When You Don't Feel Real: Understanding Depersonalization as an Anxiety Symptom

Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt like you were staring at a stranger? Or found yourself going through daily life feeling completely disconnected from your own body, as if you were watching yourself from the outside?

If these experiences sound familiar, you may be dealing with depersonalization—one of the most frightening yet misunderstood symptoms of anxiety. Despite how isolating and terrifying it can feel, depersonalization is actually a common response to overwhelming stress that affects millions of people seeking anxiety therapy.