Depersonalization disorder, or feeling unreal, is now known as DDD — depersonalization / derealization disorder. Both depersonalization and derealization are part of the same disorder. The difference is that depersonalization refers to the experience of one’s self — feeling like a robot or feeling detached from your own body, while derealization refers to the experience of feeling that the world around you is unreal. People with DDD may have episodes of depersonalization or derealization, or both. It is also important to mention that until recently depersonalization disorder was known as DPD.
The depersonalization test below is not a diagnostic tool and is provided for educational purposes only.
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Check all that apply:
I feel disconnected from my memories.
I feel like a stranger to myself.
It feels as if my body functions on its own.
I feel numb emotionally.
Sounds seem louder or softer than they really are.
It feels as if some negative events (divorce, trauma, etc.) never happened.
I am unable to remember things clearly.
I have difficulty recognizing my own reflection.
It feels as if my self was removed from my body.
I feel that people I know are strangers.
I feel detached from my own body.
It feels like I am a spectator of my own life.
It feels like I am observing myself outside of my body.
I feel like I am a robot.
I feel like I am in a dream.
It seems like I have no control over what I do or say.
My surroundings (people and objects) seem unreal.
It feels like I am detached from my bodily sensations.
It seems like objects around me are changing their shape and/or size.
I live in a dreamlike trance.
DSM-5 criteria questions. Check all that apply:
I experience some or many of the above symptoms on a regular basis.
The above symptoms cause me a significant distress or impair my social functioning.
I know the above experiences are not real.
If you answered “True” to the last three questions (DSM-5 criteria), you might have depersonalization disorder or another disorder that causes similar symptoms.
Other disorders that cause similar feelings may include other dissociative disorders, depression, substance abuse or seizures.
Depersonalization disorder typically affects children and young people. According to statistics, only 5 percent of cases start after age 25. Developing the disorder after age 40 is extremely rare [1].
While the above test is by no means a diagnostic tool, it is important that you make an appointment with a mental health professional right away.
A lot of people may experience some of these symptoms at some point of their lives but only few suffer from depersonalization disorder. Oftentimes, these feelings resolve on their own after a short period of time without any treatment and without causing any significant damage to one’s social functioning.
However, having persistent symptoms of depersonalization is a cause for concern. Anxiety and depression that typically accompany the above mentioned symptoms may be even more bothersome than unreal experiences themselves. Consulting a mental health professional is the best course of action.
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