How people describe their depersonalization and derealization experiences and why it matters

Depersonalization/derealization (dp/dr) is an experience where people feel disconnected from themselves or the world around them, and it can be really hard to put into words.

People with dp/dr often turn to metaphors to describe what they’re going through. A study analyzed conversations from two big online support forums (Reddit’s r/dpdr and dpselfhelp.com). It turns out that while medical guides mention a few metaphors ("feeling robotic" or "as if in a dream"), they don’t fully capture how people actually talk about dp/dr.

Many describe it as feeling like they’re "living in a video game," "watching life through a glass wall," or like "a robot going through the motions." The study also found that people often use "as if" when describing their symptoms, which helps clarify that they don’t actually believe these things are real—something that can be important in avoiding misdiagnosis.

These findings highlight a big gap between how dp/dr is officially described and how it’s actually experienced. Since dp/dr is already under-recognized and underresearched, clinicians need to be aware of the different ways people describe it so they don’t mistake it for something else, like psychosis.

If more people recognized these common metaphors, they might realize they’re experiencing dp/dr and seek help. The study also raises interesting questions about how dp/dr metaphors are evolving, especially among younger people who often compare it to digital experiences, like being stuck in a simulation or feeling like an NPC.

This study shows just how important language is when it comes to understanding mental health.

Listening to the way people actually talk about their experiences is so important in better understanding the disorder and coming up with more effective treatments for it.

Read the study here:

Dilkes J. Metaphor use in depersonalization/derealization. Language and Cognition. 2024;16(2):329-352. doi:10.1017/langcog.2023.39

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