What Do We Mean By Depersonalisation?

Depersonalisation disorder and feelings of unreality, or 'DPAFU', is an often little-understood and misdiagnosed condition. Depersonalisation disorder results in a feeling of being detached from life and those suffering from it may report that they seem to have become 'emotionally numb'.  It can be a symptom of another disorder, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and, particularly, of panic disorder, or of an illness like epilepsy or a migraine.  It also occurs in its own right and/or as a side-effect of certain drugs.

Temporary sensations of DPAFU are widespread; more severe DPAFU is much less common but still as common as some other well-known conditions such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder.