For me it's like everything is foreign. Like I can SEE the entrances and exits of people in a play, and like I know what is going to happen next because it's scripted, but everything is calm and detached and even just walking down the street feels like floating across a stage. I relate it a lot to acting because I use to act, so that's where those metaphors come from.

I've never had the looking down on myself thing happen, but I know quite a few people who do.

For me also the sound of things changes. Almost like hearing everything perfectly, but underwater. Its muted and nothing feels real. I feel like I could stab my hand with a knife and it wouldn't hurt or it would go right though like I'm a ghost. Or like I'm dreaming and if I do something or say something to someone there won't be a concequence.

Sometimes it feels like I'm not real, and sometimes it feels like others aren't real. Sometimes both.

Though I think I depersonalize more than derealize but I don't know the technical terms. It's usually when I'm feeling stressed for a long time, not a specific trigger but a lot of little triggers.

I mosly have to realize I'm in that state first, because it sneaks up on me, but then I double check everything I do and remind myself there IS consequences, and it WILL hurt if I stab my hand, so I don't. And I start doing grounding or excuse myself from a conversation and run cold on my hands or play with playdough and feel what it's like on my fingers.