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Depersonalization: meaning, definitions and examples

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depersonalization

 

[ dɪˌpɜːsənəlaɪˈzeɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

mental health

Depersonalization is a mental health condition where a person feels disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, and body. It can result in a sense of being an outside observer of oneself or feeling like life is unreal.

Synonyms

derealization, detachment, disassociation.

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Word Description / Examples
depersonalization

This term is often used in psychological and psychiatric contexts to describe a feeling of being detached from oneself or one's body. It can be a symptom of certain mental health conditions like anxiety or depression.

  • During times of intense stress, some people experience depersonalization and feel disconnected from their own bodies.
  • Her therapist explained that her feelings of not recognizing herself in the mirror could be related to depersonalization.
derealization

Derealization is used to describe a feeling that the external world is unreal or strange. This term is also common in mental health discussions and is often associated with disorders like PTSD or panic attacks.

  • After the car accident, he had episodes of derealization where everything around him seemed fake.
  • Derealization can make one's surroundings feel dream-like and detached from reality.
disassociation

Disassociation is typically a broader term in psychology and can describe a range of mental processes where someone feels disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, or identity. It can be a coping mechanism in response to trauma.

  • Experiencing disassociation during the traumatic event helped him avoid the full impact of the pain.
detachment

This term can be used in both everyday and clinical contexts to describe a general sense of emotional distance or lack of involvement. It can imply either a healthy distance or an unhealthy isolation, depending on the context.

  • Her detachment from the situation helped her stay calm and make rational decisions.
  • Excessive detachment can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Examples of usage

  • I experienced depersonalization during periods of high stress.
  • She described her depersonalization as feeling like she was watching herself from a distance.
  • The therapist explained that depersonalization is a coping mechanism for some individuals.
  • Depersonalization can be a symptom of various mental health disorders.
  • During depersonalization episodes, reality can seem distorted.

Translations

Translations of the word "depersonalization" in other languages:

🇵🇹 despersonalização

🇮🇳 स्व-परायापन

🇩🇪 Depersonalisierung

🇮🇩 depersonalisasi

🇺🇦 деперсоналізація

🇵🇱 depersonalizacja

🇯🇵 自己喪失

🇫🇷 dépersonnalisation

🇪🇸 despersonalización

🇹🇷 depersonalizasyon

🇰🇷 비인격화

🇸🇦 تجريد من الشخصية

🇨🇿 depersonalizace

🇸🇰 depersonalizácia

🇨🇳 人格解体

🇸🇮 depersonalizacija

🇮🇸 persónuleysis

🇰🇿 жеке тұлғаның жойылуы

🇬🇪 დეპერსონალიზაცია

🇦🇿 şəxsiyyətdən çıxarma

🇲🇽 despersonalización

Etymology

The term 'depersonalization' originated in the field of psychology in the late 19th century. It was first used to describe a symptom of certain mental health disorders where individuals feel detached from themselves and their surroundings. Over the years, research has shed light on the complexity of depersonalization and its relationship to other psychological phenomena. Today, depersonalization is recognized as a legitimate mental health condition that can have a significant impact on an individual's quality of life.

See also: depersonalize, depersonalizing, impersonate, impersonation, impersonator, nonperson, people, personable, personage, personages, personal, personalities, personality, personalizer, personally, personification, personified, personify, personifying, personnel, persons.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,617 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.