Partial or total physiological or emotional numbness.Feelings of hollowness or weightlessness.Perceptual and physiological difficulties Symptoms on depersonalization and derealization include: Individuals with DPDR often report a strange experience of time, and vision that is either pale and fuzzy or vivid and bright. Individuals experiencing DPDR often describe DPDR as being “cut-off from reality”, “being in a bubble”, “living in a dream”, “living in the ‘Truman Show’”, or “looking at life through a mirror or a pane of glass”. Derealization (DR): “An experience in which the individual feels a sense of unreality and detachment from the external world”ĭepersonalization and derealization can be frightening and confusing.Depersonalization (DP): “An experience in which the individual feels a sense of unreality and detachment from themselves”.Several psychological studies found that a subtle relationship may exist between childhood trauma and depersonalization-derealization disorder. There appears to be overlap between depersonalization and anhedonia or the inability to experience pleasure. The average age of onset for DPDR is age 16 and it is equally prevalent among men and women. Individuals with Panic disorder demonstrate high rates (22-34%) of depersonalization and derealization. The research states individuals who experience anxiety disorders such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) often also experience depersonalization and derealization symptoms. DPDR and anxiety disorders share many similar symptoms such as increased arousal, feelings of dizziness or faintness, racing thoughts, a sense of detachment, and avoidance of uncomfortable situations. Psychological research has found that there is a high degree of overlap between depersonalization-derealization disorder and other anxiety disorders. Thus, the experience of depersonalization or derealization is thought to be part of the normal range of human experience. During meditative practices that are a part of many religions and cultures, depersonalization or derealization is voluntarily induced.

Depersonalization and derealisation symptoms are often experienced during times of extreme stress, fatigue, interpersonal difficulties or drug use.

However, studies show that DPRD affects 1% to 2.4% of the population and that 34-70% of all individuals have, at some point in life, experienced temporary transient symptoms of depersonalization and derealization. What is Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder?ĭepersonalization-derealisation disorder (DPRD) is a distressing and impairing condition that is not well understood and is believed to be quite rare by many psychologists.

Ocd depersonalization