All In The Mind
All In The Mind
ABC listen
Depersonalisation — when nothing feels real
30 minutes Posted Aug 2, 2025 at 6:00 pm.
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Show notes
Have you ever felt like things were not quite real?
That you were no longer connected to your body or didn’t know who you were?
Nathan Dunne felt this way for years. And it’s never quite stopped affecting the way he sees himself or the world around him.
Today, depersonalisation disorder — and what we know about its symptoms, causes and treatments.
And a heads up, this episode discusses heavy topics such as suicide. Please take care while listening.
Guests:
Nathan Dunne
Author, When Nothing Feels Real
Dr Emma Cernis
Clinical psychologist and researcher
Assisant Professor of Clinical Psychology
University of Birmingham
Centre Lead, Midlands Dissociation & Depersonalisation Centre
Credits:
Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar
Reporter/Senior Producer: James Bullen
Producer: Rose Kerr
Sound Engineer: Tegan Nicholls
If you enjoyed this episode, you might like:
Can we trust our memories?
Memory loss and identity
Dissociation and coping with trauma
Depersonalisation — when Nathan lost his sense of self and nothing felt real (Conversations)
More Information:
When Nothing Feels Real - Nathan Dunne
Unreal: Depersonalisation and Derealisation Support
Like being trapped behind a pane of glass – depersonalisation, derealisation disorder explained (The Conversation, 2025)
Depersonalisation-derealisation as a transdiagnostic treatment target: a scoping review of the evidence in anxiety, depression, and psychosis (Frontiers in Psychology, 2025)
The Prevalence of Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder: A Systematic Review (Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 2023)
Support resources:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue