Depersonalization disorder Community Group
anyone suffering from a Dissociation disorder such as Depersonalization/ De-realization or similar disorders.
) is an alteration in the perception or experience of the external world so that it seems strange or unreal. Other symptoms are feeling as though one's environment is lacking in spontaneity, emotional colouring and depth. [1] It is a dissociative symptom of many conditions, such as psychiatric and neurological disorders, and not a standalone disorder. It is also a transient side effect of acute drug intoxication, sleep deprivation and stress.
Depersonalization is a subjective experience of unreality in one's sense of self, while derealization is unreality of the outside world. Depersonalization and derealization are often used interchangeably, although evidence suggests they have distinct neurobiological mechanisms. Chronic derealization may be caused by occipital-temporal dysfunction.[2]
These symptoms are common in the population, with a lifetime prevalence of up to 74% and between 31-66% at the time of a traumatic event.[3]
The detachment of realization can be described as an immaterial substance that separates a person from the outside world, such as a sensory fog, a pane of glass, or a veil. Individuals may complain what they see lacks vividness and emotional colouring. Emotional response to visual recognition of loved ones may be significantly reduced. Feelings of déjà vu or jamais vu are common. Familiar places may look alien, bizarre, and surreal. Such perceptual abnormalitites may also extend to the senses of hearing, taste, and smell.
Another symptom of this condition can be the constant worrying or strange thoughts that people find hard to switch off. Derealization builds up slowly with the underlying anxiety, but shows itself suddenly, often after a panic attack, and is then difficult or impossible to ignore until the affected receives treatment. This type of anxiety can be crippling to the affected and may lead to avoidance behaviour. Those who experience this phenomenon may feel concern over the cause of their derealization. It is often difficult to accept that such a disturbing symptom is simply a result of anxiety, and the individual may often think that the cause must be something more serious. This can in turn cause more anxiety and worsen the derealization.
Causes
Derealization can accompany the neurological conditions of epilepsy, migraine, and mild head injury.[4] There is a similarity between visual hypoemotionality, a reduced emotional response to viewed objects, and derealization. This suggests a disruption of the process by means of which perception becomes emotionally coloured. This qualitative change in the experiencing of perception may lead to the reports of anything viewed being unreal or detached.[2]
Derealization can also be caused by vestibular disorders such as labyrinthitis and vestibular neuronitis because the brain is receiving mixed signals from the vestibular nerves due to damage or infection, and so causes the brain to function slower and create feelings of unreality.
Cannabis, hallucinogens, antidepressants, caffeine and nicotine can all produce feelings resembling derealization, particularly when taken to excess. It can also result from alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal.
Derealization can also be a symptom of severe sleep disorders, mental disorders such as depersonalization disorder, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders.[5]
Depersonalization is a subjective experience of unreality in one's sense of self, while derealization is unreality of the outside world. Depersonalization and derealization are often used interchangeably, although evidence suggests they have distinct neurobiological mechanisms. Chronic derealization may be caused by occipital-temporal dysfunction.[2]
These symptoms are common in the population, with a lifetime prevalence of up to 74% and between 31-66% at the time of a traumatic event.[3]
The detachment of realization can be described as an immaterial substance that separates a person from the outside world, such as a sensory fog, a pane of glass, or a veil. Individuals may complain what they see lacks vividness and emotional colouring. Emotional response to visual recognition of loved ones may be significantly reduced. Feelings of déjà vu or jamais vu are common. Familiar places may look alien, bizarre, and surreal. Such perceptual abnormalitites may also extend to the senses of hearing, taste, and smell.
Another symptom of this condition can be the constant worrying or strange thoughts that people find hard to switch off. Derealization builds up slowly with the underlying anxiety, but shows itself suddenly, often after a panic attack, and is then difficult or impossible to ignore until the affected receives treatment. This type of anxiety can be crippling to the affected and may lead to avoidance behaviour. Those who experience this phenomenon may feel concern over the cause of their derealization. It is often difficult to accept that such a disturbing symptom is simply a result of anxiety, and the individual may often think that the cause must be something more serious. This can in turn cause more anxiety and worsen the derealization.
Causes
Derealization can accompany the neurological conditions of epilepsy, migraine, and mild head injury.[4] There is a similarity between visual hypoemotionality, a reduced emotional response to viewed objects, and derealization. This suggests a disruption of the process by means of which perception becomes emotionally coloured. This qualitative change in the experiencing of perception may lead to the reports of anything viewed being unreal or detached.[2]
Derealization can also be caused by vestibular disorders such as labyrinthitis and vestibular neuronitis because the brain is receiving mixed signals from the vestibular nerves due to damage or infection, and so causes the brain to function slower and create feelings of unreality.
Cannabis, hallucinogens, antidepressants, caffeine and nicotine can all produce feelings resembling derealization, particularly when taken to excess. It can also result from alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal.
Derealization can also be a symptom of severe sleep disorders, mental disorders such as depersonalization disorder, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders.[5]
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
I have generalized anxiety too, and had migraines since I was in elementary school.
When I was younger, though, I thought everyone experienced things like this: wondering if everything is as real as everyone says, and the whole anxiety attack thing, I thought was "normal".
This is so me. I just met a friend on here to learn a what this is. I have been experiencing it on and off for a while now. Now that I really think about it, I can remember times in childhood when it showed up. It has been hitting me pretty intensely lately and even though I read about it and feel some relief, when it is happening, my mind still convinces me that it is something else. Out of all the anxiety feelings, I would have to say this one is the most disturbing.
my boyfrend has been suffering from dissociative symptoms for a little while now, but very infrequently and without the trigger of immediate trauma. One day he felt a little bit sad- he missed me- and then he felt like he was outside his body and that he had an "alter ego" who was saying dirty/nasty things in his head. he felt dizzy and that he wasnt himself. then more recently he was doing an essay and was a little stressed about it and suddenly he felt he was outside his body again, he saw his face looking down from above and smiling and then he felt himself looking down upon himself , and the"real" him was looking up and smililng- when in fact he wasnt. time sped up, his movements seemed very fast and people looked like they were on fast forward. then he tyed a message and his movements seemed slow and his hands felt stiff and very slow. this whole time he was aware that time hadn't actually changed, i might add and ive read that this sense of reality is "normal" when experiencing these things- which of course makes it even more distressing, they feel and see differently yet they know everythings the same as it always was. ive heard of this construed concept of time being called "Detemporalization" and can be a dissociative effect. i also understand that him percieving the world is differently to normal is "derealization" and him feeling outside of himself is "depersonalization". and of course essentially what is happening is he is dissociating (i have for almost my whole life). I would REALLY appreciate some help, from anybody, about what my boyfriend is experiencing. does his symptoms match a certain disorder? why are these experiences years apart and seem to occur when hes not in an extremely stressful situation - hes been in worse ones and hasnt dissociated- ? what can i do to help him ? i doubt he'll see a professional. I'd just like to understand. looking forward to someones reply. thankyou, Alana.