Depersonalization Definition - What Is It?

Depersonalization is a feeling of being disconnected from your body and thoughts. It can feel like you're looking at yourself from outside your body or living in a dream. It can make you feel like you're a robot, that people around you are robots. The world may feel like it's flat and in 2D. It's also very common to feel like you're going crazy.

Feelings of Depersonalization usually last for just a few minutes before fading away. Sometimes they can persist for longer, which is known as Depersonalization Disorder (DPD).

Depersonalization Disorder is one of a group of conditions called Dissociative Disorders. However it's important to note that Depersonalization is very different from other Dissociative Disorders like Fugue States, Dissociative Identity Disorder etc. Those are considered to be much more serious. And that one doesn't lead to another.

What Causes Depersonalization?

The exact triggers for the feelings of Depersonalization aren't known, but in the vast majority of cases it's caused by stress and trauma. This can be something like a car accident, abuse, violence, a panic attack, or as is becoming more common, a bad experience on drugs like weed and LSD. The brain 'withdraws' and 'numbs' itself to protect itself from the traumatic situation.

This is the reason why people often don't react properly to trauma until well after the event. For most people these feelings are very brief and fade away. For some, especially when they interpret the feelings as 'going crazy', it causes intense anxiety, which makes the feeling of Depersonalization worse. This feedback loop can turn into the persistent condition known as Depersonalization Disorder (DPD).

How Common Is Depersonalization?

Depersonalization is extremely common. It's estimated that 2% (1 in every 50 people) of the population of the US and UK have Depersonalization disorder. And 50% of all adults in the US will experience a Depersonalization 'attack' over the course of their lifetime.