Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder(DDD)

It is a condition that causes a person to experience a persistent feeling or a recurring feeling of being outside their body. Depersonalization makes you feel as if you aren’t real and derealization makes you feel like your surroundings or people around you aren’t real. It makes you feel disconnected from the world around you. It can be severe and may interrupt daily activities.

SYMPTOMS FOR DEPERSOANLIZATION 

1. Inability to recognize or describe emotions
2. Numb to feelings
3. Feeling robotic
4. Inability to believe your own memories
5. The sense that your body and limb being distorted.

SYMPTOMS FOR DEREALIZATION 

1. Recent events may seem to have happened a long time ago
2. Surrounding s might seem to be blurry
3. Distance and the size and shape of the objects might be distorted.

CAUSES 

Common triggers are stress, anxiety, and depression.

1. Emotional and physical abuse
2. Neglect in childhood
3. Loss of loved one
4. Witnessing domestic violence

DIAGNOSIS 

The doctors will make sure that they are no other reasons for these symptoms like other medical conditions or drug. Once everything is ruled out the doctor will consider

1.  Frequent  or recurrent episodes of depersonalization and derealisation or both
2. Distressed caused by the symptoms
3. Feeling everything is unreal

RISK FACTORS

1. A tendency to deny a difficult situation
2. A history of the use of drugs
3. Prolonged depression, panic attacks, or anxiety
4. Severe stress
5. Experiencing trauma

TREATMENT 

1. Psychotherapy

• Grounding techniques –  It helps the person feel more in touch with reality like playing music to engage hearing and living in the moment.
• Psychodynamic techniques – This focuses on the feelings people have detached over the years.

2. EDMR ( Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a therapy that helps people treat a variety of mental health conditions.

3. Medications – There is no specific medication, but the doctors might prescribe anti-anxiety and anti-depressants to help reduce the symptoms.

HOW TO COPE WITH IT? 

These following strategies can help keep you grounded

1. Pinch your hand
2. Use temperature shift
3. Stop zoning out
4. Pay attention to your breathing pattern
5. Practice meditation
6. Talk to a loved one

HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR LOVED ONE? 

1. Read about the condition – expand your knowledge on it so that you have a better understanding
2. Tell them you understand
3. Encourage them for therapy sessions
4. Respect their boundaries
5. Just be there for them

HELPLINE 

1. https://www.mentalhelp.net/anxiety/hotline/ 

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