I have heard the term "Depersonalization" thrown around here and there, but I had always wondered what it really was. Some friends who had dealt with it described it as looking at yourself from above or like youre a spectator to your own life. After some research, those descriptors appear to be pretty accurate. It essentially is when you lose touch with yourself and reality, a frightening concept, eh? Depersonalization often occurs in conjunction with other psychological disorders, such as depression or schizophrenia, but in some cases, starts randomly and without warning. It can also be self perpetuating, with fear of another occurrence fueling anxiety; another cause of the disorder.
Depersonalization can be caused by traumatic experiences, but the core issue is believed to be neurotransmitter imbalances. Treatment for this disorder is pretty straight forward, even though there arent any medications approved to specifically treat it, Prozac has been known to help. The most effective treatment seems to be both Cognitive and Dialectical Behavior Therapies, pretty much learning to re-interpret your perception of the world. Depersonalization is usually a warning sign of more serious issues, but the disorder in itself isn't to be taken lightly.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depersonalization/DS01149
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