- With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Dr. Daniel Hall-Flavin, board certified in general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry, is a St. Louis native looking to the Internet as a way to help people improve their health and be more active participants in their own health care by learning from Mayo Clinic's experts.
Dr. Hall-Flavin has been a member of the faculties of Cornell University Medical College, New York Medical College, and The George Washington University Medical School before joining the Mayo Clinic staff in 1996. He has special interests in adult psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and psychogenomics. He has served as medical director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence from 1986 to 1999.
"With the advent of the genomics and proteomics revolution and the pace of advances in medicine, informed collaborative relationships between knowledgeable, capable health professionals and informed, proactive individuals and their families are more vital than ever," he said.
"I'm optimistic that our Internet health education activities will contribute to ever-improving health outcomes for all who participate and apply what is learned."
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Question
Depersonalization disorder: A feeling of being 'outside' your body
What causes depersonalization disorder? How is it treated?
Answer
from Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Depersonalization — a feeling of unreality or of being "outside" your body — can be a syndrome or a symptom of another mental disorder. It's often associated with anxiety and stress.
When you feel anxious or stressed out, you may breathe more deeply and more frequently (hyperventilate). This reduces carbon dioxide levels in your blood, which can cause:
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Unusual feelings, such as being outside your body and observing your actions from a distance
These feelings can increase existing anxiety by making you feel like you're losing control. Although these sensations may be uncomfortable, they're not harmful.
Episodes of depersonalization usually last only a few moments. But they may occur repeatedly. People with persistent stress or anxiety may have longer episodes of depersonalization that come and go over several years. Sometimes anxiety about having another experience with depersonalization may trigger these feelings.
Accurate diagnosis of depersonalization and of any accompanying mental disorders is important. Treatment depends on the diagnosis and may include:
- Cognitive behavior therapy. This helps you understand why depersonalization occurs and trains you to stop worrying about the symptoms so that they go away.
- Medications to treat underlying anxiety.
