At certain times, many individuals can have an “out-of-body” experience. Some can feel detached from the situation alongside have a warped sense of self. These dissociative episodes or depersonalization end up being benign and often result from anxiety, fatigue, or stress.
Similarly, when these feelings are persistent and intrusive, an individual may feel that they are ‘living in a dream’ or experiencing ‘life like a movie’ daily. This can negatively affect their work, relationships, and daily lives. Depersonalization-derealization disorder (DDD) is a condition that results in disturbances to emotions, difficulties in attention, and profound feelings of alienation.
If not managed, your mental health will be at risk, and it is a detrimental condition where the absence of help from a professional would have profoundly damaging impacts. Here in this guide, we’ll discuss the depersonalization treatment and ways to manage it. Stay with us!
What Is Depersonalization?
Depersonalization is the feeling of disconnection from one’s thoughts, feelings, or sense of identity. People with this condition experience themselves differently, feeling as if they are outside observers of their bodies. Furthermore, it has the potential to create a lack of reality, whereby everything around a person feels somewhat blurry, unreal, or distorted. People with such disorders often feel as if their emotions that they are merely “going through the motions” without really engaging in any of the real actions.
Thus, these people can experience depersonalization as part of some mental health disorders, such as anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD, in addition to extreme stress, severe exhaustion, and trauma.
Derealization and Depersonalization
Often occurring in conjunction with one another, derealization can affect different aspects simultaneously. Both are types of dissociative experiences that an individual can go through. The feeling of living in a dream or viewing everything from afar describes derealization. It is the feeling that the world surrounding you is distorted. In addition, objects and people may appear foggy, melancholy, blurry, or lifeless. This level of detachment can often make one feel away from reality, which can lead to confusion and distress.
Ultimately, with the derealization out of the way, let us focus on it. Moreover, it is the feeling of disconnect between oneself and their self. This leads to one feeling their emotions, behaviors, and identity, which in return makes them feel somewhat unreal. Can it get any worse? Both are symptoms of trauma, anxiety, and stress disorders.
Depersonalization Symptoms
Signs of depersonalization include:
- Experiencing a sense of alienation from one’s body.
- Lacking physical and mental sensations.
- Being skeptical about your recollections.
- Possessing a mechanical or robotically demeanor.
- Perceiving that the world lacks importance or profundity.
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What Causes Depersonalization?
It is a feeling of disengagement from one’s self, from one’s emotions or body to the point of feeling like an outside spectator. It can occur occasionally as a response or more persistently and in other contexts. If it happens chronically, it might be due to several reasons. Here are some examples:
1. Stress and Anxiety
While stress and anxiety may vary in intensity, they can, in extreme cases, trigger it as a form of protective coping.
2. Trauma
Trauma from physical or emotional abuse, accidents, and other life-changing experiences may lead to dissociation as a way of self-protection.
3. Mental Health Conditions
There is a high prevalence of depersonalization, particularly in people suffering from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and, most importantly, dissociative disorders.
4. Neurological Conditions
There are certain neurological ailments like epilepsy or sometimes migraines, which may trigger depersonalization episodes as a result of disturbance in brain activity.
4 Stages of Depersonalization
It is a lack of connection with a person’s self, body, and thoughts. These people suffer from an extensive dissociative disorder, which is felt during extremely stressful and anxious circumstances. So, alongside this definition, remember that it comes in various stages, each with a different intensity and level of emotion. These general stages are:
1. First Signs of Depersonalization
In this phase, a mild form of emotional self-detachment occurs which often makes individuals feel like they are observing themselves outside of their body or that their environment is not real. Life can feel like a dream, or a person could feel like they are passively observing events happen.
2. Intensification of Detachment
An increase in detachment results in the suspension of one’s emotions. The anticipation is that, at a certain level, people might feel like they are no longer holding the reins into their actions or thoughts. For example, someone would not only feel this way, but looking at themselves in the mirror would lead to complete alienation; they may find a total lack of self and sense of value.
3. Emotional Numbness
People might feel a sense of detachment – from their body and mind, which indicates that deeply a disassociation on a deeper level. The inordinate imbalance between feeling and action can lead to utter numbness.
4. Existential Doubts and Confusion
The stage likely to feature delusional questioning of one’s existence and constant doubting, as well as confusion, is termed ‘Existential Doubts and Confusion.’ Describers could portray it as a scenario in which despairing people cannot, unfortunately, state what is real, or their sense of reality fits into a different box altogether.
Depersonalization Vs Derealization
Depersonalization | Derealization | |
| Feeling distant from oneself, as if one is looking in from the outside. | Feeling detached from the external world, as if it’s unreal or dreamlike. | |
| Feeling robotic, like an observer of one’s actions, emotional numbness. | The world appears foggy, distorted, or unreal; objects or people may seem artificial. | |
| Similar causes often occur together. | |
| Self-awareness, emotions, body sensations. | Surroundings, objects, environment, people. |
How To Stop Depersonalization?
Addressing such a disorder begins with employing the right strategies, such as grounding, which effectively brings awareness to the present moment. While it may feel unusual, it can be effectively managed. Subsequently, managing and controlling stimulant intake such as caffeine or alcohol leads to significantly high mental stability. Meditation, physical exercise, and mindfulness also have great effects on reducing episodes of stress which in turn minimizes the negative impacts resulting from the episodes.
Hence, it should be an option if it results from issues regarding your mental health, such as clinical depression or anxiety. Reducing feelings of solitude and having a strong support system is crucial, and turning to individuals for guidance will help get the comfort and protection needed.
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Depersonalization Treatment
A person with depersonalization disorder (DPD) feels disconnected from their mind, body, or environment. Describers could portray it as a scenario in which despairing people cannot, unfortunately, state what is real, or their sense of reality fits into a different box altogether.
Best Medication for Depersonalization
1. SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
SSRIs such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and escitalopram (Lexapro) are frequently linked to anxiety and depression. Therefore, these medications help manage serotonin levels. It gradually enhances mood regulation and decreases dissociative symptoms. Since it is largely a function of emotional pain.
2. SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors)
SNRIs and a depersonalization test, such as Venlafaxine and Duloxetine, improve alertness, concentration, and focus by elevating serotonin and norepinephrine levels. These medications are helpful to people suffering from chronic stress, panic attacks, and emotional blunting. Stress, trauma, anxiety, or medicine use may cause it.
3. Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
Besides being a mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder and epilepsy, Lamotrigine has effectively treated its symptoms. It does so by balancing the activity of glutamate, that excitatory neurotransmitter that contributes to one’s self-image and interconnectivity within the brain. Research indicates that Lamotrigine can diminish dissociative symptoms as well as emotional numbness when given by itself or in combination with SSRIs.
4. Benzodiazepines (Short-Term Use Only)
Clonazepam (Kolodin) and Lorazepam (Ativan), both benzodiazepines, relieve anxiety and panic attacks immediately. Anxiety and panic attacks can induce or worsen their episodes. These medications provide relief by augmenting GABA, a neurotransmitter that counters overly active brain activity, resulting in a state of relaxation, albeit temporary. Stress, trauma, anxiety, or medicine use may cause it.
5. Naltrexone
Doctors find benzodiazepines ineffective for fixation and should only prescribe them short-term because of the potential for withdrawal symptoms and dependency. It is thought to disrupt self-awareness and emotional detachment by blocking opioid receptors, but what it does remains unknown.
Bottom Line
Depersonalization can lead to emotional detachment, anxiety, and confusion, which can be greatly detrimental to one’s mental health. It may often coexist with several anxiety, depression, or trauma-related disorders. These symptoms can induce stress and isolation due to their hindrance to independent activities and social interactions.
Similarly, depersonalization treatment at MAVA Behavioral Health often relies on medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety pills that control associated symptoms. Grounding techniques and mindfulness can help individuals stay in the present moment and reduce feelings of disassociation.
FAQ’s
What is an example of depersonalization?
Depersonalization is the feeling of watching yourself in a film or failing to see yourself reflected in the mirror. This feeling of separation from true reality can cause one to feel distant from one’s own emotions and body.
Can not sleep cause derealization?
Sleep deprivation can make one feel altered or other, adding to sensations of reality. Poor sleep can also cause cognitive dysfunction, confusion, disorientation, and a sensation of separation from the environment.
Is depersonalization harmless?
Though not normally damaging, depersonalization itself can interfere with daily life and mental health if it gets chronic. Persistent symptoms can lead to professional help-seeking since it could lead to depression and anxiety.
How rare is depersonalization?
Depersonalization is somewhat regular; maybe 12% of people have it at one time. Such disorder is less frequent, however, impacting a lower proportion of people.
