Was Buddha really just experiencing depersonalization, or some other symptom of an anxiety disorder?

First, you have it backwards. Anxiety and depersonalization are symptoms of a depressive disorder. And no, I don't think he was depressed, he was a very happy and well adjusted person in the years that followed his enlightenment. The deprivation of food most likely caused a shift in his ability to think,perhaps even caused hallucinations, dizziness, and like when you're about to fall or hit something with your car and everything goes in slow motion, that probably happened to him. Most religions experienced or practiced mysticism with mind altering practices; hallucinogens, deprivation of food or water, exposure to the elements, inducing trances, or a combination of these. Sufi's spin around for great lengths of time to accomplish it. Zen Buddhists sit and meditate for hours, maybe days, without food or sleep. Native Americans use peyote, sweat lodges, vision quests, etc. The point is, when you experience trauma or near trauma, your body and mind do react instinctively, which many interpret as a spiritual or mystical experience.

I am single mum. I have been suffering for panic attacks for some 15 years now, though it was not until recently I understood what they were. They were progressively getting stronger and more frequent, stopping me from some days even leaving my house. I read this book and it all made perfect sense.

I am not saying I was not terrified of putting theory to action, I was more scared of that than the next attack! But I decided to view it as a game, one I had control of and could therefore not lose!

you forget that he had a life of learning before sitting under the tree you make him sound like a detached entity all the way through hi slife adn a potentially weak minded character - but within his story he found his enlightenment by living and not being afraid to experience a full life so he had already proved to himself that he was capable of reaching enlightenment; I am talking about any character in any story here. I would respect any ones choices who lived though their path of learning wherever it took them within his own story he was strong enough to find his own enlightenment which might not be any one elses.

It would be some parlour trick to psycho-analyse all the thousands of gods. Yes I experience depersoanlisation and dissociation from having been sexually abused - another way to enlightement some grit for the oyster to make a pearl.

The same thing can be said about Jesus, perhaps he was delusional in claiming he was somehow special, its was nothing but a wacko cult. Buddhism isn't any more unlikely than Christianity. At least Buddhists are 1000 times more understanding and accepting than evil rotten Christians

Depersonalization and depression? Hmm, I don't believe that to be anywhere close to the truth. Sounds like a bunch of bs to me.

No, I do not agree. The Buddha had had nothing in his life but luxury and privilege. He was protected from the realities of the real world. When he was accidentally exposed to the suffering of the poor he sought ways to understand why their lives were so different and difficult.

...or that by present day perspectives, that enlightenment would merely be considered a mental disorder.

I have felt emotionally numb and at a distance from the world, and I have felt deeply calm and at peace and in dispassionate harmony with the world. These are do decidedly different feelings.

he was on the path to enlightenment. dont be a hater