The primary symptom of depersonalization disorder is a distorted perception of the body. The person might feel like they are a robot or in a dream. Some people might fear they are going crazy and might become depressed, anxious, or panicky. For some people, the symptoms are mild and last for just a short time.
Derealization is one of a range of symptoms coexisting in a panic attack. Some youth who have panic attacks don't experience derealization but for those who do, it can cause them to think, “I'm going crazy,” or, “Something is horribly wrong with me.” Fortunately, they are not going crazy and probably are quite healthy.
Depersonalization symptoms
Feeling like a robot or that you're not in control of your speech or movements. The sense that your body, legs or arms appear distorted, enlarged or shrunken, or that your head is wrapped in cotton. Emotional or physical numbness of your senses or responses to the world around you.
Introduction: The phenomena of depersonalisation/derealisation have classically been associated with the initial phases of psychosis, and it is assumed that they would precede (even by years) the onset of clinical psychosis, being much more common in the prodromal and acute phases of the illness.
2. Myth: Depersonalization can turn into schizophrenia. Fact: Depersonalization-derealization disorder and schizophrenia are two distinct illnesses, and one does not turn into the other. Not everyone who experiences a depersonalization or derealization episode has depersonalization-derealization disorder.
Stress, worsening depression or anxiety, new or overstimulating surroundings, and lack of sleep can make symptoms worse. People often have great difficulty describing their symptoms and may fear or believe that they are going crazy.
Many of us have had the thought, “I feel like I'm losing my mind” at one time or another. This thought may surface in times of heightened stress, but it can also be a manifestation of a mental health condition, such as anxiety,1 panic disorder,2 or depersonalization.
This is Not Psychosis
However, DR is not the same as psychosis, and experiencing DR does not mean that you will develop schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia or psychosis commonly experience hallucinations or delusions that are difficult to distinguish from reality.
There are three types of dissociative disorders: Dissociative identity disorder. Dissociative amnesia. Depersonalization/derealization disorder.
Symptoms and Signs
Symptoms of depersonalization/derealization disorder are usually episodic and wax and wane in intensity. Episodes may last for only hours or days or for weeks, months, or sometimes years. But in some patients, symptoms are constantly present at an unchanging intensity for years or decades.
DPDR is one of four types of dissociative disorders. These disorders are diagnosable conditions in which there's a fragmented sense of identity, memories, and/or consciousness. If left untreated, dissociative disorders can lead to depression and anxiety and are believed to be linked to a history of trauma.
Severe and chronic anxiety can make a person feel like they are “going crazy” or losing control. Those with anxiety typically have not lost touch with reality, but may be struggling with reality. Different types of anxiety cause different types of “crazy” feelings, so knowing your anxiety type matters.
Warning signs of mental illness in adults
Chronic sadness or irritability. Obsession with certain thoughts, people, or things. Confused thinking or problems with concentrating. Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia.
As symptoms of a panic disorder, depersonalization and derealization may feel very scary and disturbing, but they aren't considered either dangerous or life-threatening. Once the panic disorder is being treated, panic attacks and the symptoms they bring on should no longer arise.
Depersonalization also differs from delusion in the sense that the patient is able to differentiate between reality and the symptoms they may experience. The ability to sense that something is unreal is maintained when experiencing symptoms of the disorder.
Losing your mind may be experienced as extreme confusion, distress and/or dissociation from oneself. It may be so overwhelming that it leads to anxiety and panic attacks. You are not alone in feeling this way, and to answer the question again; it is highly unlikely that you're losing your mind.
Complete recovery is possible for many people. In some people, the disorder disappears on its own. Others recover by going to therapy and dealing with the triggers. Therapy helps resolve the underlying issues.
Depersonalization is the sense of being disconnected from yourself, as if you're having an out-of-body experience. Anyone can experience this disconnect. Sometimes, it's linked with an anxiety disorder or depersonalization-derealization disorder. It's also one of the less talked about symptoms of a panic attack.
Four stages of the formation of depersonalization were identified: vital, allopsychic, somatopsychis and autopsychic.
Depersonalization disorder, or depersonalization/derealization disorder, is a mental health condition that creates dissociative states of consciousness, which can be debilitating and highly stressful if left untreated.
Your brain is convinced that it's still in danger and so keeps the DPDR going. You think scary thoughts like 'I must be going crazy' -- which makes you more anxious and makes the DPDR worse. This cycle continues and turns into chronic Depersonalization / Derealization.
So remember -- you are absolutely safe when driving with Depersonalization! Yes, feelings of dissociation while driving can seem scary initially, but don't let anxiety stop you from doing any of your day-to-day activities, and that 100% includes driving. Get into your car and drive, even if it's for a short distance.