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derealization/depersonalization anyone?

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Posted 6/13/2007 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
Not sure if anyone has mentioned but there is a great book on the subject at http://strangerinthemirror.com/. The site also has a screening test. If you have any inkling of dissociation, read up on it and work towards treatment, its very common amongst anxiety/depression patients and people who have experienced trauma. Often goes undiagnosed.

Regards... Evan
Posted 6/15/2007 12:30 AM (GMT 0)

liamj,

          I can sympathize with you. Mine started about 10 or 12. The feeling is pretty much 24/7. Sometimes i cant seem to have a conversation with some body from feeling dizzy and percieving things as though they are distant. Then after the conversation I seem to have trouble recalling the conversation. Im doing research on this but would like to find a quick solution for my symptoms. I dont take meds although i have tried xanax a couple of times. Your symptoms are spot on with some of mine. I sometimes have to sleep mine off. Every other day lately.. If anyone can provde info to help with this  I would be so thankful..........Myles 

Posted 11/14/2007 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone I have a question that maybe someone can answer if they have similar problems. Although my problems are so weird I dont even know what to think. 10 years ago I witnessed something that caused extreme stress and panic attacks, a couple weeks later I was suddenly hit with a feeling of being stuck "inside of myself" as weird as that might sound, I can't describe it any other way, and I felt like I was living in a dream, or as if I was really high on some kind of drug and when I looked at brick houses they shimmered brightly and looking iat things far away made me dizzy. I lived with that 24/7 for 10 years. Now just recently I been admitted into the hospital with fast rising and lowering of my blood pressure and I felt like I was going to pass out, I hyperventalation for 5 days and was sleep deprived and it felt like I couldn't breathe. As soon as I got out of the hospital I felt the feeling of being in a dream even more. It is now to the point where I can't stand it. I sometimes close my eyes and cover my face and rarely ever even leave the house because I can't deal with this. I had a spinal tap, an EEG a MRI a CAT scan, a balance test and another MRI with contrast and all they found was a 61 level of protein in my spinal fluid. They said it was a little high. But it didn't show as any inflamation in my brain. All the other scans were clear. I was thinking maybe I am having derealization from the stress at the hospital but I don't know about it because they say derealization only exists with anxiety. I don't have anxiety regularly. Rarely at all but I still fell this chronic uncomfertable feeling of being in a dream all the time. I also feeling when I am thinking about something or concentraiting I have this really weird and disturbing feeling of getting stuck in between my thoughts and senses. Its so weird. But accordng to the scans my brain looks normal. Does anyone have any ideas?
Posted 11/14/2007 4:23 AM (GMT 0)

improper burial

Welcome to Healing Well.  I am Kitt.  I am a bit thrown by your choice of user name, is it indicative of something? Just my curiosity and if you choose not to share that is fine :)

I am wondering if you have been seeing a therapist for your problems if you have been having issues for along time? I do not have any real great advice but I am glad you have joined this wonderful forum.  You will find many kind and caring members here.

Again a warm welcome to you.

Kitt

Posted 11/14/2007 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
Improper burial is my bands name... its all that came to my mind. Thanks though Kitt for the welcoming. Hopefully everyone on this site atleast finds out what they have at some point. Thats the main thing I'm searching for now is just a diagnosis, something, anything.
Posted 1/15/2008 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
I have been having derealization almost 24/7 since may of 2007. Stress makes my symptoms worse. I feel like I am dreaming all of this or maybe I died that day in May when this began and this is death. I know it sounds ridiculous but that is the way derealization feels to me. My therapist has attributed it to anxiety and PTSD. I am just waiting to feel good again. Terri
Posted 1/15/2008 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
Terri...Know that we are all here and the ways we are describing it might not be what you feel or it very well could be .it does feel great to be able to talk to others that have gone thru or are going thru the same though isnt it

You see atherapist you say and do you believe this therapist is helping you and if so how ( if you dont mind sharing)
Stick around here and get to know us and
many of the older vets from the forum are gone but do pop in once in awhile to share how they are continuing on in their lives NOW

It seems that you have had a very Traumatic episode that brought this on in May ..........
Like I said do stay with us and lets see if we can all figure this out

******Thanks for the links you others that have posted
great info in there.......anything that can /might / will help another member is fantastic when you do share******
LYN
Posted 1/15/2008 6:24 PM (GMT 0)

Dear Terri,
I am sorry you are facing this and I know how scary it  must be for you. Gentle hugs to you.

It is important to remember the frightening experience of being lost inside one's own mind is purely a feeling state and  there is no reason to believe any permanent change has occurred within your brain itself. While in the midst of the derealization , it seems impossible to believe that your  ‘normal' self is still intact. But these are feelings as if reality does not exist – or as if the self/identity has perished. You  know better – you  just cannot feel what you  know. Reality has not actually been lost – it is only the ability to experience it that is temporarily beyond your reach. The same cognitive clarity that allows you  to realize that the world itself has not actually changed is the same cognitive strength that will allow for complete recovery.

Perhaps as Lyn alluded to, you may want to look at a new therapist.

Please keep posting and we are here and we care for you. You are family.

Posted 7/3/2008 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, I've been reading all y'alls posts.. and my heart goes out to you all. A week ago.. I started feeling really dream-like also. Hard to explain but someone said "I hate the sensation of it. I stare at myself in the mirror and feel like I don't know who I am at times." It's SO good to hear that I'm not the only one going through this - ahh, it's so scary! Hugs to you all.
Posted 7/3/2008 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
PLease Kiyuri

DO seek a professionals opion on this before you label yoursself
As it might not just be only or /D/P that is causing issues for you

WE cannot and do not advocate diagnosing anyone here

Take care you

Keeep us posted plz
Hoping you find out soon ......LYN
Posted 7/3/2008 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in no way saying I have D/P - just saying I'm experiencing a lot of the same symptoms. And it's just nice to know I'm not the only one. Even if its something else causing these feelings of mine.. it's just reassuring to know I'm not crazy. I finally managed to get a doctor's appointment for Wednesday and I'm so excited. I just want to know in words, in proof, what is going on.
Posted 8/22/2008 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Everyone!

I also suffered from derealization, depression, anxiety etc Just thought i'd give you my version of what causes it and what you can do to completely overcome it. My search for answers led me to Chinese theory, and the Taoist Water Method of meditation. The chinese believe that most sickness, including both physical and mental is a result of blockages in your bodies lifeforce or 'chi'. Chi that is not free-flowing can manifest in many different forms, including physical sickness or injuries, psychological disorders, chronic fatigue, neurosis, anxiety, fixations, and many other ways.

Through chi practices such as the Taoist water method of meditation you can dissolve these energetic blockages and re-allign the energies in ur body. Check out Sarah Jane on youtube, who cured herself from Schizophrenia, depression, anxiety using the water method of meditation as well as chi practices such as Tai-chi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PvgxA48m7Y

Hope this helps, feel free to email me if you need any help, and recommendations on books etc.
Steve

Edit:

Please post your email in your profile for members to use.

Thank you

Kitt

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 8/22/2008 2:44:44 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/3/2008 7:05 AM (GMT 0)
I also suffer from anxiety and I definitely have feelings of depersonalization. I find that the feeling is a lot worse after I drink alcohol, and I'm sure my weekend at Arizona State University didn't help at all. I had school this morning and drank 2 energy drinks which was a big mistake. It made my brain feel all cloudy and I just felt like nothing was real and it was all a dream. Sometimes it gets so bad where I feel like I don't recognize my surroundings, but in reality I'm really familiar with where I'm at. I think people get these feelings sometimes too after they have had a lot of anxiety just because your brain is so tired from worrying that your brain needs to rest sometimes too. I just tried to stay occupied with something and try to let the feeling pass. I also found it VERY helpful to workout or go on a run if I have the time. But don't worry, your not going crazy. I just watched a show too on MTV about schizophrenia and it scared the hell out of me and I was scared that I might turn out like that and have to be in a darn asylum.
Posted 9/3/2008 3:24 PM (GMT 0)

rpm32488

Hello and Welcome to HealingWell.  We have a thread for "new peeps" to introduce themselves if you would like to post a bit about you .  We love to meet the new members.

May I ask if you are under a physician's care for you disorder?

Alcohol is a depressent so I would advice you to hold down any heavy drinking week ends.

Thank you for you sharing and again welcome.

Kitt

Posted 9/3/2008 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, I have been to a Psychologist a few times but I haven't been in over a year. I still get anxiety but I feel like I can control it myself and with the support of my friends and family. They are a big help, especially since my own Mom has anxiety too, and my 2 close friends as well, so I feel like I always have someone to turn to. Thanks for the advice about the alcohol kitt, i'll try to be a little more responsible next time.
Posted 9/5/2008 9:51 AM (GMT 0)
When i get depersonilisation i stop communicating to the world and really withdraw into myself, I ... I no longer see the consequences of my actions as it is like its not me commiting them. Il get amazed by the smallest of things like a matrk on a window or somthin. Only ever had depersonilisation when i was severely depressed. All i remember is going for about a week without saying a word to anyoneand not really caring bout nething.

Posted 9/6/2008 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
RPM,

I'm so glad you have family members and friends who understand what you're going through. That makes such a difference! Oh, and welcome!

percycat
Posted 9/6/2008 2:01 PM (GMT 0)

RPM

I am so glad to hear you have a support system as that is a tremendous help.  It is great that you all understand each other but sometimes you just want to vent like you have done here so know this is your own private place to come to when your looking for support.

I have anxiety and at it's worse I spent most of my days in tears.  That was in 2006.  I have come a long way but still have work to do on me. 

You keep on posting, we are here for you.

Kitt

Posted 3/12/2009 5:37 AM (GMT 0)
I know this is an old post, but I suffer from derealization, it's killing me. I recently found this site and I want to know if anyone has tried it??? I am looking for any way out.

Edit:  I took out the link to the site as it is selling a product  for a specific price.  It is very clear that the info is biased to the product.

We do not promote other websites selling products. Sorry.

Kitt


Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 3/12/2009 9:18:52 AM (GMT-6)

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