Depersonalization is a reaction marked by periods of feeling disconnected or detached from one's body and thoughts.

You may feel as though you are watching yourself from outside your body or in a dream.

However, people with depersonalization do not lose contact with reality; they realize that things are not as they appear. Grounding techniques can help. It can be scary to feel this way. It can help to remember that your body is trying to protect you from excess anxiety.

Seeing a therapist can be helpful to learn skills to ground yourself in the present moment and prevent this from happening.

IAPMD Clinical Advisory Board. September 2020.