Depersonalization /Derealization

You experience depersonalization and derealization when you feel for a long enough time like an external observer of yourself and your human functions. It is also possible to feel that you are fake and observe your life and your surroundings as if you were acting in a movie or as if in a dream. Many experience depersonalization and derealization when they experience severe stress or use drugs.

Usually when the anxiety subsides, the symptoms of depersonalization and derealization also go away. In more severe cases where the symptoms affect the person’s functioning, do not go away completely or come back often then that person may suffer from depersonalization, derealization disorder.

The symptoms of this condition are varied and may differ from person to person. Often the person feels confused and is unable to explain what is happening to him, but he is aware that what is happening to him is a feeling, a different perception of himself and those around him. It is possible for someone to suffer only from depersonalization, derealization, or both at the same time

Symptoms of Depersonalization

• Feeling that you do not control but observe your speech, the movements of your hands and feet
• Intense awareness of the sense of hearing, sight, touch (you feel as if you realize for the first time that you see, hear, etc.)
• The feeling that your arms and legs look different (larger, smaller, etc.)
• Feeling that you are watching your thoughts, that your memories are distorted or foreign
• You feel like your mind has detached from your body and you perceive it as 2 different entities.
• Freezing of your emotions, you feel empty for yourself and those around you.
• Existential thoughts about life, death, time, etc.

Derealization Symptoms

• You feel that familiar places such as your home or the places you frequent are familiar but at the same time foreign

• You feel that it is impossible for you to feel an emotional connection for your near and dear ones

• You feel that you perceive time, distance, shape and size of objects differently

The duration of depersonalization, derealization differs from person to person and can last from a few hours, days, months and rarely a year. Regardless of the duration, if the symptoms overwhelm you and seriously affect your functionality, visiting a specialist to treat them is essential.