If you don't mind my asking JJ70, what triggered your DP/DR if it wasn't fear, anxiety, or defense?
Louise, this may (or may not) be true for many; but just to give a comprehensive view. There are just too many credible reports of DP/DR being triggered by things other than a defence mechanism or as a way of hiding from fears for this statement to be true in all cases. I my self (fully recovered for a long time) had no fear, anxiety of defence issues of any note that triggered my DP/DR.