Depersonalization

To define depersonalization is to say that it is a detachment within the self, regarding one’s mind or body, or being a detached observer of oneself. Basically, subjects feel they have changed and that the world has become vague, dreamlike, less real, lacking in significance or being outside reality while looking in.

Feelings of depersonalization can be very disturbing. You may feel like you’re living in a dream. Many people have a passing experience of depersonalization 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.

Causes for Depersonalization

The cause of depersonalization disorder is not well understood. Some people may be more likely to experience it than others. All things considered, this is possibly due to genetic and environmental factors. High levels of stress and fear may cause bouts.

Therefore, symptoms of depersonalization disorder may be related to childhood trauma or other experiences or events that cause severe emotional stress or trauma.

Risk Factors

Factors that may raise the risk of depersonalization-derealization disorder include:

Firstly, certain personality traits that make you want to stay away from stressful situations or make it hard to describe your emotional experience.
Serious trauma as a child or an adult, like going through or seeing a traumatic event, such as violence or abuse.
Serious stress, such as major relationship, financial or work-related issues.
Depression or anxiety, especially serious depression, depression that lasts a long time or anxiety with panic attacks.
Lastly, drug misuse, which can cause bouts of depersonalization or derealization.

Depersonalization Symptoms

Symptoms usually begin in the middle or late teenage years, or in early adulthood. Depersonalization disorder is rare in children and older adults. Symptoms of depersonalization include:

Firstly, feelings that you’re seeing your thoughts, feelings, or body or parts of your body from the outside. For example, you may feel like you’re floating in the air above yourself.
Feeling like a robot or that you’re not in control of what you say or how you move.
The sense that your body, legs or arms appear twisted or like they’re not the right shape. Or they may seem larger or smaller than usual. You also could feel that your head is wrapped in cotton.
Emotional or physical numbness of your senses or responses to the world around you.
Finally, a sense that your memories lack emotion, and they may or may not be your own memories.

Bouts of depersonalization disorder may last hours, days, weeks or months. Hence, in some people, these bouts turn into ongoing feelings of depersonalization that may get better or worse at times.

Depersonalization Treatment

Online Therapy for Depersonalization

Simple Practice

https://www.simplepractice.com/lp/sign-up-telehealth-pm23/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&network=g&utm_campaign=GS%20|%20Features%20|%20Specialties%20|%20BH%20|%20Telehealth&utm_adgroup=Counseling&utm_term=teletherapy%20counseling&device=c&matchtype=p&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-_mvBhDwARIsAA-Q0Q5xt3NGWY1TJfg96EnwiVULU0yQD_3PIIjht2fKUzok3kVtlxN0AnYaAk5ZEALw_wcB

Just Answer Mental Health Hotline

https://www.justanswer.com/sip/mental-health?r=ppc|ga|27|Health-Search-Mental-Health-BMM|Therapist|&JPKW=%2Bonline%20%2Btherapist%20%2Bchat&JPDC=S&JPST=&JPAD=487593477552&JPMT=b&JPNW=g&JPAF=txt&JPRC=1&JPCD=&JPOP=&cmpid=11892782793&agid=117985944360&fiid=&tgtid=kwd-46136327916&ntw=g&dvc=c&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-_mvBhDwARIsAA-Q0Q6L94NBsXQnxEpVbvVlJQaZTeQJtYeBaqIOf_fUTaVuoYQNsgKzjn0aAh4TEALw_wcB

 Depersonalization Disorder Therapy

Psychotherapy is an important part of treatment for depersonalization disorder. Consequently, psychotherapy can help you understand your condition and learn how to manage your symptoms. Even more, a popular type of psychotherapy that can help you manage your depersonalization is CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy can help you identify and change the thought patterns that contribute to your depersonalization.

Although, depending on the type of anxiety disorder you have, psychotherapy might also include exposure therapy. Furthermore, exposure therapy can help you confront your fears and learn how to manage your anxiety using coping skills.

 Medication

While there is no specific medication for depersonalization disorder, medication can be used to treat the symptoms of anxiety or depression that might be contributing to your condition. Therefore, Medications that are commonly used to treat anxiety might also help with depersonalization. In brief, these medications include SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and SNRIs, or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.

 Self-Care

In addition to professional treatment, there are things you can do at home to help manage your symptoms of depersonalization. Some self-care tips that might help include the following.

First of all, get regular exercise. Exercise can help reduce stress and improve your mood.
Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Eat a healthy diet. Eating nutritious foods can help you feel your best.
Forthly, practice relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga, can help you reduce stress.
Limit your use of alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and drugs can worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Avoid caffeine. Caffeine can make anxiety worse.
To conclude, connect with others. Isolation can make depersonalization worse. Connecting with friends and family can help you feel supported.

Cannabis and Depersonalization

If you have depersonalization disorder, it’s important to avoid using cannabis. Derealization, dissociation, and depersonalization from weed are not uncommon, even when a marijuana user isn’t high. To conclude, weed can worsen your symptoms and make it difficult to live a normal, productive life. In addition, people who have depersonalization disorder are more likely to develop CUD and episodes of derealization while using cannabis.

Summing up, studies showed that there are many risk factors that can lead to marijuana-induced depersonalization.

Such risk factors, as stated in the study, include:

To begin with, adolescent age
Male gender
High-potency cannabis use
Fourthly, frequent cannabis use
Cannabis use after trauma exposure
Cannabis use under acute distress
Sudden withdrawal from regular cannabis use
Additionally, experiences of panic attacks or depersonalization or derealization during intoxication
History of depersonalization or derealization symptoms
History of cannabis-induced depersonalization-derealization disorder
Comparatively, history of acute anxiety or panic attacks
History of obsessive thinking
History of sociophobic or avoidant behavior
Family history of depersonalization-derealization disorder
Finally, family history of anxiety disorders or panic attacks

With so many risk factors, it’s easy to see how even minimal cannabis use can be a risk for people who have depersonalization disorder. Unfortunately, even people who have used Marijuana between 100 to 500 times can be affected by depersonalization. Hence, for these people, negative life stressors, such as divorce or job loss, can cause an exacerbation of their symptoms.

Living With Depersonalization Disorder

How do I take care of myself?

If you have lasting symptoms of depersonalization disorder, your priority should be to seek treatment from a mental healthcare professional. Subsequently, you’ll likely need several visits initially. Then, you’ll need regular follow-ups with a psychologist and occasional follow-ups with a psychiatrist. At length, your psychiatrist will help find the right treatment for your specific situation and ensure that the side effects are manageable. Equally, your psychologist will use talk therapy to teach you skills to cope with your symptoms and gain insight into your symptom triggers.

In the meantime, take your medications as prescribed and try to be gentle with yourself. It’s OK if you can’t find words to accurately describe your experience. And, while it’s natural to worry about your health, try not to dwell on it. Also, paced breathing that involves a long exhale or meditation can calm your worries.

Conclusion

There’s not a lot of research about what to expect if you have depersonalization disorder. Therefore, left untreated, depersonalization disorder can last for years. Sometimes it resolves on its own, but it might negatively impact your relationships or work life. With treatment, people commonly start to see an improvement in their symptoms within a few months.