Feeling Unreal: Depersonalization and the Loss of the Self

Feelings of depersonalization-derealization, or a sense of detachment from one's normal sense of self, are not uncommon. People often describe being outside of themselves, or watching themselves as if in a movie, during "unreal" circumstances such as a car crash or other trauma. This is the mind's normal dissociative reaction at work. This protective system can go awry, however, and can be triggered by ongoing, lower-level stresses, childhood neglect, or certain drugs. Despite its prevalenc...