What is Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder?

It can be very scary when you feel that you are not connected with your surroundings. Most people only feel these things once in a while, like when they’re really stressed out and don’t feel like they belong. But if they keep happening or get in the way of your daily life, they could mean you have depersonalization-derealization disorder. This is a disorder which effect perception, memory and identity. People with Depresonalization-Drealization disorder feel like they are watching their own. With proper diagnosis and treatment a lot of people can get their symptoms controlled.

What is Diagnostic criteria of Depersonalization–Drealization Disorder?

According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) the diagnostic criteria of depersonalization-derealization disorder is:

Diagnostic Criteria A.

The presence of significant experience of depersonalization and derealization or both:

1. Depersonalization:

In this person experience of detachement or unreality. Individual feel himself of being out side as observer. Individual feel distorted sense of time, absent or unreal self, and physical or emotional numbing.

2. Derealization

Derealization is experience of detachment or unreality with surroundings. Individual experience as unreal, foggy, dreamy and visually distorted.

Diagnostic Criteria B.

During the phase or depersonalization-Deralization the reality testing remain intact.

Diagnostic Criteria C.

The symptoms cause clinically significant disturbance in social and professional life of individual.

What are Symptoms and Causes of Depersonalization-Derealization?

There are different signs of depersonalization-derealization disorder for each person, but they usually include:

• Not feeling like you are connected to your body, thoughts, or feelings all the time.
• Seeing yourself from above or feeling like you’re outside your body
• The thought that the world around you is distorted, fake, or “dead”
• Not being able to talk to other people or feeling emotionally distant
• Episodes make it hard to remember things or focus.
• A loss of reality can cause anxiety or panic attacks.

These symptoms can make it hard to do things that are important, like going to school, working, and being with other people. People often talk about their depersonalization experience as if they were in a movie or dream where everything felt far away or mechanical.

Causes of Depersonalization-Drealization:

Researchers are unsure about the etiology of depersonalization-derealization disorder. However, studies indicate it frequently occurs as a coping mechanism for intense stress or trauma. Some things that often make this happen are:

1. Being emotionally neglected, physically abused, or seeing violence can all cause trauma in children.
2. Long-lasting anxiety or panic attacks.
3. Death, sudden changes in life, or a lot of stress.
4. Taking drugs or some medicines that change how you see things.
5. Mental health issues that happen at the same time, like depression and PTSD.

Derealisation-Depersonalisation usually start when people are teens or in their early twenties. Healthy individuals may experience intermittent episodes; however, a diagnosis is established only when these symptoms persist and cause significant distress.

Experiencing depersonalisation, derealisation, or both consistently or in a persistent manner.

The person still knows that these things aren’t real, so they are still doing reality testing.

Symptoms result in significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, and other critical areas of functioning.

The disturbance is inadequately explained by an alternative mental health disorder, medical condition, or substance abuse.

Getting the right diagnosis for depersonalization-derealization disorder is very important because it can look like anxiety or depression.

How it effect daily life?

Individuals with depersonalization-derealization disorder may perceive their daily activities as mechanical and devoid of emotional significance. They might feel “disconnected” from their own reality, which makes going to work, school, or hanging out with friends seem pointless.

Things could also get worse in relationships. A lot of people have trouble showing how they feel because they don’t want others to know about their problems. If you don’t get help, isolation, confusion, and fear can make the disorder worse.

People who feel detached all the time may also have other issues, such as panic attacks or depression. Finding and treating depersonalization-derealization disorder as soon as possible is very important because of this.

How to Treat Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder?

There isn’t a single cure that works for everyone, but there are many ways to treat the disease that can help with symptoms and improve quality of life. The goal of treating depersonalization-derealization disorder is to help people feel like they belong and have control over their lives.

1. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the best ways to help people with depersonalization/derealization disorder. CBT helps people find and fight distorted ways of thinking that make them feel anxious and disconnected.

For example, a therapist might use mindfulness or sensory exercises to help someone who feels unreal or disconnected get back in touch with their body and mind. These techniques help people stay in the moment and close the emotional gap that is common in the disorder.

CBT can also help with other issues that can make depersonalisation and derealisation symptoms worse, like panic and anxiety.

2. Mindfulness Techniques.

Mindfulness techniques help people reconnect with the world around them. This could mean being aware of how your body feels by touching something, breathing deeply, or talking about what you see and hear around you.

Mindfulness exercises help people become aware of their experiences of depersonalisation and derealisation without making them anxious. Over time, this can make episodes less severe and less common.

3. Drugs.

There are no specific drugs for depersonalization-derealization disorder, but doctors may give you antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs to help with the symptoms. Medications can make therapy work better by treating underlying issues like depression and anxiety.

4. Therapies that concentrate on trauma and psychodynamics

Childhood trauma is frequently associated with the emergence of dissociative disorders; consequently, trauma-focused therapy may facilitate patients in securely processing their past experiences. Understanding unresolved trauma can help the mind stop dissociating as a way to protect itself.

Psychodynamic therapy examines the emotional factors contributing to detachment and facilitates the reconstruction of trust and emotional bonds with oneself and others.