depersonalisaation

Depersonalisation, also spelled depersonalisation (the British English variant) or depersonalization in American usage, is a dissociative experience that can occur alone or as part of depersonalisation-derealisation disorder. It involves a persistent or recurrent sense of detachment from oneself, as if observing one’s thoughts, feelings, or body from outside. Derealisation, the related experience of unreality about the external world, often accompanies depersonalisation, though reality testing remains intact.

Symptoms include being an observer of one’s own mental processes, emotional numbing, a sense of being altered in time, and sometimes a feeling of estrangement from one’s own life. Episodes may last for minutes or persist for longer, and they can cause significant distress or impairment.

Causes and risk factors are diverse. They include severe stress or trauma, anxiety and depression, sleep deprivation, and substance use (notably cannabis or hallucinogens). Medical or neurological conditions can also play a role. The underlying biology is not fully understood, but researchers explore altered limbic–prefrontal processing and disruptions in sensory integration.

Diagnosis is typically made when depersonalisation and/or derealisation are persistent or recurrent and cause clinically significant distress or impairment, and when symptoms are not attributable to another medical condition or substance use. It is important to distinguish transient episodes from a chronic disorder.

Treatment focuses on psychotherapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy and trauma-focused approaches. Grounding techniques and mindfulness can help some individuals cope. Medications may be used to treat co-occurring anxiety or depression, but there is limited evidence that drugs directly resolve depersonalisation. Many people improve over time; some experience persistent symptoms.