Depersonalization Symptoms
Symptoms of depersonalization disorder involve the sensation of pure disconnection with one’s self.
The simplest way to illustrate this is by imagining you’re in a dream like state—only you’re awake. You’re completely conscious of the reality around you, however you feel detached to your body and emotions.
For instance, while the individual with the disorder undertakes a specific action or task, a part of him/her questions what they are doing. This nagging sensation produces more anxiety and furthers the cycle making the person feeling more and more mentally detached. Of course, these symptoms can vary with intensity and can have different effects on various individuals.
Sufferers of this disorder often describe an array of symptoms that can resemble those of other mental health disorders as well as physical. Headaches and other aches and pains are typical. Some may experience sexual dysfunction and lack of sleep. Other typical descriptions of this disorder include, feeling as though I’m dead… a shell… a zombie. Some feel as if they’re simply “going through the motions”. Often there is an inability to recognize oneself in the mirror and/or a distorted perception of the body.
For those affected, it’s a rather disturbing illness and can quickly cause anxiety since the person feels abnormal and uneasy at the loss of their sense of self. It’s important to note that different groups of symptoms may occur at different times—but the one common thread includes a distorted perception of the body. Many people describe the sensation as if he or she is a robot. Many feel if they’re going crazy, while others become depressed, anxious or panicky.
Some complain of sensory distortions affecting a single part of the body, most commonly the head, nose, ears or limb, which may be described as feeling as if made of cotton wool.
Others describe themselves as feeling like they’re two-dimensional or like a cardboard figure. Another common symptom is feeling as if you’re watching yourself in a film or TV program, while others describe the sensation as if they’re floating over their body. This ‘spectator’ sensation, often called ‘unreality’ is also very common.
These episodes can last anywhere from a few minutes to many years. Often times the symptoms can vanish for periods of time, then return during stressful occasions.
Depersonalization also might be considered a symptom of other disorders including brain disease and seizure disorders. More commonly, however, they are a dissociative disorder stemming from trauma or depression. These symptoms can often interfere with a person’s day-to-day functioning, including social and work activities as well as personal relationships.
The diagnosis of depersonalization disorder typically is a diagnosis of exclusion. After a detailed medical history, a patient receives an intense physical examination including blood and urine tests to rule out epilepsy, substance abuse, medication side effects or recent periods of sleep deprivation.
Beyond the medical exam, a six-item Depersonalization Severity Scale has been developed to determine and classify the level of depersonalization disorder and other possible dissociative or post-traumatic disorders, and to measure the effects of treatment in patients.
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