Depersonalization and Derealization: Different Fears Associated with Feelings of Unreality and Alienation
Most people who suffer from depersonalization or derealization report experiencing many fears associated with these feelings.
Experiencing one’s own body or environment as unreal, feeling like a robot, or perceiving the world as if it were a movie or a dream can be terrifying.
Believing that oneself, the environment, or other people are not real is likely one of the most distressing human experiences.
Typical Fears Associated with Depersonalization or Derealization
The Fear of Going Crazy
Many individuals suffering from depersonalization or derealization are convinced that they are about to lose their mind or that they already have, which can cause extreme fear. This fear is often linked to concerns about being excluded from society, no longer being able to keep up with life, and ultimately ending up in a psychiatric facility.
The Fear of Disintegrating or No Longer Existing
Many affected individuals feel as if they are internally falling apart or dissolving. They struggle to perceive their bodily boundaries correctly and often feel disconnected from their physical form. Some even question their own existence.
The Fear of Having a Severe Illness
Many people experiencing depersonalization or derealization fear that they have a severe, incurable disease. Their concerns range from brain tumors and other neurological disorders to psychiatric conditions such as psychotic disorders and schizophrenia.
Since many affected individuals cannot otherwise explain their symptoms, and because they often suffer from vague physical complaints, they see these issues as further evidence of a serious illness.
The Fear That the Condition Will Get Worse and Never Go Away
Feelings of unreality and alienation are distressing, especially when they persist for extended periods or keep recurring. It is understandable that many individuals fear their condition will continue to worsen and, in the worst case, never go away.
The Fear of Waking Up from the Unreality
Many affected individuals also fear that they might suddenly „wake up“ after years or even decades of experiencing unreality. When people have spent years in a state of unreality, they understandably worry about awakening one day and realizing how much they have missed in life.
Many feel as if life is passing them by.
The Fear of Standing Out or Losing Control in Front of Others
People with depersonalization or derealization often fear that others might notice their internal struggles. They are deeply convinced that what they are experiencing is abnormal. As a result, they try to avoid drawing attention to themselves – yet this effort is difficult due to the immense cognitive strain that comes with experiencing unreality.
On the contrary, many individuals develop an intense fear that they will soon lose control over their actions and „freak out“ in front of others.
Panic Attacks
For many people, recurring feelings of unreality or alienation can escalate into full-blown panic attacks.
Conversely, during panic attacks, individuals may also experience heightened feelings of depersonalization or derealization.
Coping with Fear
Many individuals with depersonalization or derealization develop dysfunctional (harmful) ways of coping with their fears.
These can include obsessive thoughts or, in the worst cases, compulsive behaviors aimed at controlling their fear. Many affected individuals spend hours each day obsessing over the same thoughts or engaging in repetitive behaviors, such as looking in the mirror hundreds of times a day to reassure themselves that they still exist.
Others experience an overwhelming urge to harm themselves just to feel something again—and in the worst cases, they act on this impulse.
You Can Do Something About These Fears!
Many people suffering from depersonalization or derealization also struggle with these fears. However, this does not mean that they have to simply accept them or that nothing can be done.
Take action! Do something about your fears and about the state of depersonalization and derealization. Do not remain passive or simply wait for things to change.
Your life is too valuable for that!
Schreibe eine Antwort