Depersonalization is one form of dissociation. It is a feeling of being separate from yourself, as though you are merely observing yourself or your experiences from the outside, or not feeling fully connected to your thoughts, emotions, body, or actions. Depersonalization and derealization (another form of dissociation) can occur as part of several mental health conditions. They can also be diagnosed as Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder and are commonly experienced by people with DID and OSDD.. Examples of experiences of depersonalization include:
- feeling as though you are watching yourself from outside your body
- feeling like an observer of your own life rather than a participant
- feeling as though your emotions belong to someone else
- feeling emotionally numb or distant
- feeling detached from your body
- feeling as though your body does not quite belong to you
- feeling robotic or on autopilot
- recognizing yourself in a mirror but not fully feeling like the person you see is you
It is important to understand that people experiencing depersonalization generally remain aware that the experience is occurring and have not lost touch with reality. In other words, depersonalization is not the same as psychosis.
While depersonalization can feel strange, uncomfortable, or even frightening, it is a common dissociative experience and does not necessarily prevent a person from functioning in daily life.
This page is part of the What Is Dissociation? section of the CommuniDID site, which explains how dissociation works and why it develops.
Explore related topics:
- Questions about dissociation
- What Is Derealization?
- Could This Be Dissociation?
- How to Recognize When You’re Dissociating
- What Does Dissociation Feel Like?
- How Do Depersonalization and Derealization Relate to Dissociative Systems?
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