Depersonalization Disorder Can Tear Families Apart
Lots of people have certain moments where they feel out of touch with reality. These kind of feelings happen during times of grief, stress, or lack of sleep. Although, when feelings like these begin to interfere with a person's daily functions and continue for long periods of time, the person might be suffering from a mental disorder called depersonalization disorder.
People suffering from depersonalization disorder always feel as though they are detached from the real world. They often feel like they are only going through the motions. In severe cases, the person may feel like they are watching their life from a distance as though in a movie or play. Other symptoms include loss of taste, absence of feeling and emotion, and lack of thoughts. The person may also feel like their voice sounds far away.
Although the exact cause of depersonalization disorder is unknown, the disorder has been linked with childhood abuse, especially abuse that is sexual or emotional in nature. The disorder has also been linked to cases where accidents, extremely stressful situations, and physical trauma have occurred.
In the past, depersonalization treatment has primarily revolved around medication. Naloxene, benzodiazepine, and certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have shown some promising signs in treating this disorder. However, no medication has been proven to control the disorder's symptoms so that the person functions at a normal level.
At the present time, researchers are looking into novel treatments which might provide depersonalization help without drugs. It has seemed to be helpful to lower the intake of meat and high-fat dairy foods and raise the quantity of fruits and vegetables in the diets of afflicted individuals. Working out every day also appears to be useful. However, the treatment which seems to hold out the most hope is behavioral therapy, in which the sufferer comes to associate his or her disassociating feelings with repetitive negative thinking.
For people who are suffering from a mental disorder, the toll it can have on the families and the patient can be very devastating. Being this disorder often comes with other mental disorders such as depression and bi-polar disorder, the emotional as well as mental pain can sometimes become insurmountable and overwhelming. However, there are now new treatments which hold considerable promises and do not include medications, without having to make the patient feel like this is personal they as well as their families can now have hope for the future.
Those who suffer from depersonalization disorder often feel as if they're not in the real world and feel as if they are going through the motions. In severe cases, they may feel like they are watching their life as in a movie. Other symptoms are absence of emotion and feeling, lack of thoughts and loss of taste. Although the cause is unknown, the disorder has been linked with childhood abuse or other trauma. Drugs were the primary method of depersonalization treatment but now depersonalization help may come in the form of increasing the quantity of fruits and vegetables, lessening red meat and dairy intake, as well as exercise.
Published December 28th, 2008
Filed in Diseases And Conditions, Health, Psychology
