Depersonalization?

hey... yea. i went to my psychiatrist today and she said i probably have a form of depersonalization disorder.

i dont really know much about it.. from what she says, its when you feel like youre observing yourself. it doesnt really sound like a disorder to me, i dont think i even have it cuz i just feel really detached and things just look weird.

do you know about these forms she talked about?
any first hand experience with this mental disorder would help me ALOT. hey, she might be misdiagnosing me, so i should find out if her views are right.

thanks for your help !!

forgot to write this, i have major depression and psychosis. but ive been feeling like this at the same time that the depression got really back. i doubt its drug related cuz its been like this before i ever took medications.

Depersonalisation disorders are usually some sort of fugue or disassociative phase. You are right when you say that it's like you are observing yourself. What is weird though is that she appears to have diagnosed you with it without too much information. You say that you just feel detached and things look weird --- which makes me think that she just honed in on the word 'detached' and made the diagnosis. What other symptoms do you have? It could be a secondary consequence of stress or anxiety or even depression...so if she's not looked at those, there's something really wrong going on there. Also, this depersonalisation needs to be affecting your everyday life in terms of work, social life and daily functioning. If it's not, she's on the wrong track and isn't looking at what may really be bothering you which could be anytihng from anxiety to depression. I'd get a second opinion if I were you.

Good luck!

I don't think that depersonalization is an actual disorder. It may be a symptom of Panic Disorder. Sometimes during a panic attack, some people may feel that they're watching themselves, or the situation, like a movie. They can lose feeling in their arms/hands & legs/feet. You must be dealing with anxiety/panic issues. Good Luck!

that particular disorder is listed under dissociative disorders in the DSM-IV. It is described as feelings of unreality, that your body does not belong to you, or that you are constantly in a dreamlike state. and the prognosis is good