Depersonalization

Depersonalization is a dissociative phenomenon characterized by a subjective feeling of detachment from oneself, appearing as a sense of disconnection from one's thoughts, emotions, sensations or actions and often accompanied by a feeling of observing oneself from an external perspective, as if separated by a barrier described as being behind glass. People experiencing it retain insight into the subjective nature of the experience, recognizing that it concerns their own perception rather than a change in objective reality, which distinguishes it from a delusion. Chronic depersonalization is more often associated with individuals who have experienced severe trauma or prolonged stress, and it is a core symptom, alongside derealization, across the dissociative disorders as well as in some non-dissociative conditions such as anxiety disorders and depression.