Depictions of DP/DR in images.

So I was looking online and through all the images that attempt to depict DP or DR, these ones stood out for me the most. These are mainly about DR though because that's what I experience most, and it's also easier to depict in images. Hopefully I can describe what I'm trying to say adequately enough, because when I feel like this explaining becomes pretty difficult.

This is how the world looks to me most days. I can remember several weeks ago walking up this rocky side path near college just like depicted in the image, the environment just looked so unreal.


Another depiction similar to the above. I found this one recently and it seemed pretty accurate, like your looking at the world through a screen. But I also think this image was implying that your regular sensory 'path' no longer goes straight to being processed, but instead now has to run through this 'little man' in your head before it's processed? Hard to explain. I also think the earbuds and speakers are eluding to the perceived sound distance/detachment associated with DR.


When I'm in a busy environment this is how I feel, like my body is somehow displaced from the environment.


When it's worse this is how I perceive others when looking at them. Like my mind has ignored their 'whole being' and instead striped them down to just their basal components like their emotions, thoughts etc. Often times it looks like they are robots.




So does anyone relate to any of these?

Yes I get what all these images are trying to explain. It is something that is very hard to explain.

This seems like an interesting idea for a thread. I think it could help those who are suffering from DP/DR very much, especially since it's difficult to describe it. I can relate to all of the pictures you shared. Here are some pictures that I found that I think suit what DP/DR is like.



This is mainly how I feel with my depersonalization. It started developing last year when I broke up with my ex. When I started numbing my emotions, I thought that I could go back to normal whenever I wanted. Boy, was I wrong. Gradually, I was developing DP/DR and was killing myself mentally. This constant emptiness makes me feel virtually dead inside. Yet I can still feel, in a way. But it doesn't feel right because there's this feeling like some part of my emotions are 'blocked' by something. And it's such a strange thing to deal with, feeling mentally dead yet there is still presence of emotion.



This picture is how it feels like every day ever since my DP/DR began developing. Like I said above, I can still feel emotions, but they feel altered. Like my brain is trying to keep me from feeling too much. Every day is exactly the same. And it's gotten to the point that I almost can't remember how it felt like to be 'real' and to never have dealt with this illness.



With the symptoms that depersonalization has given me, now that I can hardly put myself in other peoples' shoes or see something from a different perspective. And it makes it hard for me to understand people better. I can't feel love coming from other people and I consistently that I'm just a thing in the background of peoples' lives that isn't very important.



While I've been capable of still being able to recognize myself in the mirror, I still have moments where I feel like as if my reflection isn't me. Sometimes I think that I'm looking at a stranger in the mirror.



With the symptoms that DP/DR gives me, I often feel as if I am trapped in this state and will never get out. It makes me feel as if I am trapped behind the eyes, in a way.

These pictures are too big to put on here, but I have a few other images that hit the nail on the head when it comes to describing depersonalization in a picture alone.

Stranger in the mirror
How it feels when dissociating or questioning reality
Dissociation
A description of how it feels

This tumblr page has a ton of artwork depicting DP/DR.

http://dissociart.tumblr.com

This is how I perceive myself.

http://static.tumblr.com/3523561f6067ed ... _n__1_.jpg

Auxiliary11 wrote:So I was looking online and through all the images that attempt to depict DP or DR, these ones stood out for me the most. These are mainly about DR though because that's what I experience most, and it's also easier to depict in images. Hopefully I can describe what I'm trying to say adequately enough, because when I feel like this explaining becomes pretty difficult.

This is how the world looks to me most days. I can remember several weeks ago walking up this rocky side path near college just like depicted in the image, the environment just looked so unreal.


Another depiction similar to the above. I found this one recently and it seemed pretty accurate, like your looking at the world through a screen. But I also think this image was implying that your regular sensory 'path' no longer goes straight to being processed, but instead now has to run through this 'little man' in your head before it's processed? Hard to explain. I also think the earbuds and speakers are eluding to the perceived sound distance/detachment associated with DR.

Ugh, both of those two are the best definition I've seen for what I go through. Although, I realized the first one happens a lot more when I'm generally anxious, and I've found practicing mindfulness has been very helpful. I have to stop whatever I'm doing and either say out loud or internally, "Focus on this, stop being distracted because this moment will never happen again...so be here and now," saying, "Come back, come back," works too. Things that revolve around 'holding on'

The latter pic is what I experience a lot more when I'm talking to other people. I've found I can't actually 'be there' in a conversation with someone. I kind of 'step-out' and my body runs on autopilot. A bit embarrassing because there's time I don't remember what I just said or occasionally I become a little too blunt/offensive. Or...so I'm told. I'm not aware of it, so... And then I realize what I'm saying and anxiety kicks in and I can't speak/I'm at a loss for words.

Oh! Shewillfalter, the dissociart tumblr is awesome! Thank you for the link didyouknowdid is another good tumblr, filled with useful information bits on dissociative disorders, and dissociationawareness is another good one too. The dissociationawareness one is run by really nice folks who'll answer questions.

Anyway, happy to see someone finally made a thread with visuals of what derealization 'looks' like

how so very apt these pictures were, described it to a tee, thank you

Yep, great pictures, and contributing phrases that go along with them.

I think some people in this world would be surprised as to how many others in life can, at some point, relate to this condition or suppression of emotions/feelings. Even if they can't, it's almost like coming out of anesthesia, or a heavy duty pain killer, being sick with the flu, etc. That zombie like feeling of being detached, yet you can still somewhat function.