Derealization... Anxiety or worse?

[FindingMyself106]

Well I have been struggling with anxiety off and on for about 7 years now. I reached a breaking point a little over a month ago, and am VERY dedicated now to getting the help I need to get through this and out of this.

The thing that keeps tripping me up is I have horrible derealization and depersonalization and I start dwelling on those feelings, and I'll research and then find out that those could be symptoms of schizophrenia, bipolar, or borderline personality disorder, then I start thinking is this really just anxiety/ocd/depression or am I really worse than they think? (I'm in group therapy IOP right now before I go to a one-on-one therapist) but I guess I just keep getting tripped up on feeling like the things around me arent real, or that I'm a stranger in my own skin (though I know better, dont get me wrong)

And I guess I just worry "what if I never get better" "what if things never seem real" and things like that and I wonder with such off the wall thoughts like those, how is it that its just anxiety? Because I seem so much worse than that...

Any thoughts, opinions, comments?

[sasami]

I've had problems like that. To be honest, what made me feel better was seeing a specialist, explaining how I feel.. and well, the fact that he didn't seem to think I was going insane was a big plus for me. Honestly, I don't know if the medication he prescribed me helped or it was just the fact that I knew I wasn't going insane! Either way, I felt loads better the next day.

A few suggestions

- STOP reading about schizophrenia and other mental illnesses!
- Learn how to relax; find a relaxation tape or find something you enjoy that is calming.
- Get some physical exercise! Run, jog, lift some weights.. anything to get you burning off all that stress!

These are some things that helped me get through a similar situation .. I still have other anxiety issues of course but this one doesn't bother me anymore.

[Esqlade]

I have the same worries and guess what?? I created it in my thoughts...control your thoughts!!

[FindingMyself106]

Does anybody who's doing or has done the program that can relate to the depersonalization and derealization been able to make a come back from those types of feelings?

Im working on getting all of this stuff worked out but its 7 years worth of anxieties and worries and built up negative thinking... I guess what stops me up is "what if this is me and Im trying to change something that I cant" "what if I wont ever be the way I want to be?

[SeaRunner]

Ashlee -

I suffered a lot with both derealization and depersonalization over my years with anxiety. I'm nearly finished with the program and am still dealing with anxiety and panic, but I'm progressing quite well.

As for derealization and depersonalization, they just don't bother me like they used to. I experienced the sensations so many times and nothing ever happened, I finally stopped letting them scare me. The same thing happened with my fear of having a heart attack or stroke. That's really the key. Once you stop being frightened by the sensations, they tend to go away. It's your fear of them that keeps feeding them.

Sasami and Esglade gave you some good advice. In addition to their suggestions, I also just like to "ground" myself when I start to feel "spacey". Some of the ways I ground myself are to get involved in a face to face conversation, to touch and feel things around me, and to exercise. Even jumping up and down and feeling my feet hit the floor helps. Do anything to bring yourself into the present moment and interacting with your surroundings. These are just a few suggestions. I'm sure you can come up with more.

As for your fear that you won't ever get better, you must know that that is negative and self-defeating thinking. If you keep moving along that path, you're certain sabotage your own recovery. Think of it this way: either you can work with this and make yourself better or you can try and it won't make any difference. Either way, you're better off working towards your goals because at least there is the opportunity to heal. And the truth is that you really can make a difference.

Good luck,
Jamie

[sleeplessMom]

I can speak from personal experience. I had horrible derealization and depersonalization both, when I was diagnosed with anxiety in 2006. My wonderful psychiatrist said that my anxiety was off the charts...much higher than he usually saw with generalized anxiety. Great, huh! But the good news for you is that these symptoms will go away once your anxiety is under control. But for me it took a while. It gradually became less noticeable over a long period of time. It wasn't something that went "snap" and I woke up one morning without those feelings. Don't over-think this condition! That is what we do. Sasami gives some great tips. When you notice those feelings, say: "Hello derealization. Boy am I glad I know your name now. You can stay if you want for a while, but you don't have to. I'll be able to function fine either way."