Depersonalization Disorder

Ashlee · Post by **Ashlee** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:16 pm

Has anyone been diagnosed with this co-disorder that is commonly found alongside with anxiety and panic disorders as well as depression??
I have not been diagnosed with it but I am pretty sure I have this as a symptom of/co-disorder od my anxiety disorder.

Anyone in the same boat. Apparently it is very common but I do not think it is mentioned at all in the program?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 6:47 am

I experience it as a symptom of anxiety, not so sure that I would go so far as to say I suffer from a disorder. I think in the program that they refer to it as "spaciness". It's very common.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:50 am

Hi Ashlee,
I used to suffer from this. It was failry brief, but it was the result of one of my worst anxiety ruts ever. I only found out what it was after I bought a book that seemed to describe what I was feeling (I had researched my feelings for an entire day online).

I'm not a doctor (I'm a 26 year old female engineer, and my brain is wired to overthink EVERYTHING), but I would guess that your anxiety causes the feelings of depersonalization. When I look back at that worst point I am able to disect it and realize it was just my worst anxiety of all time magnified 100 times. It felt like my brain was shutting off certain thinking functions because I had myself so upset for such a long period of time, but really I think I was subconciously trying to put myself in a different mental state to escape the anxiety.

This makes me a little uneasy talking about it because I haven't given these feelings any thought since they occurred several years ago. I do know exactly how you feel, though, based on the definitions I had found from it. If you feel like writing more about it we can compare notes and I can tell you what I did to separate real from depersonalized/desensitized states of mind. Just take comfort in knowing it is just a side effect of anxiety and/or depression.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:54 am

Oh yeah, theresa's comment made me think of this... indeed it is the 'spacy' feelings Lucinda refers to. Tell yourself this when you are experiencing it. Float with it and don't analyze it because it will keep you trapped in your own mind.

Even if you think you have a true depersonalization disorder, remember that you don't need an official diagnosis to get through it. The key is under-reacting to your spacey weird feelings. (From experience, drinking alcohol or being exhausted or sleepy magnified these feelings).

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:48 pm

berengar,

Thanks ffor your reply. I know it is definitely part of my anxiety disorder, whether it is a co-disorder or a symptom, the program is working for it. I just keep telling myself that it is just part of the anxiety and that it is a repsonse and a distraction. I know that this is the case. But i have just found that for me this is the part of the aniety experience that I dislike the most. It is the part that scares me the most. Rather than being anxious about, for example, my mom having cancer, I over analyze my "spaciness" feelings and try to convince myself I'm going crazy.
I know that it is referred to as spaciness in the program but I just couldn't remember is the actual disorder is referred to by name.

Thank you so much for your response. It always makes me feel better to know that others have had a similar experience.

Thanks again and best wishes,

Ashlee