Causes and symptoms of derealization. How to get rid of the derealization syndrome?

Our psyche is so deep and multifaceted that there is no end to its study. Only scientists will understand with one riddle, it throws in new ones. So, relatively recently, derealization has appeared in the list of problems that psychology deals with. This term was introduced at the end of the last century, and the first description of this phenomenon was made in 1873 by a psychiatrist M. Krisgaber. During this time, the symptoms of derealization and the causes of its occurrence are well studied and developed effective methods of treatment. However, derealization remains one of the most interesting phenomena in psychology, which causes many scientific disputes and discussions.

Derealization: What is it?

It is easy to understand this term if we recall that the prefix "de" in many words means opposition, abolition, absence, exclusion. For example, encryption-decryption, mobilization-demobilization. That is, derealization means opposition, the exclusion of reality. In medicine, this term is explained as such a state of the human psyche, in which the perception of the surrounding reality is disturbed, and the ordinary world and the simplest everyday things begin to be seen from a completely different angle. Some specialists associate derealization with depersonalization, calling it allopsychic depersonalization, others do not see a big difference between these two states. This point of view is confirmed by the fact that many of the symptoms of derealization and depersonalization are identical. As such, this condition does not count. Physicians are more inclined to the fact that this is a unique protective mechanism of the human psyche, helping to maintain stable brain function in certain extreme situations that develop in life.

Symptoms

Very few people in their lives did not happen events that could "get in the way", plunge into despair, lead to mental disorders. But not everyone under the weight of the circumstances began derealization. Or, maybe, we all have this phenomenon, we just do not know about it? To understand, you need to know the symptoms of derealization. In this state, there are changes in the perception of such things:

- colors;

- sounds;

- odors;

- time;

- space;

- Touch;

- surrounding objects;

- daily activities;

- your "I".

That is, a person sees, sees, understands, but not in the same way as always. The most interesting thing is that those who suffer from derealization are absolutely adequate and perfectly aware that they are as if lost in space and in reality. This further exacerbates their mental disorder. Sometimes the symptoms of derealization can be "deja vu" or its opposite - "I never knew anything like it."

The difference between derealization and other mental illnesses

According to medical statistics, about 3% of the world's population suffers from one degree of derealization. In patients with schizophrenia, this is one of the main signs of the disease. Symptoms of derealization are noted in almost every addict who is "under the dose."

And yet this state of mind has differences from similar diseases. So, with derealization, there are no visions of non-existent objects or actions, as in hallucinations. Also, there is no illusion about the visible and audible. From schizophrenia, dereases are distinguished by the absence of any mania, the mental automatism of obsessions.

Causes

It has been almost completely proved that the derealizations are more susceptible to the inhabitants of megacities than to small towns and villages. Numerous studies of this problem have revealed that dull, impressionable, anxious and overly emotional people most often observe derealization. The reasons for its occurrence are as follows:

- transferred stress;

- regular lack of sleep, work, as they say, for wear and tear;

- deprivation (suppression in oneself of desires large and small);

- impossibility to carry out the plan;

- Depression, loneliness;

- taking psychotropic drugs;

- panic caused by extraordinary events;

- Some diseases (vegetovascular dystonia, neuroses and others).

Derealization and cervical osteochondrosis

In some diseases, there may also be a mental disorder, such as derealization, with cervical osteochondrosis, for example. This disease is characterized by a lesion of intervertebral discs in the cervical region. Often this leads to jamming of nerve endings and blood vessels, which, in turn, contributes to the appearance of symptoms of derealization. Cervical osteochondrosis provokes: an incorrect position of the head on the pillow, neck trauma, stoop or scoliosis, regular forced keeping of the neck and head in uncomfortable poses (for example, at work). If derealization is associated with cervical osteochondrosis, the patient is prescribed appropriate treatment. The patient's psyche is restored.

Derealization in childhood and adolescence

Children, even completely healthy, often have symptoms of derealization, such as seeing the world differently, identifying themselves with some animal, representing their body (hands, feet, head, etc.) not as they really are. There is nothing dangerous here, just a child so learns to know the surrounding reality.

It is more dangerous if derealization occurs in adolescents. Call it may be the same reasons as in adults. They are added to these:

- the process of the formation of the personality of young people;

- high criteria of self-esteem;

- study of the anatomy of one's body and the appearance of suffering, if something is not the same as the others;

- the instability of a not yet strengthened psyche.

If there is a suspicion of derealization, the adolescent should be examined by the psychotherapist, prescribed treatment and give recommendations, which in each specific case may differ.

Description of sensations during derealization

Based on many years of experience, psychotherapists note in patients such a sense of derealization, which the patients themselves describe as a shroud, or fog, obscuring the world from them. Some patients feel themselves as underwater, so they all seem vague and changeable. Almost always people want to overcome unpleasant obstacles and return to the familiar world.

Another sensation of derealization is the unusual perception of people. So, there are patients who seem to think that people around became like mannequins or robots, that there is nothing alive in them.

The sense of derealization often changes the perception of objects. It seems to the sick, as if things themselves try to get caught in the eye, become intrusive.

Frequently fixed complaints of patients are also changed perceptions of some or all sounds, even their own voice, and in some patients and their own body. Sometimes it seems to the sick that his body has disappeared somewhere, and they ask nearby to feel, touch, whether they have a hand or a leg.

In general, those who suffer from derealization perceive the whole world differently. Thus, cases were recorded when patients compared reality with lunar landscapes. It seemed to them that everything had stopped, everything was plunged into silence, immobility and a deadly icy emptiness.

Diagnostics

To establish the syndrome of derealization is not as easy as it seems, because its symptoms have rather subtle differences from some mental illnesses. Ideally, the diagnosis of derealization should include:

- anamnesis;

- examination of the patient and clarification of all his sensations by the doctor;

- use of clinical scales (Nuller, Genkina);

- X-ray;

- Ultrasound;

- EEG of sleep;

- laboratory studies, since with derealization, the amount of serotonin, norepinephrine, some acids is disrupted).

The study of the disease in each specific case should be subjective (whether the patient has a clarification, if there are similar cases in his family, whether he ever experienced such symptoms before) and objective (a survey of relatives and acquaintances).

In addition, the doctor should check the patient's reflexes, the condition of his skin and physiological characteristics. Almost always, those who suffer from derealization are somewhat inhibited, react slowly to the questions asked, often want to be isolated. People who have changed the perception of sounds constantly listen, and those who have sensations of shroud and fog, squint, peer into the surrounding space.

The Nuller Scale

This is the most commonly used diagnostic method. With its help, find out the degree (score) of severity of derealization. The Nuller scale is a questionnaire that lists all known symptoms of this condition. Each symptom, in turn, includes several manifestations. The patient fills in the questionnaire, noting the feelings that he has. After that, the doctor calculates the "points scored". If there are up to 10, then the degree of derealization is easy, if up to 15, then the average, to 20 - the medium-heavy, to 25 - is classified as heavy derealization. How to get rid of this condition? Patients who "scored" from 18 points, doctors advise to go to the hospital. In the attacks of derealization, Nuller, the famous physician psychiatrist and scientist, proposed the introduction of a fixed dose of diazepam to the patient. This drug relieves an attack in about 20 minutes. In particularly difficult cases, the same drug is also used for diagnosis.

Treatment

It is often asked if the diagnosis is "easy derealization", how to get rid of it and whether it can be done at home? Doctors advise in this case to eliminate the causes of the problem (normalize sleep and all loads, improve nutrition). It is also recommended to change the situation - take a vacation, leave at least a week somewhere in a new place, meet new people. At home it is very useful to take a contrast shower, to rub the body well with a towel, and even better - to get a massage course, to take regular walks in the fresh air, to go in for sports.

If severe or moderate derealization is diagnosed, treatment is medically and inpatient. Patients are prescribed antidepressants and tranquilizers in combination with a multivitamin complex, psychotherapeutic courses, special physiotherapy are conducted.

Often, derealization is not independent, but only accompanying more serious diseases of the syndrome, so self-medication can only exacerbate the problem. With correctly diagnosed derealization is treated simultaneously with the underlying disease. The forecast in each case is individual.

Prevention

Unfortunately, no one is immune from extraordinary events that can break into life and plunge into shock, cause severe stress. But everyone can daily strengthen their nervous system, psyche and the body as a whole, in order to be able to resist troubles and it is easier to carry them. The methods of strengthening are well known to everyone. It:

- exercise by feasible sport;

- daily walks on foot in the fresh air;

- balanced diet;

- The correct mode of the day.

So that the derealization syndrome does not arise, it is very desirable to be able to live happily, regardless of your status and financial situation. This means you need to have some hobby (a hobby) that helps to relax the soul from everyday life, do not shut yourself in, communicate with friends, allow yourself to change the situation at least once a year. To do this, you do not need to go abroad, you can make travels along your native land.