Causes and symptoms of derealization. How to get rid of the derealization syndrome?
Our psyche is so deep and multifaceted thatits study has no end. 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 appearance 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 thatThe prefix "de" in many words means opposition, cancellation, absence, exclusion. For example, encryption-decryption, mobilization-demobilization. That is, derealization means opposition, the exclusion of reality.
Symptoms
Few people have ever had events in their lives thatcould "get out of the rut", 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 all this, feels,understands, but not as usual. The most interesting thing is that those who suffer from derealization are absolutely adequate and perfectly aware that they are 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 populationThe earth in one way or another suffers from 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 differencesfrom 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 psychic automatism of obsessions.
Causes
It is almost completely proven that the derealizationresidents of megacities are more exposed than small towns and villages. Numerous studies of this problem have revealed that dystopian, dysfunctional, anxious and overly emotional people are most often observed.
- 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 conceived;
- Depression, loneliness;
- taking psychotropic drugs;
- panic caused by extraordinary events;
- Some diseases (vegetovascular dystonia, neuroses and others).
Derealization and cervical osteochondrosis
In some diseases, it can alsoobserved such a violation of the psyche 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 absolutely healthy, oftenthere are signs of derealization, such as seeing the world differently, identifying yourself with some animal, representing your body (hands, feet, head, etc.) not as they really are. There is nothing dangerous here, just a child learns to learn the surrounding reality.
It is more dangerous if derealization occurs in adolescents. Call it can the same reasons as in adults. To them are added more and such:
- the process of 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 the still not 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 years of experience, psychotherapistsnote the patients have 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.
Often, patient complaints are also recordedare the changed perceptions of some or all sounds, even their own voice, and in some patients and their own bodies. Sometimes it seems to the sick that his body has disappeared somewhere, and they ask the nearby to feel, touch, whether they have a hand or a leg.
In general, those who suffer from derealization are perceivedin another way the whole world. 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
Install the derealization syndrome is not so simple,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 caseshould be subjective (clarification of the patient, whether there are similar cases in his family, whether he ever experienced such symptoms before) and objective (a survey of relatives and friends).
In addition, the doctor must check the reflexespatient, 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 method of diagnosis.With its help, determine the degree (score) of severity of derealization. The Nuller scale is a questionnaire that lists all the known symptoms of a given 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 of them, 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 takes 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 "easyderealization ", how to get rid and whether it can be done at home? Doctors advise in this case to eliminate the causes of the problem (normalize sleep and all the stresses, improve nutrition.) It is also recommended to change the situation - take a vacation, leave for at least a week somewhere in a new place, meet new people.Home is very useful to take a contrast shower, well rub the body with a towel, and even better - to get a massage, to take regular walks in the fresh air, to go in for sports.
If severe or moderatederealization, treatment is medically and in a hospital. 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 a syndrome, therefore self-treatment can only aggravate a 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 fromextraordinary events that can break into life and plunge into a shock state, cause a great deal of stress. But everyone can strengthen their nervous system, the psyche and the whole organism on a daily basis in order to be able to resist troubles and it is easier to carry them. The methods of strengthening are well known to all. It:
- pursuing a feasible sport;
- daily walks on foot in the open air;
- balanced diet;
- The correct mode of the day.
In order not to create a derealization syndrome, veryit is desirable to be able to live happily, regardless of their status and financial situation. This means you need to have some hobby (a hobby), helping to relax the soul from everyday life, not to shut yourself up, communicate with friends, allow yourself at least once a year to change the situation. To do this, you do not need to go abroad, you can make trips around your native land.
