Depersonalization is the state of seeing oneself as seperate and independent from one's body with the feeling of watching oneself from a third perspective. The person is literally in a virtual game and experiences distortions in his/her perception of reality and self. Nearly %75 of people experience this condition but some experience it frequently and continuosuly (DPDR). These people constantly question their existence, their minds are full of questions about existence and reality. They worry about whether they are in control of their behavior, actions, thoughts and emotions. In fact, this is part of our brain's natural response to anxiety and trauma. We can interpret it as our body's fight or flee response. Our body shows symptoms such as sweating and heart palpitations when faced with a threat or problem. Depersonalization and derealization also come into play to distance you and protect you from the trauma. During the trauma or a result of the problem, the person moves away from this feeling and does not experience its effects as before. However, sometimes it may appear as a seperate problem due to some factors (panic attack,drug use,anxiety disorder,stress,depression...). However, it is a disorder whose main bases is anxiety. Its difference from derealization is the isolation of the person from his/her own self and integrity rather than the isolation of the person from reality and environment.

What Are The Symptoms?

- Feeling of loosing control

- Distortions in body percepption

- Feeling isolated and alienated from society

- Feeling like a robot

- Distrbance in sensory perception

- Distortions in time perception

- Diffuculty paying attention and focusing

What Are The Factors That Lead To Depersonalization?

We cannot talk about the exact factors that determine depersonalization but the influential and important ones are as follows:

- Having Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,Traumas

- Using drugs,narcotics

- It may manifest itselfs due to psychiatric drug use

- Problems that develop with derealization

What is Derealization?

It is also known as alienation from reality.It is the alineation of a person from his environment and individuals.

Symptoms Of Derealization:

- Feeling like a stranger in one's immediate environment,feeling disconnected

- The person cannot focus on the moment and worried about it

- Disorder in perception of body and limbs.

Causes Of Derealizaton:

- Post-Traumatic psychological problems

- Neurological Disorders

- Anxiety Problems

- Using drugs

What Can We Do?

If the person has these symptoms from another disorder, the focus of threatment should be on the other disorder. Depersonalization and derealization are a condition that usually occurs as a result of other problems. Although there are no definitive threatment methods, effective methods are as follows:

- Focusing on the moment and trying to keep ourselves away from the confusion of the thoughts

- Get a thearpy

- Do a meditation and breathing exercises

- Get a professional help when you need it

- Try to play games in your mind(count the items in the room,focus on the colors of the cars...)

References:

Depersonalization/derealization disorder.(2017). In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2013. NHS (2020). Dissociative Disorders. Depersonalisation-derealisation disorder Noyes R, Garvey MJ, Cook BL. Follow-up study of patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia with panic attacks treated with tricyclic antidepressants. Journal of Affective Disorders 1989;16:249– 257.

Depersonalization is the state of seeing oneself as separate and independent from one's body, with the feeling of watching oneself from a third perspective.