Depersonalization disorder, or dislocation syndrome, is a disease in which the person feels disconnected from his own body, as if he were an external observer of himself. It is common that there are also symptoms of derealization, which means a change in the perception of the environment it involves, as if everything around is unreal or artificial.
This syndrome may appear suddenly or gradually, and although it may occur in healthy people, in situations of stress, intense tiredness or drug use, it is very much associated with psychiatric illnesses, such as depression, anxiety disorders or schizophrenia, or neurological diseases such as epilepsy, migraine or brain damage.
To treat dislocation disorder, follow up with psychiatrist is necessary, which will guide the use of remedies like antidepressants and anxiolytics, as well as psychotherapy.
Main symptoms
In the disorder of depersonalization and derealization, the person processes their emotions in an altered way, developing symptoms such as:
- Feeling that you are an external observer of your body or that the body does not belong to you;
- The notion that it is separate from itself and the environment;
- Feeling of strangeness;
- If you look in the mirror and you do not recognize yourself;
- To be in doubt if some things really happened to them or if they only dreamed or imagined these things.
- Being somewhere and not knowing how it came or having done something and not remembering how;
- Do not recognize some family members or do not remember important life events;
- Not having emotions or being able to feel pain at certain times;
- Feeling as if they are two different people, because they change their behavior from one situation to another;
- Feeling as if everything was blurry, such that people and things seem to be far or too blurry, as if they dream of awake.
Thus, in this syndrome, the person may have the feeling that they are daydreaming or that what they are experiencing is not real, so it is common for this syndrome to be confused with supernatural events.
The onset of the disorder may be sudden or gradual, with other psychiatric symptoms such as mood changes, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders common. In certain cases, depersonalization may present single episodes, for months or years, and thereafter becomes continuous.
How to confirm
In case of symptoms that indicate the depersonalization disorder, it is necessary to consult with the psychiatrist, who can confirm the diagnosis when evaluating the intensity and the frequency of these symptoms.
It is important to remember that it is not uncommon for some of the symptoms that indicate this syndrome to occur singly, one time or another, however, if they are persistent or ever occurring, you need to be concerned.
Who has more risk
Depersonalization syndrome is more common in people with the following risk factors:
- Depression;
- Panic Syndrome;
- Schizophrenia;
- Neurological diseases, such as epilepsy, brain tumor or migraine;
- Intense stress;
- Emotional maltreatment;
- Long periods of sleep deprivation;
- Trauma in childhood, especially maltreatment or physical and psychological abuse.
In addition, this disorder can also be derived from the use of drugs such as cannabis or other hallucinogenic drugs. It is important to remember that drugs, in general, are very much associated with the development of psychiatric illness. Understand the types of drugs and their health consequences.
How is the treatment done?
The depersonalization disorder has a cure, and its treatment is guided by the psychiatrist and psychologist. Psychotherapy is the main form of treatment, and includes psychoanalytic techniques and cognitive-behavioral therapies, for example, that are very important for controlling emotions and reducing symptoms.
The psychiatrist may also prescribe medications that help control anxiety and mood swings with anxiolytic or antidepressant medications such as Clonazepam, Fluoxetine, or Clomipramine, for example.
