Depersonalisation and Derealisation

Depersonalization and derealization are dissociative experiences that can be unsettling and distressing. Depersonalization involves a feeling of detachment from oneself, where an individual may sense as though they are observing their own thoughts and actions from a distance, leading to a sense of unreality and disconnection from their own emotions and identity. Derealization, on the other hand, is marked by a perception that one's surroundings or the external world have become unreal or dreamlike. Both experiences can occur in response to severe stress, trauma, or mental health conditions and may be part of dissociative disorders. Treatment for depersonalization and derealization often involves therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), that helps individuals understand and manage these dissociative experiences and address underlying stressors or mental health issues contributing to them.