Advice & information

What is Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder?

Depersonalisation Derealisation Disorder (also known as DPD, DPRD, DPDR) is a defence mechanism that the mind employs to help it to cope with too much stress. Many people will experience feelings of Depersonalisation and/or Derealisation at some point in their lives. Feelings of Depersonalisation and Derealisation can be triggered by stress, a traumatic event or substance use.

For some people, these feelings may last minutes or hours but will they will eventually pass. For other people, feelings of Depersonalisation and Derealisation can be recurring or can last much longer. These people may be experiencing Depersonalisation Derealisation Disorder.

What does Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder feel like?

 
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Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder can be described in many different ways but essentially, it is a persistent feeling of being disconnected from your own body (Depersonalisation) or feeling disconnected from the world around you (Derealisation).

You may be experiencing Depersonalisation Derealisation Disorder if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

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Depersonalisation Symptoms

  • Feeling like a ‘robot’

  • Feeling that you're not in control of your speech or movements

  • Feeling like you are an outside observer of your own mental processes

  • Feeling like you are ‘outside’ of your body or parts of your body

  • Emotional or physical ‘numbness’

Derealisation Symptoms

  • Feeling as if you are living in a dream or a movie

  • Feeling as though you are ‘in a bubble’ or ‘behind glass’

  • Feelings of being alienated from or unfamiliar with your

    surroundings

  • Your surroundings appear distorted, blurry, two-dimensional or artificial, or alternatively, a heightened awareness and clarity of your surroundings

  • Distortions in your perception of time

  • Distortions of distance and of the size and shape of objects around you

It is important to remember that symptoms of Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder can be different for each person. The symptoms can also be hard to describe. If you don’t recognise your symptoms in the above list, that doesn’t mean that you aren’t experiencing it. If you think you are experiencing Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder and the symptoms are affecting your day-to-day life, you may want to seek some treatment.

 

What causes Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder?

 

Many things can cause you to experience feelings of Depersonalisation and/or Derealisation. These include a traumatic experience such as an illness or accident, A neurological condition such as migraine or epilepsy, Stress, Fatigue, Fear, Emotional turmoil, Meditation, Drugs such as Cannabis or Ecstasy. It may also be associated with another condition such as anxiety, panic disorder, depression, PTSD, OCD or Schizophrenia.