Derealization & Depersonalization

awestphal · Post by **awestphal** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:35 pm

I would appreciate more information on these conditions. I found a website (on one of the post's) that described the symptoms of these two conditions and I feel that I have derealization. I have alot of the symptoms. This was a good thing because I have had it since Nov 21, 2006, had multiple tests performed (all negative) and have seen many doctors and was told nothing is wrong with me. I would like to know if anyone on the forum has this same condition and/or any suggestions. It sounds like once the anxiety is reduced it will reduce and deminish. The program has helped somewhat (on week 4) and I have the confidence that with the program I will get better. Any comments or information would be much appriciated.
Thanks,
Amy

*D* · Post by ***D*** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:48 am

hi,
when i was diagnosed with pnic and anxiety and before i went away. i had derealization. i wouls be somewhere and then not know where i was. itwas strange. i would wake up and it was like i was in another world.as the anxiety and panic left so did it..before all that happened i used to make jokes about it and till do..
it is a nice way to meet new people. those you know and did not now lol..and my wife told me one time that if i ever forgot who she was she would remind me real fast lol.

the program will goveyou the skills and tools that you need to help you through this..and who know if you work hard and do what the material says and you will gradualy get better. its not a sure fix but it sure helps some..and the one that it did help was me.hope that helped you. take care and good luck and be blessed.
don

awestphal · Post by **awestphal** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:09 pm

Hi Don,

Thanks for your response. It gives me much encouragement. I'm trying to work hard on the program and have started to feel a small improvement. With this condition it is hard to not want to go through the program quickly because i want a quick fix, but I do know that it does not work that way. I didnt get this way overnight(even though the derealization did hit me suddenly)I do realize I'm not going to get better overnight.
I cant wait for the day that I can post that I'am feeling better like you do.
I just started week 4. I think this program is great. Sometimes i tell myself that i SHOULD have ordered it months ago when I was thinking about it, but like Lucinda says (in week 4)dont SHOULD on your self and I'm grateful that I have the program now and the tools to get better.

Thanks again Don for taking the time to build my spirits.
Amy

michelle bond · Post by **michelle bond** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:31 pm

i had depersonalisation last week for about 4 days. It feels scary but it is totally harmless.
Through research I found out that it is a normal response from your brain when you are feeling to stressed out and anxious. It is a away of your brain to protect itself from so much stress.
It is something like that: your amygdala shuts down and the result is feeling like the way you described.

Mine went away during easter holiday. I had 4 days off college and work. So once I started to relax it subsided.

Im living and still breathing so beleive me: it wont hurt you
Good luck

sunnyweather · Post by **sunnyweather** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:24 am

I can 100% tell you that these two symptoms do in fact lose their power once you address your anxiety issues and face the symptoms and observe rather than react to them.

I know how hard that can be, trust me. And I know how scary it can be to look up websites where these are listed as "conditions" that people have and never get over. You do not have to learn to live with it (well, temporarily while the fear subsides

) But they are in no way permanent. There was a fantastic post a few years ago that really helped me with this condition, and I'll repost it once I get home and can have access to it.

I dealt with this symptom off and on for much of my anxiety times- and as much as I tried, couldn't shake it when I "tried so hard" to. It is impossible to will this symptom away or hate it so much or get mad at it enough to make it go away. The nature of our beings won't allow that- the harder we try to do anything, the more it becomes a staple of our life. But that does not need to scare you. I now live without any symptoms of DP/DR unless I'm in a stressful situation or am avoiding something else in my life, but even now when it comes, it might be scary for about 2 minutes but I remember that it always, always passes. In time, and it doesn't matter how much time, this condition will ride through like all of the other symptoms. No matter how abstract your thoughts become, no matter how weird our thoughts may be, no matter how many odd and crazy situations we come up with- we never go "too far" and go off the deep end. I had such a hard time with thinking "This is such a weird sensation or visualization in my head, I could never explain this to a therapist or even my close family members, therefore I'm incurable." Don't let yourself be tricked into this thinking. No matter how true it SOUNDS, it holds no relative truth whatsoever- every thought, sensation, feeling, emotion is ok- it's natural when we're constantly aware of how we feel- and it will subside. It always does.

I feel like I'm rambling without much sense

So I'll leave it at this and just know that there is someone who dealt with it for many months on end, and years off and on, with no dp/dr symptoms for quite some time now. I'm here to help and will come back this weekend to re-post that great post that helped me out so much. Take care!!

Ivyheart <>< · Post by **Ivyheart <><** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:52 am

Thanks for all those reminders! It's easy to get caught up in the "I m losing it for good feelings"
I notice I go through it a lot when I am avoiding things in my life, Like you had mentioned. I wonder why that is?? Does anyone know?

Dolcesusan · Post by **Dolcesusan** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:36 am

These symptoms of unreality are the hardest things I have had to deal with. I have had them steadily for 4 years. I did this program about 10 years ago and thought I was cured! When I started having symptoms of depression and anxiety again, about 5 years ago, I thought it had to be something else! Not the case! Anxiety is like being an alcoholic! Once you have it, it's always there and you must work the program EVERYDAY to continue to stay in recovery. I started to realize that, but still kept thinking there had to be a medical explaination! NOPE! It's anxiety. I have just started listening to the program again and am determined to get back to the person I know I am inside. Looking forward to reading the post that helped SUNNYWEATHER!

sleeplessMom · Post by **sleeplessMom** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:03 pm

Derealization and depersonalization both hit me hard in August 2006, before I knew that I was truly suffering from anxiety. Through the program and medication, my anxiety improved greatly, but the derealization lingered for several months. So, it just wasn't "bang" all of the sudden gone, but I would have an hour here or there where I didn't feel it, and slowly those times became longer and more frequent. But even after it was gone, when I would go through a stressful event or anxiety-producing event, those "spacey" feelings would come back for the day. It definitely is a scary feeling, but the less attention you give to it the better. I tried to joke that teenagers (and some adults) spend a lot of effort trying to alter their reality chemically, and I might as well try to float with it, even if I didn't seek it out intentionally!

MBS · Post by **MBS** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:36 pm

hi, ive been having these depersoalization & derealization symptoms for a little while now. dont like them at all. have learned they are symptoms of anxiety & depression. can your medications cause this also? if anybody has any tips for relieving or stopping these symptoms please share your knowledge. anybody that are having these symptoms would really like the help especially me. please reply with your tips. thanks Q.S.

awestphal · Post by **awestphal** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:38 pm

A huge thanks to everyone that replied. "Sunnyweather" you are awsome. I'm sitting here crying after reading your post. I have spent many days and countless hours wondering if this will ever go away. I worried daily how or if I could go on if it never went away. Every day is suck a struggle. With the program i have noticed that the stress and anxiety has lessened slightly. Your responce has lifted a "HUGE" weight off my shoulders that has been there for a long time. I know that i'm going to get better. I look foward to getting the information you will be sending.
Again may thanks to everyone.
Amy