The article explores the author's personal journey of self-alienation resulting from the immense stress of raising a child with chronic illness. Initially knowledgeable about mental health stressors, the author became a living example of her research. As stress mounted, particularly during a severe health crisis in 2022, she realized she had inadvertently employed depersonalization as a coping mechanism. This disconnection, while initially protective, reflects a broader concern about how chronic stress can lead to lasting impacts on one's mental health and sense of self.
By 2022, when one of my children experienced a massive flare requiring eight months of home hospitalization, I was already operating on autopilot, handling only what was necessary.
It's the mind's way of coping, making you feel disconnected from your own body, emotions, or sense of self.
What I've come to understand is that, at some point, I began to depersonalize—a psychological defense mechanism that helps protect us by creating distance from overwhelming experiences.
Depersonalization can happen during times of intense stress, trauma, or exhaustion, and while it may be a temporary coping mechanism, it can become chronic in some anxiety disorders or trauma-related conditions like PTSD.
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