Depersonalization/derealization Disorder: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment Of The Feeling Of Unreality
Depersonalization disorder is a disease that causes a feeling of unreality in those who suffer from it. Discover how to detect and act on this diagnosis.
We have all at some point or another felt disconnected from ourselves and our surroundings. But when these feelings arise regularly in our lives, it is very possible that we end up suffering from what in psychology is called a depersonalization disorder In these cases, people feel disconnected from their reality and from themselves on a very recurring basis.
Depersonalization/derealization disorder It is characterized by a persistent and recurring experience of distancing oneself or from reality (DSM-IV-TR, 2002). This disorder usually encompasses two types of symptoms: symptoms of depersonalization (separation from oneself) or derealization (alterations in the perception of the world or reality).
In many cases, people who suffer from depersonalization and/or derealization They give examples equivalent to feeling as if they were someone watching them from outside their body or as if they were in a dream. Despite having this feeling of unreality, those who suffer from depersonalization disorder do not lose contact with the world, but rather realize that things are not as they seem.
This kind of ‘mental daze It usually lasts from a few minutes to sometimes several years. In addition, the symptoms of depersonalization can also appear as the presence of other psychological disorders such as substance abuse or other personality disorders.
Within psychology, the depersonalization and/or derealization disorder It belongs to a group of conditions called dissociative disorders. These disorders are characterized by interruptions or losses of memory, consciousness, identity or perception. For this reason, many people who suffer from them feel a feeling of unreality throughout the day or for as long as the episode lasts. So much so that this mental dullness can affect all aspects of your daily life.
Symptoms of depersonalization/derealization
The depersonalization It is a single diagnosis but it can be differentiated into two different aspects that may or may not apply to a person. Therefore, we must take this differentiation into account in depersonalization and its symptoms.
Depersonalization
In the symptoms of depersonalization, the person distances himself from himself, you feel like you are an external observer, seeing yourself “from the outside”, with little or no control over your body or your mental processes (“as if you were a robot”), sometimes it is difficult for you to recognize your body or face when looking in a mirror . Therefore, we can define the following symptoms of depersonalization.
Alexithymia: Alexithymia involves the inability to recognize or describe one’s own emotions. Duringto depersonalization The person cannot focus on themselves, since they do not feel the emotions or sensations they feel as their own.
Feeling numb to sensations: He depersonalization disorder It causes insensitivity in people who suffer from it to their own emotions or sensations, that is, they do not perceive them as if they were their own and therefore see them from another perspective. This does not mean that they have a lack of feelings or emotions, they simply perceive them differently.
Impairment to control speech or movement: Sometimes people who have depersonalization They feel that they are unable to control their speech or their own movements. In fact, many of the people to whom it happens describe it as if they were robots.
Disconnection: The emotional and physical disconnection with the body, mind or sensations is another of the most typical symptoms of depersonalization disorder.
On the other hand, in the symptoms of derealization strange perception is associated with the external, with the world, experiencing that other people, objects or the world itself is not real, perceiving the world as “something far away”, “seeing it as through a fog” or “like a photograph.” Therefore, we can differentiate the following symptoms of derealization.
Object distortion: In the derealization People feel that the objects around them have become distorted. In this way there is the feeling that at any moment they can change shape, size and color.
Sensation of seeing things past: In derealization, people may feel that things around them may have happened days, months, or years ago. In fact, these feelings can be similar to déjà vu, as if the events had already happened before.
Distorted vision: The surroundings of people who suffer from this dissociation from reality They usually end up being perceived as blurry or as if they were inside a cartoon series.
In it depersonalization disorder although we talk about such “strange” perceptions and experiences, the person’s sense of reality is intact, that is, the person knows how to discern what is real from what is not.
It is important to note that almost all of us may have experienced these perceptions or experiences, since they are more normal than we may think a priori. In deep states of relaxation, concentration, or in situations of high emotional impact (whether negative or positive emotions) these perceptions may appear, being normal.
The problem appears when these experiences begin to be very frequent, intense and/or are experienced as uncontrollable. At this moment we can talk about a problem, since these experiences usually cause a great level of anguish and anxiety to the person who suffers them. If you feel identified with these symptoms, it is important to consult with a professional psychologist.
Causes of depersonalization/derealization disorder
The causes for this type of symptoms can be diverse. Among the main reasons why someone may develop depersonalization psychologists highlight the following.
Consumption of drugs: The consumption of substances such as LSD or cannabis can produce these symptoms (Feigenbaum, Bergamnn, Richmno, Mechoulan, Nadler, Kloog & Solkolovsky, 1989). Depending on how the person experiences them, it may remain an anecdote or it may represent a “bad trip” and cause high levels of anxiety. This can be influenced by the surprise component of the symptoms of depersonalization, the assessment made of them, what we believe has produced them or the perception of uncontrollability over them. Sometimes, with the consumption of these substances, there may be a rebound in symptoms days later, which is known as a “flashback”, without having already consumed them. These spikes in symptoms tend to be more distressing since it is difficult for the symptoms to be associated with consumption, since it stopped days ago. In this sense, in the symptoms of depersonalization It is important to take into account substance use.
Anxiety attacks: The symptoms of depersonalization They usually appear associated with situations of great emotional content. For example, in situations of great activation, such as skydiving, it is usually quite normal for these symptoms to appear, but they are usually experienced as positive and part of the situation. On the contrary, what usually causes these symptoms to end up in consultation is when they appear associated with negative situations. Very high levels of anxiety are usually the key: symptoms of depersonalization They almost always appear associated with very activating situations. For example, one of the most prevalent problems in consultations are panic attacks, those tremendously high peaks of anxiety in which the person suffering from them thinks they are dying or going crazy, with a lot of bodily activation. Around 30% of panic attacks cause symptoms of depersonalization or derealization (Segui, Maruez, García, Canet, Salvador-Carulla and Ortiz, 2000), which generates a lot of discomfort. Also in traumatic situations, such as a car accident, it is normal for these types of symptoms to appear, since the emotional burden of the situation is great.
Symptom of other disorders: Now, at this point we must differentiate between the symptoms and the disorder. The symptoms of depersonalization They may appear associated with other problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (Evren, Sar, Daldubak, Cetin, Durkaya, Evren & Celik, 2011), social phobia (Hoyer, Braeuer, Crawcour, Klumbies & Kirschbaum, 2013), obsessive compulsive disorder (Belli, Ural, Vardar, Yesilyurt and Oncu, 2012), agoraphobia (Cassano et al., 1989), eating disorders (La Mela, Maglietta, Castellini, Amoroso and Lucarelli, 2010; La Mela, Maglietta, Lucarelli, Mori and Sassaroli, 2013), or in bipolar disorders (Mula, Pini, Calugi, Preve, Masini, Giovannini, Rucci and Cassano, 2010) among others.
On the other hand there would be depersonalization disorder, which is characterized by the presence of these symptoms and forms a unique and separate problem. In these cases, the suffering is very high for the person, since they are very frightening symptoms, and above all, no voluntary control over them is perceived. Furthermore, it must be added that in this type of disorder, psychopharmacological medication has limited effectiveness (Simeon, Guralnik, Schmeideler & Knutelska, 2004), so the approach to this type of disorder may be affected.
How to deal with derealization and depersonalization?
When the symptoms of derealization or depersonalization, it is important to remind yourself that you are okay and safe. In addition, if symptoms appear, we also recommend the following:
Acknowledge your feelings: According to various investigations, the depersonalization and derealization It can be a form of adaptation to cope with stress. In fact, some studies suggest that it may be a way to face danger. Therefore, when you start to notice strange sensations in your body or think that nothing is a place, try to name your feelings. Recognizing these emotions can help you reduce the stress that causes these feelings of derealization and depersonalization.
Take a deep breath: When stress arises, our nervous system is activated. In the case of people living with a disorder of depersonalization or derealization, this can be much more intense. For this reason, breathing exercises can be an effective way to calm our body and mind.
Listen to music: In many cases, the feelings of derealization They can become more intense when we focus on them. In this way, facing them through music will allow you to be more connected with reality and your environment than with these thoughts.
Read a book: You can try to deal with anxious thoughts typical of derealization and depersonalization through reading a book. If you like to read, you can choose a good book to focus on its story. This will allow you to silence many of the thoughts typical of these disorders.
Challenge your intrusive thoughts: For some, both depersonalization and derealization involves experiencing intrusive thoughts. Given this, you can try to reason with your thoughts and logically.
Call a friend: When you are anxious or nervous and you begin to feel the first symptoms of derealization and depersonalization it might be a good idea to talk about it with a family member or friend.
Go to therapy: If you think you can’t coping with derealization or depersonalization it is important that you go to a professional psychologist to treat this disorder.
Depending on whether we are talking about symptoms or whether we are already talking about a separate problem, the approach in therapy will be different. The goal of therapy will depend on the triggering factors of the depersonalization and its symptoms if there is another problem that explains them, what maintains them and how to learn to manage them.
Can derealization and depersonalization be cured?
Yes, it heals. In some cases this is the depersonalization/derealization disorder may remit without treatment. But if this disorder ends up affecting our daily lives, it is vital that we go to a psychologist specialized in its treatment.
The depersonalization It usually occurs mainly in young people, and is rare in people over 50 or 60 years of age. Given the high level of discomfort it produces, it is important to detect it as soon as possible, identifying what triggers it and what variables are affecting it, ruling out other psychological or organic problems (for which it is always necessary to go to a medical practitioner) with the aim of providing the person of the strategies necessary to overcome this problem.
