What Does Depersonalization Feel Like?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

Depersonalization feels like you are watching yourself from the outside, as if you are not really part of your own body.

Explanation

Imagine feeling like you’re outside of your own life, just watching everything happen around you. That’s what depersonalization can feel like. When someone has depersonalization, they may feel like a stranger in their own body, almost as if they are watching a movie of themselves. Their thoughts, feelings, and actions might seem distant or unreal. This can make everyday activities feel strange and confusing because it feels like you are not fully connected to what is happening. Some people also describe it as feeling numb or like they have a barrier between themselves and the world. Often, this happens during times of great stress or anxiety when the mind tries to protect itself. While these experiences might seem scary, they are a way some people use to cope with overwhelming emotions. If you or someone you care about feels this way a lot, it’s important to talk to someone who understands, like a trusted adult or a mental health professional. Knowing more about these feelings can help you learn healthier ways to feel safe and connected again.

(References)

Mula M, Pini S, Preve M, Masini M, Giovannini I, Cassano GB. Clinical correlates of depersonalization symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord. 2009 May;115(1-2):252-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2008.08.001. Epub 2008 Sep 11. PMID: 18786726.
Michal M, Beutel ME. Depersonalisation/Derealisation- Krankheitsbild, Diagnostik und Therapie [Depersonalisation/derealization - clinical picture, diagnostics and therapy]. Z Psychosom Med Psychother. 2009;55(2):113-40. German. doi: 10.13109/zptm.2009.55.2.113. PMID: 19402018.
Sutar R, Chaturvedi SK. Symptom profile and diagnostic utility of depersonalization-derealization disorder: A retrospective critical review from India. Indian J Psychiatry. 2020 Jan-Feb;62(1):91-94. doi: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_347_19. Epub 2020 Jan 3. PMID: 32001937; PMCID: PMC6964445.
Murphy RJ. Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder and Neural Correlates of Trauma-related Pathology: A Critical Review. Innov Clin Neurosci. 2023 Jan-Mar;20(1-3):53-59. PMID: 37122581; PMCID: PMC10132272.

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