Posted by katekite on April 26, 2002, at 11:54:43
In reply to Re:dissociative, derealisation, depersonalisation?, posted by alex01 on April 26, 2002, at 10:08:15
I copied this off somewhere. Here it's described as its own disorder, but moments like this can be a feature of other problems, I think.
The difference between depersonalization and derealization is that in the former you think the world is the same but you are different, and in the latter you are the same but the world is different: they can co-exist.
Dissociative is a general term referring to either depersonalization, derealization or both. (In this case its a different use of the term than when it is used as 'dissociative identity disorder' more commonly known as multiple personality disorder.)
hope this helps -- kate
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Depersonalization Disorder (300.60): The essential feature is the occurrence of one or more episodes of depersonalization that cause social or occupational impairment.
The symptom of depersonalization involves an alteration in the perception or experience of the self so that the usual sense of one's own reality is temporarily lost or changed. This is manifested by a sensation of self-estrangement or unreality, which may include the feeling that one's extremities have changed in size, or the experience of seeming to perceive oneself from a distance. In addition, the individual may feel "mechanical" or as though in a dream. Various types of sensory anesthesia and feeling of not being in complete control of one's actions, including speech, are often present.
Associated features: Derealization is frequently present. This is manifested by a strange alteration in the perception of one's surroundings so that a sense of the reality of the external world is lost. A perceived change in the size of shape of objects in the external world is common. People may be perceived as dead or mechanical.
Other common associated features include dizziness, depression, obsessive ruminations, anxiety, fear of going insane, and disturbance in the subjective sense of time. There is often the feeling that recall is difficult or slow.
poster:katekite
thread:104087
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020425/msgs/104207.html