Dr. Seikhoo Bishnui
Psychiatry
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I need to know all of the differences between depersonalization disorder and just having depression. Please give me all of the differences and how to tell if you have depression or depersonalization. I believe I am experiencing depression. But I just want to make sure it is not depersonalization disorder.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Depersonalization is simply a symptom in which individual has feelings of detached from self. The individuals feel that they have changes and world has become vague and changed. Recently depersonalization has been included in dissociative disorders. This can occur in severe anxiety and even under severe stress too. Depression is a mood disorder. In depression, symptoms like low mood, reduced energy, tiredness, lack of interest in anything, bad thoughts, reduced psychomotor activity, poor desire, etc., symptoms are seen commonly. Diagnosis is not very difficult and it is easy to make difference between depression and depersonalization. In depersonalization, individual will have simple symptoms like a feeling of detachment from self and no other symptoms are seen usually. Depression patient will show a variety of symptoms. Take care.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
On a daily basis, these are the following symptoms that I feel. I feel like this the whole day:- No hunger or thirst or even feel when food goes into my body. Or even a general sense that I do not even need to drink or eat anything to keep living. Nothing pulling me to eat or drink. No tiredness at night or when I wake up after sleeping. When I do sleep I do not feel like I am sleeping. Every day feels like the same run on the day. Insomnia, no physical or emotional sensations (emotional numbness). All I can think about is my numbness (do not think about normal things, like favorite colors, or anything that the old me used to do or like). The whole body feels hollow or has nothing in it. General detachment from the person that I used to be (do not feel like myself at all). I know what is going on around me in life or reality but I feel like I am more detached from myself then reality. Do not experience normal emotions. Do not feel like I am breathing or even living. Do not feel physical sensations (like if my heart is pumping, etc.). I feel like I am connected to my body, etc. I have not really felt much sadness. The food does not taste much good. Now I feel calm with all of these symptoms.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Though to some extent, the symptoms point towards depersonalization but overall the whole symptoms are most likely occurring due to some mood disturbance. This could be depression. You have an emotional numbness, lack of interest in anything or anhedonia, lack of pleasure in anything, feelings as if you did not sleep well, feelings as if there are no physical movements in your body, etc. These symptoms are more of some mood disturbance considering your age and general circumstances. So yes mild to moderate depression will be my first diagnosis. Though not always seen, depersonalization is seen more in individuals after some significant emotional trauma or some significant life event. The symptom does not develop spontaneously. Thank you.
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