What is Depersonalization Disorder?
Depersonalization disorder describes a condition where the individual feels disconnected from his or her body. These people suffer from an altered perception of reality, and may feel as though they are not a part of their body or environment. It may feel like their body is changing, dissolving, or being left behind, as though they have become an observer of his or her own life. Also known as depersonalization neurosis, depersonalization disorder is considered one of the many dissociative disorders, as labeled by the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). A dissociative disorder is when a person’s memory, identity, perception, and consciousness become disconnected from each other, and is usually caused by severe trauma, an intense level of internal conflict, or thoughts and feelings that the individual feels are forbidden. In depersonalization disorder, it is perception that becomes disjointed.
