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Is this Derealization?? Please help!

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Posted 2/27/2009 2:57 PM (GMT 0)

Hi there :-)

I'm so glad I've found this forum because I desperately need to talk to people who experience the same symptoms. My symptoms appear at dusk/night, in restuarants/shopping malls/clubs, under artificial lighting, crowded places, where there is lots of noice, during face-to-face conversations. I start to feel like I am in a dream and disconnected from reality. Disconnected from my surroundings. It feels as if I am not really there and nothing is real. I struggle to have face-to-face conversations as everything seems distorted and blurred. cry   I feel extremely overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds. I struggle to concentrate and my thoughts are blurred during these times. But the feeling of unreality is what scares me the most. If I were to look at someone's face, the face would be very clear and sharp and almost overwhelming me, and everything else would be hazy and almost seem to be spinning. Is this derealization? And what is it caused by? It is runing my life cry  I avoid shopping malls, clubs, etc and really don't like going out at night. Has anyone experienced there symptoms and what have you done about it? What medication are you taking? I desperately need support and advice because I feel like I am drowning in this problem cry cry

Thanks so so much :-)

Posted 2/27/2009 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
SilkyWilks

Welcome to HealingWell and the A & P Forum.

This is a common experience that members with Anxiety may go through.  You are ok and with some help and a good understanding of what is happening I hope your anxiety will ease.

Here is a link to a great article that explains Depersonalization & Derealization.  Just click on the link.

http://hubpages.com/hub/anxiety-depersonalization-and-derealisation

I hope you continue to stick with us as we are caring at supportive here in the A & P Forum.

Kitt

Posted 2/27/2009 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
SilkyWilks - I'm having problems with exactly that as we speak. =[ It's horrible! I'm trying to have a positive attitude and believe that I will get better!! I just started 50 mg of Zoloft.
Posted 2/27/2009 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like a bit of anxiety to me. I would suggest seeing your doctor and talking with him/her about it. This is a very good forum and if you stick with us, we'll help ya out the best way we know. Welcome!!
Posted 2/27/2009 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
I know COMPLETELY how you feel. It's no fun, and I've certainly never enjoyed the sensation!

I try and think of these moments like I do a sore muscle. If we overwork a muscle in our body, we think nothing of it being sore. It's uncomfortable, and it doesn't feel right, but we don't worry ourselves to death about it, because we know it's just the way our body reacts to being overworked.

Depersonalization and derealization is to me very much the same thing. It's just that our brain is being overworked instead of a muscle, and our body is doing just what it is supposed to do in that situation. But instead of looking at it as a normal thing, we get caught up in it because it seems "weird" and "strange". Our brains are just protecting us from too much stimulation. I'm trying to learn to just take a breath, make note that there's no impending danger, and realize that while it's uncomfortable, it won't hurt me, just like a sore muscle won't hurt me.

Another thing that helps me is to try and think about what I smell, like food, etc., and what my hands are feeling, like the texture of my clothes, etc. That seems to help me get back into the moment and out of the "strangeness".

Most of all, know that things WILL get better, and that what is happening to you is a sign that your body is doing what it is supposed to do.
Posted 2/27/2009 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hello SilkyWilks,

Welcome to HW and I hope you get to feeling better soon. Good luck and it is nice to meet you :)
Posted 2/28/2009 5:33 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much everyone :-)   I really really appreciate all your support and comments. It's very comforting to know that I am not alone in this and not the only person experiencing these really wierd feelings. I'm on Cipralex and Fluaxnol - I have been on these medications for over a year now and have seen no improvement in the derealization confused   I've got to the stage where I feel its just the hand I've been dealt and I've got to live with it. I'm avoiding numerous situations - but thats just no way to live...I'm 23 and should be really enjoying life! But the derealization just makes me want to hide away from the world cry I am seeing a psychiatrist and a therapist. I often think that I must have some dreadful tumour or growth...I struggle to believe that anxiety can be the cause of such uncomfortable and scary symptoms.
Posted 2/28/2009 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
You've had great responses already...but I just wanted to pop in say that I have the exact same feelings/sensations. Derealization & depersonalization has been a long symptom of my panic/anxiety AND it happens in many of the same situations as yours (funny, but lighting effects me greatly - always thought that was bizarre, but glad to know I'm not the only one!). I know you think that you have some awful disease or will drop dead (I do too!), but anxiety can cause such awful symptoms. You're taking the right steps in seeing your doc & therapist - make sure you are fully expressing your concerns to both. HUGS
Posted 3/1/2009 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you mom2three! :-) What do you do when you experience these symptoms? I try and bear them (I am very fidgety and I can't relax and chat to people while experiencing these symptoms), but after a while they get too much and too uncomfortable to handle and I have to leave/go outside. Last night, my boyfriend wanted to go and watch a band who was playing in a club/bar...I had to tell him that I couldn't go with him cry In those kinds of places I know that I will definitely have derealization (because I always have in the past). I'm scared of my derealization so at the moment I am doing anything to avoid experiencing it...and I also know that if I went out to this place last night, I would end up ruining it for my boyfriend because we would end up having to go home half way through cry
Posted 3/1/2009 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
It's very hard...I do what you do - become enormously chatty trying to fight through it! People think I'm very friendly :) I'm also extremely fidgety - one signal to my hubby that something is up with me. Anyway, I often have to excuse myself - go to the restroom or outside for a reality check and some time alone & quiet. When I'm away from the situation for a moment, I talk to myself, look at myself in the bathroom mirror, pinch my arm, take a few belly breaths and head back in - see below fro a more specific rundown of my little routine!

What stinks, is that you have associated DR with club/bars and other fun places because of past experiences. I do the same - there was one particular restaurant (a family favorite) - they always wanted to go - I had an attack there once and then was terrified every time thereafter and would throw myself into an attack just by association. That is a hard cycle to break BUT once you go and don't have any problems, it breaks the cycle.

Don't be embarrassed to go outside for a few minutes. When you are out there, first repeat positive phrases to yourself, "I'm okay. I'm going to be fine. This is fun. Stay calm" etc., if you are spiritual you can add phrases like, "Lord give me strength. Lord help me here.". Then walk around a bit, jump up and down to ground yourself that you are in the situation. Then try to sit down and do some belly breathing (hand on chest, hand on belly, inhale through nose and exhale slowly though mouth with pursed lips making your belly move & not your chest) to relax and re-center. Once you feel better, go back in and try to have a good time!

(HUGS)
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