Depersonalization Disorder can be a debilitating state in which the individual suffers persistent or reoccurring feelings of disconnect from one’s body. Common descriptions are: watching oneself from a distance; out-of-body experiences; a sense of just going through the motions. These symptoms may cause one to feel anxious since they strike at the core of a person’s identity. When depression accompanies this disorder, it can eventually make the individual feel hopeless.

Very little research is being done for this disorder. Because of the lack of knowledge in the mental health community, it is often misdiagnosed, or the individual chooses to not seek professional help. Keeping this in mind, it not surprising that Depersonalization is responsible for countless deaths every year.

Dr. Daphne Simeon, Associate Professor and Director of Depersonalization and Disassociate Disorder Research Program at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, heads the leading research program in the country. She is also the co-author of Feeling Unreal, a book on this subject. The Blake Farrington Memorial Fund has been set up to aid in the research of this horrific disorder, while honoring Blake’s brave battle.

Blake's family wishes to express our deepest gratitude to each of you who honored his memory by your donations to this memorial fund. Because of you, a generous donation has been made in his memory to Mt. Sinai Medical School, specifically for Dr. Simeon's research. 6.30.2009