Depersonalization
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
Please see the discussion on the talk page. |
In psychology (and also psychiatry), depersonalization (or derealization) is the experience of feelings of loss of a sense of reality. A sufferer feels that he or she has changed and the world has become less real -- it is vague, dreamlike, or lacking in significance. The DSM-IV categorizes depersonalization disorder as a form of dissociative disorder, though depersonalization proper is more often characteristic of the traumatic origin of other conditions.
Contents |
[edit] Symptoms
Sufferers of depersonalization feel divorced from both the world and from their own identity and physicality. Oftentimes the person who has experienced depersonalization claims that life "feels like a movie, things seem unreal, or hazy." [citation needed] Also a recognition of self breaks down (hence the name). The person experiencing the disorder may feel like life is a dream or an illusion of sorts.
The feeling is said to be like being a ghost. No matter how hard the person tries, he/she cannot feel like they are genuinely interacting with the world. They can't seem to perceive themselves as being normal. While the person is struggling to feel everything as normal, there is a part of themself which begs to just give up and stop the struggling. A sufferer from depersonalization can be especially susceptible to suicide, undertaking the suicidal process calmly and easily without real awareness. Simply put, depersonalization is an alteration in the perception or experience of oneself, so that the self is felt to be unreal; the person feels detached from reality and/or their own body or mental processes.
Another possible way to describe the actual physical manifestation of the feeling is to compare the very popular film technique called a Vertigo shot or Dolly Zoom. In this technique, the subject of the picture stays fixed on the shot while all the surrounding background is pulled away - providing a sense of vertigo or detachment. People may perceive this feeling in a cyclical manner, where the feeling is experienced back-to-back-to-back in rapid or non-rapid succession.
[edit] Connection with psychological trauma
The symptoms associated with depersonalization have a known connection with psychological trauma. However, if the problem develops into a disorder (persistent and recurring) then it is important to have it treated as it may lead to suicide, depression, lack of meaning, lack of joy, and general apathy. The condition (or symptom) is usually found in conjunction with other mental disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, panic disorder, certain neuroses, and may be precipitated by use of marijuana. Though depersonalization is not a delusion if it is reported together with serious delusions, depersonalization may be a sign of schizophrenia — an indication of the disintegration of personality.
People with this disorder often report that the depersonalization is stronger after waking from a nap. [citation needed]
[edit] Treatment
Depersonalization is often a symptom of borderline personality disorder, which can be treated in the long term with proper psychotherapy and psychopharmacology.[1]
Vitamins and minerals such as Omega 3 Fish Oil, Magnesium, Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Vitamin B6, have all been reported to lessen and in some rare cases, eradicate the feelings of derealization and depersonalization [citation needed]. Proper nutrition and regular excercise are invaluable methods used reduce anxiety and to raise your mood. All stimulants should be avoided, as they are more likely to create more anxiety, and thus more feelings of derealization and depersonalization.
[edit] References
- Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, in his book On Killing, suggests that military training artificially creates depersonalization in soldiers, suppressing empathy and making it easier for them to kill other human beings.
- Existentialists use the term in a different context. The treatment of individuals by other people as if they were objects, or without regard to their feelings, has been termed depersonalization. Determinism has been accused of this. See also objectification.
- R. D. Laing used depersonalization to mean a fear of the loss of autonomy in interpersonal relationships by the ontologically insecure.
