Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Causes
Treatment
Coping
Depersonalization-derealization disorder (DPDR) is a mental disorder that causes you to feel detached from your body, thoughts, and environment. There are two facets of DPDR known as:
This article describes the causes and characteristics of depersonalization-derealization disorder, including how it is diagnosed and treated.
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What Does It Mean to Dissociate?
Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder Symptoms
Depersonalization and derealization are symptoms that can be experienced as part of a dissociative disorder. Depersonalization and derealization are separate experiences. You may experience one of these more profoundly than the other, but they typically occur together in DPDR.
With depersonalization/derealization, there’s the sense that you’re watching your life in the same way as watching a movie. Some people refer to it as an “out-of-body experience.”
Depersonalization means feeling like you are outside of your body or mind. Derealization means feeling like what is around you is not real.
Depersonalization symptoms can include:
Derealization symptoms can include:
DPDR symptoms usually last for a few minutes but can persist for hours or days and may recur intermittently for years.
What Triggers Depersonalization?
Dissociative and Conversion Disorder: Similarities and Differences
How Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder Is Diagnosed
The average age of onset for DPDR is 16 years with the majority of cases being diagnosed before age 20. According to one study, 72% of those diagnosed with DPDR have another mental health disorder; anxiety and depression are the most common.
According to the DSM-5, to be diagnosed with DPDR, a person must have:
Before making a diagnosis, a healthcare provider will want to rule out medical conditions like brain trauma,stroke, brain infections (likebacterial meningitis), or neurodegenerative disorders (likeAlzheimer’s diseaseandLewy body dementia) that can cause similar symptoms.
The tests may include:
The healthcare provider will also want to exclude other mental disorders with similar symptoms but different methods of treatment, such as:
DPDR vs. SchizoprerniaDepersonalization/derealization disorder differs from psychotic conditions like schizophrenia in that a person with DPDR is wholly aware of their detachment from their body, mind, or environment. With psychosis, a person perceives (i.e., hears, sees, feels) things in the absence of real stimuli or suffers from false beliefs.
DPDR vs. Schizoprernia
Depersonalization/derealization disorder differs from psychotic conditions like schizophrenia in that a person with DPDR is wholly aware of their detachment from their body, mind, or environment. With psychosis, a person perceives (i.e., hears, sees, feels) things in the absence of real stimuli or suffers from false beliefs.
How Can You Tell If You’re Having Derealization?
What Causes Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder?
The exact cause of DPDR is unknown, but it is thought to be related to a pasttraumathat causes a person to be subconsciously detached from themselves and/or the world around them. By “muting” these perceptions, a person can distance themselves from events that trigger memories or sensations of the trauma.
There are other things that can cause or contribute to DPDR, including:
How Is Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder Treated?
It is possible to make a complete recovery from DPDR. Some people do so on their own without treatment. Other people benefit from taking medications or having psychotherapy.
Medications for DPDR
There is no specific medication to treat DPDR, but your provider may prescribe medications to help with your symptoms or related conditions likedepression,anxiety, orpanic attacks.
Examples of medications that can help someone with DPDR include:
Psychotherapy for DPDR
Psychotherapyis a common treatment for depersonalization-derealization disorder. The focus is to eliminate underlying stresses that caused the condition and to help people feel “grounded” in their experiences.
Psychotherapy options include:
What Causes Dissociation?
Coping with Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder
If you are experiencing symptoms of DPDR, there are some strategies that can help you feel more connected to yourself and reality. These include:
Mental Health ResourcesIf you are struggling with DPDR, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) national helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information about support and treatment facilities near you.
Mental Health Resources
If you are struggling with DPDR, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) national helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information about support and treatment facilities near you.
How to Use Mindfulness to Feel More Grounded
Summary
Depersonalization-derealization disorder (DPDR) is a mental health condition that makes you feel disconnected from your body, thoughts, and environment. Some people experience DPDR after going through trauma, from sleep deprivation, or because they are genetically predisposed to the condition.
Some people with DPDR recover on their own and don’t need help but if you have symptoms that you’re having trouble managing, medications and psychotherapy can be effective.
10 Sources
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