Treatment

Treatments for Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder

The symptoms of DPRD can be frightening and alienating but there are ways that you can learn to cope with them and many people recover completely. The first thing to do is to seek professional advice. Below are summaries of some of the treatments available for Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder.

Therapy

Many people find that therapy helps them to manage their symptoms. There are many different types of therapy, including counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Psychotherapy. In particular, CBT techniques have been shown to help people suffering with Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder. If you are accessing therapy through the NHS, you may initially be offered CBT. You can also pay to see a therapist privately, without the need for a referral. For some people, a few sessions of therapy is all they need, while others may require therapy over a period of months or years.

I think I have Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder, what should I do?

Talk to someone you trust

You may find it helpful to talk to your partner, teacher or a friend or relative about your DPRD. It can be a real relief to share your feelings with someone else. Hopefully, they will listen and offer support.

Seek the advice of your GP

If you are experiencing DPRD and it is impacting the way you think, act and feel, then you should speak to your GP. Speaking to your GP about how you feel can be difficult at first. To make this a little easier, you could write your symptoms beforehand and read them out when you’re in the GP’s consulting room.

Your GP may make a diagnosis and they may suggest some treatment options. These could include prescribing medication, making a referral to a therapy service or specialist mental health team or providing advice on ways to improve your mental health.