Allopsychic Disorder
Allopsychic Disorder occurs when you always or often feel that you're seeing yourself from outside your body or you sense that things around you are not real — or both. Feelings of depersonalization and derealization can be very disturbing. You may feel like you're living in a dream.
Many people have a passing experience of depersonalization or derealization at some point. But when these feelings keep occurring or never fully go away, and they make it hard for you to function, it's likely depersonalization-derealization disorder. This condition is more common in people who experience trauma, such as violence, abuse or other kinds of extreme stress.
Depersonalization-derealization disorder can be serious and may get in the way of your relationships and work. It also can disrupt other daily activities. The main treatment for depersonalization-derealization disorder is psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. Sometimes medicines also are used.
Symptoms and Causes
People with depersonalization-derealization disorder sometimes find it hard to put their symptoms into words. Others feel like they have words to describe their experience but that people don’t seem to understand them or take them seriously. But the main symptom of depersonalization-derealization disorder is feeling disconnected. You might feel:
Disconnected from your thoughts, feelings and body (depersonalization).
Disconnected from your surroundings or environment (derealization).
Robot-like or that those around you are robotic.
Emotionally numb.
Like you’re observing yourself from outside your body.
Like you’re living in a dream world.
Sad or anxious.
These symptoms can cause significant distress, as you might start to wonder if there’s something terribly wrong with you. You might focus on the symptoms, think about your symptoms or past events over and over again (rumination) or try to control them. This can increase your feelings of anxiety and worry, which in turn may make your symptoms worse.
Allen, N. (2024, January 12). Depersonalization-derealization disorder – Symptoms and causes. Retrieved from: https://surl.li/xqtnif
Cleveland Clinic (2023, September 29,). Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder:Causes & Treatment. Retrieved from: https://surl.li/qtzgzv