Derealization

Hi DT.,

I know this feeling well...and it is disturbing at first!

The first thing that helped me was breathing exercises. This symptom can come about from unconsciously hyperventilating/rapid shallow breathing. We tend to do this when anxious.

We have great breathing exercises in our Resources...or I will post my personal favorite at your request.

Practice these daily, up to 3x a day for at least 10 min. They do start to work!!

Another key part of it for me was acceptance. This is an unpleasant symptom, but it can't hurt you. Accept that it is part of anxiety, and continue to work on your management skills, knowing that it will lessen/fade away if you keep working on your coping mechanisms.

I hope that you get some relief soon.:)

S.C.

Most recently, a few months. But I had some emotional times that came before the derealization. As I think about it, I have no idea when it went away. Weird.

Be sure you get plenty of sleep and try to avoid tension and stress.I've had bouts of derealization throughout my life, the derealization is always just as unpleasant each time, and each time silently slips away.

It'll pass, just hang in there. Have you seen a Doctor or Therapist? Certain meds may help, and I've taken Klonopin or similar infrequently throughout my adult life.

I can recall first experiencing derealization when I was just a kid in first grade. I was convinced I was living in a dream, and nothing around me was real.

So my personal experience with these sensations started before I was on any medication, and pretty young. I was always an anxious child, so I don't know if that got parlayed into the dream-like sensations.

But I do agree, it is quite unsettling. I still have those moments, but I think I've learned to give them less attention than I once did. I used to think "I was the only one" who ever had these sensations!



M.

I had this feeling for several years, I am pretty sure that mine was
generated by fear, when I started dealing with my fears it just
went away. Peace

Larry ***

The only way I know of is to face them head on and keep walking
straight toward them until you wear them out. Yes for the last
ten years they have tried to bother me but I get right in their
face and so far I win.

"The fear of death".

Larry ***

I would acknowledge it to the degree that when you feel it, you can realize that you should do your breathing exercises for relief....but then try to shift your focus onto other things, and not compulsively worry about it.

There is a fine line between accepting our symptoms, yet not giving them too much space in our thoughts...they don't pay rent after all.;p

You have the choice and power to work on what you can to help youself feel better...and let go of the rest by not allowing the worry to take over.:)

S.C.

S.C.