What is a key symptom of Depersonalization Disorder?

A key symptom of Depersonalization Disorder is indeed feeling disconnected from reality. Individuals experiencing this disorder often report a sense of detachment from themselves or their surroundings, leading to a distorted perception of their own thoughts, feelings, or sense of identity. This detachment can make them feel as though they are observing themselves from outside their body or that their environment is unreal, which significantly affects their everyday functioning.

In understanding this symptom, it’s important to recognize that it can occur as a response to severe stress or trauma, but it can also happen without any identifiable external cause. This sense of disconnection encompasses the core experience of depersonalization, making it the hallmark symptom that characterizes the disorder and distinguishes it from other psychological conditions.