Depersonalisation is a lesser known mental condition that can be very disturbing and unpleasant for the sufferer. It is a depressive disorder, which is usually brought on by a stressful event or situation.

As well as depression, the main symptoms are difficult to describe. It is a feeling of unrealness, of not being really "alive" or in full conciousness. Being out of oneself or lost. Thought and access to memory is slowed. Speech can be affected as words are harder to access. Emotions are felt much less and do not feel important. Sometimes there is numbness to the fingers and other symptoms. It can feel worse under fluorescent lighting. It is advisable to see your doctor to check this diagnosis.

The feelings can last for just a few minutes, reoccur, or remain continually for a long period. The sufferer should of course get out of the stressful situation if at all possible. However, this may not, in itself, cure the condition. It would

seem that the brain is reacting to the stress by putting itself into a "safe mode". However, it then can get confined in this condition.

Altogether it can be quite debilitating, but it a big problem when it comes to making others know how you feel. The sufferer is often told how well they look!

Treatment is often by way of anti-depressant tablets. This can alliviate the symptoms but seldom cure the problem. If you have this condition it is easy to become self-obsessed with the problem. As this will cause more stress it is best to live as normally as possible and to try not to think about it.

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