Depersonalization disorder, or the experience of feeling unreal or detached from yourself, is now known as depersonalization/derealization disorder (DDD).
Depersonalization and derealization can both occur as part of the same disorder.
The difference is that depersonalization refers to the experience of oneself — feeling like a robot or feeling detached from your own body, thoughts, or emotions — while derealization refers to the feeling that the world around you is unreal.
People with DDD may experience depersonalization, derealization, or both.
In the past, the condition was commonly called depersonalization disorder (DPD).
The depersonalization test below is not a diagnostic tool and is provided for educational purposes only.
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 emotionally numb.
Sounds seem louder or softer than they really are.
It feels as if some negative events (divorce, trauma, etc.) never really happened to me.
I am unable to remember things clearly.
I have difficulty recognizing my own reflection.
It feels as if my self has been 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 from outside 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 feel like I am living in a dreamlike trance.
Questions related to diagnostic criteria. Check all that apply:
I experience some or many of the above symptoms regularly or repeatedly.
These symptoms cause me significant distress or interfere with my social, work, or everyday functioning.
Even while having these experiences, I know that they are feelings or perceptions rather than reality.
If you checked all three questions above, your answers match some of the features considered when depersonalization/derealization disorder is diagnosed. However, this does not mean that you have DDD.
A diagnosis also requires a professional to determine whether the symptoms could be better explained by another mental health condition, a medical condition, medication, or substance use.
Similar experiences can occur with other dissociative disorders, depression, anxiety and panic disorders, substance use, and some medical conditions, including seizure disorders.
Depersonalization/derealization disorder usually begins when a person is young. The average age of onset is around 16.
According to available statistics, only about 5 percent of cases begin after age 25.
Developing the disorder after age 40 is rare [1].
While the above test is by no means a diagnostic tool, persistent or recurring symptoms that cause distress or interfere with your life are worth discussing with a mental health professional.
Many people experience feelings of depersonalization or derealization at some point in their lives without having the disorder.
Sometimes these feelings resolve on their own after a short period of time without treatment or significant disruption to one’s life.
However, persistent or recurring symptoms may require professional evaluation.
Anxiety and depression can accompany depersonalization and derealization and may sometimes be as bothersome as the feelings of unreality themselves.
Consulting a mental health professional is the best way to find out what may be causing your symptoms.
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