Depersonalization is one of the mental illnesses that is characterized by a violation of an adequate perception of oneself, one's body and the entire surrounding space.
Depersonalization - what is it? A similar question has been asked by specialists in the field of mental health for many years. Patients with this syndrome are not violent and do not cause much trouble to others. Only an experienced psychiatrist will be able to identify such a person in a crowd. As a rule, personality depersonalization does not manifest itself too violently and with its minimal symptoms allows the patient to more or less tolerably exist in the outside world.
Depersonalization - a symptom or a separate disease?
Scientists all over the world still can not come to an unambiguous conclusion on how this pathology should be regarded. Depersonalization has long occupied a separate line in the International Classification of Diseases, but far from all psychiatrists agree with this. The fact is that this condition is very common in other mental illnesses - for example, with schizophrenia or with the development of some anxiety disorders. Does this mean that depersonalization should not be considered an independent disease? Experts could not find the answer to this difficult question to this day.
Who is in danger?
Most often, depersonalization syndrome occurs in young people. According to statistics, women suffer from this disease more often than men. It has been proven that at different points in their lives, completely healthy people can experience this condition. At the same time, only a small part of all potential patients seek help. That is why it is not possible to obtain reliable statistics on this syndrome.
Psychiatrists note that more than 80% of all patients ever hospitalized in a hospital, to one degree or another, have signs of depersonalization. Moreover, in severe form, this condition, fortunately, is extremely rare.
How does depersonalization develop? What it is?
At the moment, specialists cannot identify factors that are guaranteed to lead to a problem. It is believed that a change in one's own perception may be due to the following reasons:
- severe shock, severe stress;
- prolonged depression;
- physical injuries leading to changes in mental status;
- some psychiatric diseases (schizophrenia, manic syndrome, and others).
Psychologists note that depersonalization can be caused by any complex situation that requires immediate resolution and stress of all forces. In such a simple way, the body tries to protect itself and builds a protective wall in the form of an altered perception of reality. Typically, such violations are short-term in nature and do not require special treatment.
Excessive consumption of alcohol or taking drugs can also lead to the development of a condition such as depersonalization-derealization syndrome. Especially such a development of events is characteristic of marijuana use. In this case, the process can be reversed only with timely contact with specialists and the rejection of intoxicants.
Symptoms of Depersonalization
How does this insidious disease manifest itself? What to expect if the doctor displayed “depersonalization” on the card? Symptoms of this pathology are very diverse. The most important thing to remember is that in a state of derealization, a person is not able to adequately perceive himself and the space around him. It seems that everything has remained the same, and all the same thoughts revolve in my head as before. The sensations connected with the surrounding world are just changing. It no longer matters to a person what is happening around him - he is sure that the outside world is in no way connected with him.
The patient’s usual behavior changes. There is anxiety associated with a lack of understanding of what is happening. A person feels crushed, insignificant and unable to control the surrounding reality. Many tell how they see themselves as if from the outside, what indescribable sensations they experience. Own body ceases to seem so, and everything that happens to him, the patient is no longer concerned.
Many amazing discoveries prepare for a person depersonalization. Her symptoms also include refusal to eat or satisfy physiological needs. Why, if the body is still a stranger? For the same reason, the patient does not feel either hunger or the joy of a delicious meal. Memory is broken, reality is perceived as if through thick glass, without loud sounds and bright colors. The course of time slows down, the ability to navigate in the surrounding space is impaired. Habitual objects cease to be such, acquiring previously unknown features.
With the further development of the pathological process, a person completely loses touch with reality. Previous hobbies and interests disappear , friends are forgotten, the desire to create something constructive, to create and develop disappears . This condition is called depersonalization of activity. Close people are surprised to see how their well-known friend and relative becomes a complete stranger. With his indifference, such a patient completely discourages the desire to establish any contact with him.
It is worth noting the fact that even in a state of derealization, a person completely maintains the criticality of thinking. Perhaps this is the most amazing symptom that depersonalization provides. What it is? Why is this happening to me? Each patient asks such questions, and this is what ultimately pushes him to see a specialist.
Options for the development of the disease
Depersonalization syndrome occurs in three forms. Each of the options has its own characteristic features.
The first case is autopsychic depersonalization. What it is? In this state, the whole body is alienated or some of its individual parts. Motor activity is disturbed , gestures and facial expressions are changing, new patterns of behavior appear. It seems to the patient that he is dreaming of himself, and everything that is happening now does not depend on him.
The second option is somatopsychic depersonalization or a change in body pattern. In this case, a person can feel himself outside his body or at the same time in two different places.
In the case of allopsychic depersonalization, the perception of the surrounding reality changes. All things, according to the patient, are not in their places, people seem to be either cyborgs or aliens from another galaxy. As a rule, in this state the sense of time is disturbed, a person cannot navigate even with the help of a clock and calendar.
Diagnostics
First of all, a patient with altered consciousness should be admitted to a psychiatrist. It is this specialist who will be able to comprehensively evaluate all the symptoms and draw the right conclusions. In clinical practice, it is customary to make a diagnosis based on some combination of symptoms.
- maintaining critical thinking - a person’s realization that not everything is okay with him;
- complaints about alienation of one’s own body or its individual parts;
- a sense of the unreality of the world, the inability to know the terrain and navigate in time;
- lack of twilight episodes during illness.
Depersonalization and derealization are characterized by a combination of all these symptoms. If any manifestations of the disease are not found in the patient, an additional examination is required to clarify the diagnosis. As a rule, communication with the doctor in this case continues in a hospital setting.
Differential diagnosis
Given the fact that patient complaints in a state of derealization are rather vague and not too specific, cases of incorrect diagnosis are not ruled out. Most often, this condition is confused with schizophrenia. In fact, these two pathologies have significant differences. With schizophrenia, the symptoms are of the same type, repeated day after day without any significant changes. In the case of depersonalization, the complaints will be numerous and very diverse, varying from case to case.
Treatment
The best option for the patient will be when it is possible to clearly identify the factor that resulted in depersonalization. Treatment in this case will be aimed primarily at eliminating the cause. When combining derealization with other mental disorders, it makes sense first of all to take care of the remission of the underlying disease. If the disturbance in the perception of the world is caused by depression, the doctor will prescribe special drugs, and will also recommend a psychotherapy session.
In case of poisoning with alcohol or other narcotic substances, it will be advisable to use powerful antidotes and detoxification therapy in a hospital. If an endocrine pathology is detected, psychiatrists send the patient to a consultation with the right specialist for the selection of adequate hormonal treatment. In mild cases, you can limit yourself to hypnosis and psychotherapy sessions, as well as other rehabilitation measures.
It is important to know that depersonalization, the treatment of which was not carried out on time, can significantly impair the patient's quality of life. That is why it is so important, when the slightest symptoms appear, consult an experienced doctor for qualified assistance.
Prevention
No special methods for the prevention of disease have yet been developed. Psychiatrists recommend eliminating any worries and stresses, taking care of yourself and not bringing your body to extreme fatigue. Healthy sleep, proper nutrition and minimal physical activity will also help to cope with the symptoms of an approaching disease.