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Though the phrase may seem exaggerated, feeling “dead inside” is a real state and one many people can relate to. The experience may be difficult to imagine for those who haven’t gone through it. It’s also often difficult for those experiencing it to explain their feelings to others.
Another term used to describe this mental state is depersonalization. Sometimes, this emotional numbness recedes quickly. In other cases, it might last for days, weeks or even years. If the issue becomes chronic, it could be a sign of a serious condition called depersonalization disorder. This is also known as derealization disorder, and it affects almost 1% of the population.
To help you understand these feelings, we’ll explore what causes depersonalization disorder. We’ll also talk about some coping strategies to help when the sensation occurs.
Understanding Emotional Numbness
When a person feels dead inside, it’s almost like someone has turned the volume knob down on all their emotions. Happiness, sadness, anger, excitement, pleasure — all become much duller. People who are experiencing this phenomenon often feel life is boring or has no purpose. While many people experience short periods of numbness, these feelings are persistent for some. The challenge is telling the difference between feeling down and feeling numb.
A person might describe themselves as feeling down if they’re feeling quite sad or hopeless. The presence of strong emotions is key. Feeling down can be a sign of issues like depression, but it probably isn’t depersonalization.
Most people feel “off” or detached from the world sometimes. Someone could mistake this transient depersonalization as feeling down. This is especially true if they have no previous experience with the sensation. If the feeling is fleeting, there’s no need for treatment.
It’s worth noting that depersonalization is often comorbid with depression and anxiety. If you experience these symptoms for more than 2 weeks, consult your doctor or a mental health professional for guidance.
Causes of Feeling Dead Inside
Researchers are still attempting to uncover the root causes of dissociative conditions like depersonalization disorder. However, several potential triggers and risk factors have links to the disorder.
Many of these risk factors are lifestyle issues. Even a short-term lack of sleep can dramatically harm a person’s mental health and contribute to negative thinking and depersonalization. Exhaustion, either from lack of sleep, overwork or other stressors, can worsen these symptoms.
Burnout, in general, is a major factor in depression and depersonalization. If you feel bored or unsatisfied with your job or daily life, you might feel purposeless. Without a source of motivation, depersonalization or depression can spiral out of control.
Trauma can also increase the risk of depersonalization disorder. This may relate to abuse, the death of a loved one or a serious accident.
As with many mental health issues, the causes can often feed each other in a vicious cycle. For example, if your workplace is causing excess stress, you could become depressed. This could lead to insomnia, which can cause you to experience depersonalization. Because you’re depersonalizing, you can’t focus on tasks or relationships, which further compounds your stress.
Signs and Symptoms of Depersonalization Disorder
Along with emotional detachment, depersonalization disorder also features several other symptoms. Some people describe it as feeling like they’re a robot under someone else’s control. Others state that it feels like the world is a dream or like they’re watching a movie of themselves. Another frequent symptom is the fear of losing their mind.
During a state of depersonalization, you might also experience anhedonia. This is a state where your motivation dips. You don’t feel like doing much of anything, and you no longer experience pleasure.
Unlike psychotic disorders, depersonalization disorder doesn’t entail losing touch with reality. Those who have it are fully aware that their perceptions aren’t real.
How Depersonalization Disorder Affects Daily Life and Well-Being
Depersonalization disorder can hurt a person’s relationships and work life. Some people find it makes them lose interest in their hobbies or lose touch with their friends.
It’s often possible to push through short-term episodes of depersonalization, but longer episodes can cause a person to feel they can’t trust their perception of time or their memories. It can become difficult to fulfill obligations at work or maintain interpersonal relationships.
The strain caused by depersonalization can aggravate other mental health challenges, having a compounding effect. Because it’s so difficult to describe the feelings to someone who hasn’t had them before, a person who’s going through depersonalization might find it difficult to access support.
What Are the Coping Strategies for Depersonalization?
If you find yourself experiencing depersonalization, there are a few things you can try to help yourself through it. These coping mechanisms aren’t cures, but they can make the episode more manageable.
- Try connecting with others and explaining what you’re feeling. People with depersonalization disorder often isolate themselves, but having a friend or loved one nearby can help ground you.
- You might also try engaging your senses to reconnect yourself to reality. Listening to your favorite song is a popular choice. Some people find it helpful to hold ice cubes, smell strong spices or suck on a flavorful candy.
- Relaxation techniques like meditation or mindfulness may allow you to tolerate the symptoms as they occur. Additionally, practicing these skills regularly may limit how often these symptoms happen.
- Simply having a diagnosis helps some people. Putting a name to the feelings and understanding why they’re happening helps many individuals feel more in control of the situation.
Ultimately, if you’re unsure how to handle depersonalization, it’s best to speak with a professional. At FHE Health, our experts have a wealth of experience in managing depersonalization disorder and its various effects.
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How to Get Help for Depersonalization Disorder
If you think you may have issues with depersonalization, the first thing to do is seek an official diagnosis. This will help you get the correct kind of help for your condition. Plus, many people find some relief in a diagnosis, as it confirms that the condition is a real, verifiable issue.
Diagnosing depersonalization disorder involves ruling out other potential causes of your symptoms. These could include major depressive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and other dissociative disorders.
To aid in the diagnosis, your health care provider will perform a physical exam, study your medical history and ask you questions about your symptoms and experiences. They might also refer you to a mental health professional who’ll perform a psychiatric evaluation and guide you to the best treatment options for your needs.
Once you receive a diagnosis, you can move forward with treatment and learn coping strategies. Much of the focus may be on limiting stressors and reducing the severity of the symptoms. Your therapist will also provide you with tools to assist you when your symptoms flare up.
Some of the most effective treatments are therapies. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a popular choice that aims to change negative thinking patterns and behaviors that are actively harming your mental health. Dialectical behavior therapy focuses on stress-coping tools such as mindfulness and strategies for improving mood and emotion regulation.
Therapists may also choose a range of other treatments that suit your situation specifically, as no treatment is one-size-fits-all. There are many different kinds of talk therapy, and you may need to try a few different options to find a treatment and a therapist that work well for you.
If your symptoms are more severe, you might also receive prescriptions for antidepressant or antianxiety medications.
You Don’t Have to Accept Feeling Numb
If you’re feeling numb inside, it’s easy for all sense of time to go away. You might not be able to remember feeling normal, and you might think this numbness will last forever. That doesn’t have to be the case. Help is out there to ground you when you’re experiencing depersonalization and give you the tools you need to stop it from happening.
The counselors at FHE Health have extensive experience in supporting people living with depersonalization disorder. Contact us today for confidential, empathetic support.
