause of this disorder has not been identified but current research points to an imbalance of neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain) that make the brain vulnerable to heightened responses when exposed to severe stress.
Symptoms of depersonalization-derealization disorder may be related to childhood trauma or other experiences or events that cause severe emotional stress or trauma.
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.
Complete recovery from depersonalization disorder is possible for many patients. The symptoms associated with this disorder often go away on their own or after treatment that help the person deal with the stress or trauma that triggered the symptoms.
The four main symptoms of depersonalization-derealization disorder are: feelings of disembodiment, as if one is detached or disconnected from their own body. emotional numbing and an inability to experience emotions or empathy.
Depersonalization (also referred to as "derealization") is a common symptom of anxiety disorder. Many anxiety disorder sufferers get depersonalization as a symptom, especially when anxiety has become chronic.
Already in 1998, Sierra and Berrios proposed that symptoms of depersonalization may be associated with a “disconnection” of a cortico-limbic brain system, involving the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and prefrontal structures.
In fact, researchers have found that there is a subtype of PTSD that is characterized by symptoms of dissociation and depersonalization. Trauma is essential here. These issues link strongly to traumatic events and experiences, especially childhood trauma.
3. Myth: Depersonalization is a permanent condition. Fact: Many people recover from depersonalization-derealization disorder, often without treatment. Some mental illnesses are considered lifelong conditions, but this is not the case with depersonalization-derealization.
DSM-5 Category: Dissociative Disorders
Depersonalization disorder falls under the dissociative disorders group of conditions, which are characterized by feelings of disconnection from reality.
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.
When someone experiences unbearable trauma, the mind sometimes finds a way to dissociate from that experience. But the symptoms of this self-preservation mechanism can also be terribly distressing. Understanding what causes depersonalization and derealization in this way can open the door to life-changing treatment.
Can Depersonalization turn into Schizophrenia? No, it can't. They are completely different conditions. Depersonalization is an anxiety spectrum condition, while Schizophrenia is an organic brain disorder.
Dissociative amnesia is a condition in which you can't remember important information about your life. This forgetting may be limited to certain specific areas (thematic) or may include much of your life history and/or identity (general).
Dissociative symptoms include derealization/depersonalization, absorption, and amnesia. These experiences can cause a loss of control over mental processes, including memory and attention.
You Stop Caring Whether DPDR Is There Or Not
This is a BIG sign that you're recovering from Depersonalization and Derealization! The feelings of DPDR (and the anxiety that's driving them) may come and go, but it affects you less and less.