Hi everyone i have been doing a lot better the i was a couple of weeks ago. I suffer really bad from dealization like veverything is fake all that fun stuff. But i can actully feel myself getting and being less afraid and less obessed if it is there, It feels good I am not staying that I still don't get scared but I think I have realized it is just ANXIETY. I know it will take more time and I will have my ups and downs. But I know now this is going to go away and I will come out and YOU will too better and more secure. I just wanted to let people with derealization it subsides with time and acceptance

I'm going through it to...The past 8 months....Keep telling yourself it isn't real and it will go away. TYesterday was my first day off from it, and it's starting to get better. Just hang in there and don't be afraid of it........

Hi all.

Can you all with derealization give me your OWN definition of it?? I know that's what I have but it just seems so bad that it's like something else, but so hard to explain the symptoms.

And as much as I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to not feed into it, it's soo hard with the confusion that comes with it. Does anybody know what I'm talking about out there??

Trying soo hard without med's.

Hi.....I know exactly what your'e going through. To me it's like everything is just there. Everything looks and feels different, like I'm not connected and in the thick of things like I used to be. Like everything in the world is just there. It sucks, but I'm telling you, just try and ignore it. get into conversations try to feel connected. I know this is my second time in less than a couple of years. I never imagined in a million years that something like this could happen to someone. It's definitely something that's causing it, you just have to figure out what that is. don't dwell on it, You can beat this w/o meds. If you really think about it, it's not that big of a deal. Just keep telling yourself it's not real. Because in fact it's not. I just have to feel good about myself again, that's the answer for me. Keep God in your forefront. I'm going on 8.5 mnths now, but with this program, I think I can manage it until the point where I don't notice this annoyance.....we'll all get there!!!!!!!!

Thanks bernard,

Hanging in there

You are definitely not alone...All the way to the point of not wanting to take medication. I know it's easier said than done, and I'm no where close to being "free", but I know "we" can all get there. It's like writing this I know I don't feel the way I'm writing 100%, but i know I can feel like it, I'm sorry it's weird...

WOW! It is so good to hear that other people suffer from those episodes! That would be my #1 fear in the whole panic situation, the breathing and heart beating and wanting to run is NOTHING compared to feeling like you arent even in the same dimension anymore! I have had this since I was a kid,try explaining to your mom back in the 80's "Mom, I feel like I am not here and my mind is somewhere else" I have never seen her so freaked out in my life, her reply? "dont say things like that, people will think you are crazy" HA!! Luckily the episodes seem to go away when the anxiety does..So then you realize they are actually caused by anxiety! I always hated explaining them to people, because the looks you get are kind of like "whoa, this one is little strange" so it is nice to hear someone else who has been thru it!

quote:

Originally posted by DZhashope:
Hi all.

Can you all with derealization give me your OWN definition of it?? I know that's what I have but it just seems so bad that it's like something else, but so hard to explain the symptoms.

And as much as I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to not feed into it, it's soo hard with the confusion that comes with it. Does anybody know what I'm talking about out there??

Trying soo hard without med's.

I originally posted the following in a different thread.

It's called derealization/depersonalization; perfectly normal it is a symptom of anxiety nothing more (some common themes that go along with this are: "I feel like I'm going crazy" "Everything feels cloudy" "I feel dizzy, faint and tired" "The familiar seems unfamiliar" "I feel like I'm dreaming" "I feel like I'm floating or out of my body".

Most people experience this, even children do, when children begin to realize that they are seperate from others (its the old philosophical question you may have asked yourself as a kid "Who am I" this will spring off depersonalization almost immediately or the question "Is any of this real maybe my whole life is just a dream.." this springs off derealization)

The key is to just flow with it and let it be; it will surpass it always does (it is not dangerous, in fact it is a saftey mechanism used by your brain). Your brain is just tired of running around all day and worrying. If you want some good articles to read about it I can dig them up. Let me know, but don't worry it is a perfectly normal brain function especially present with anxiety disorders.

I found that running and lifting was the best cure for this when I had it. Also, you should be taking some supplements especially a b-complex and some Omega 3, these will also help to lessen the occurance of this symptom.

-----------------------------------------------

You can find out more about this at these following links:

http://www.anxman.org/depersonalization-derealization.asp

http://www.panic-anxiety.com/depersonalization_derealization.htm

http://www.panic-anxiety.com/depersonalization_derealization.htm

Also, don't start googling these terms either because there is a lot of misinformation about them. Furthermore, they can be symptoms of other disorders, but it is almost always the anxiety they have with their disorder that causes the feeling, and/or thoughts/delusions caused by their disorder that invoke the feeling. Either way it is not dangerous at all and is something that almost everyone has experienced in their life whether consciously recognizing it or not.

Letting it be is the best solution; don't try and make it go away because this will more than likely intesify the feeling. When you keep telling yourself that it is a danger and you fear it; your brain remembers this and when the feeling comes to the surface again it almost immediately relates the feeling as being an intense danger.

As with all the issues with anxiety you need to reprogram your thoughts and by reprogramming your brain to realize this is not a threat, it takes time, it will no longer be of any concern to you. Then and only then will the anxiety disipate and you will not experience this un-settling feeling.

Thanks SO MUCH..Your post was so informative-It helps to hear that it is completely normal (although it couldnt feel less normal!) I have found that running also seems to snap me back into reality, its funny that you say that! You cant run in every situation of course, but if you can, it seems to get your body up to speed with your mind! I have found in the past that the depersonaliztion happens first and then by being so freaked out by it the heart racing, sweating, etc. comes after. My therapist said the same thing about it being a a gift from your body so your mind can take a break from the anxiety..She said a lot of people pay to feel that way (drug addicts mostly, I am guessing) Isnt it funny that the people who find NO pleasure whatsoever in feeling out of control or escaping reality are the ones who are blessed with this little gift? I can say it goes away when my anxiety is gone, I didnt have an episode for close to 10 years, so that is comforting..Although I have felt a twinge of it at times after watching a movie that I was really engrossed in..Is that strange? I am guessing I get so into the character or something that I forget myself for an hour and a half! Thanks for the posting..I had no idea it was so common, even when I have talked to people who have had panic attacks, no one seems to have that experience--Maybe they dont want to admit it?

BeatAnxiety -

Thank You so much.

I am inspired!! I need to save that message and pull it out for "those times"

quote:

Originally posted by thinker:
Thanks SO MUCH..Your post was so informative-It helps to hear that it is completely normal (although it couldnt feel less normal!) I have found that running also seems to snap me back into reality, its funny that you say that! You cant run in every situation of course, but if you can, it seems to get your body up to speed with your mind! I have found in the past that the depersonaliztion happens first and then by being so freaked out by it the heart racing, sweating, etc. comes after. My therapist said the same thing about it being a a gift from your body so your mind can take a break from the anxiety..She said a lot of people pay to feel that way (drug addicts mostly, I am guessing) Isnt it funny that the people who find NO pleasure whatsoever in feeling out of control or escaping reality are the ones who are blessed with this little gift? I can say it goes away when my anxiety is gone, I didnt have an episode for close to 10 years, so that is comforting..Although I have felt a twinge of it at times after watching a movie that I was really engrossed in..Is that strange? I am guessing I get so into the character or something that I forget myself for an hour and a half! Thanks for the posting..I had no idea it was so common, even when I have talked to people who have had panic attacks, no one seems to have that experience--Maybe they dont want to admit it?

I'm glad my post helped ... Yeah exercise really seems to help. This is probably because you are increasing the blood flow to your brain and eliminating the "lack of blood flow" which is "many times" the cause of the symptom.

I agree with your psychologist:

A lot of people seek out this feeling in order to escape reality. Either way the fundamental element that seperates us from those who seek the feeling is fear. If you fear the symptom, rather than enjoy it or realize it is not dangerous it will certainly frighten you. Just allow it to be and flow with it. Imagine that it is simply " like a day dream" spun out of control that will eventually go away. Even if it doesn't go away it will not make you insane and it will not kill you.

Good Luck!

- Beat

quote:

Originally posted by DZhashope:
BeatAnxiety -

Thank You so much.

I am inspired!! I need to save that message and pull it out for "those times"

You're Welcome

Well, just wanted to let "beat anxiety" know that your words have helped me tremendously in the past few days.. I guess I felt similar to the other person who wrote "I know this is what i have, but it seems like it must be something else because it is so bad' (or something on the order of that) I worked my self into terror twice this week driving (which oddly enough was never a problem for me, even with Panic attacks) But today I FORCED myself to drive all the way across town for an inpection (I am a realtor) even though I felt like someone else was driving the car!!! I told the people that I was very sick when i got there and that I may have to leave (by that point I did feel sick with stomach symptoms!) But simply knowing that i had an "out" if I needed it got me thru! Also knowing that the way i was feeling is normal for people like us, and not a symptom of going crazy and that it would go away without me fighting it and freaking out. I have to say even with all the dramatics that went along with it, I made it, and I am damn proud! thanks for the knowledge-it was very helpful. Even though I dont know any of you, it helps to picture someone else going thru the same things and us rolling our eyes at each other and going "Oh this? Yeah its normal for us, it will pass!"

I just wanted to post my experience with dp and the wonderful unreal feelings. Last summer I started experienceing pretty high anxiety--functional but very anxious and just not feeling "right" and occasionally I would have moments, especially at night, when my mind would just race and then things would just start looking really strange--like ethereal or hazy and it was like I could see people talking but it was like I couldn't really understand what was being said to me. Then in Nov I had my first panic attack and have been recovering from severe entrenched anxiety since then.
But I have to say it does get better. In December I couldn't leave my house and going to the grocery store seemed impossible. The depersonalization back then was really bizzare. I would watch my children talk to me but the words they spoke just didn't seem to make sense and when I would go outside everything seemed to have a fuzzy yet bright cloud on it. I felt like I was in the Truman Show (if anyone's seen that movie)or worse the matrix. I have gone through every stage of anxiety from obsessing over drowning my children, stabbing my husband, dying of a heart attack while alone with my kids, pulse checking, not driving, mind racing and questioning my own existence and think the unreal stuff is the hardest to deal with and ironically the longest lasting symptom. While the obsessing, fear, phyical symptoms and panic are almost gone. I am totally functional now and am currently on vacation in the Bahamas but the unreal is still hanging on but it comes in waves. If I don't pay too much attention to it and just live my life I'm fine. It's like every 5-10 minutes or so I'll feel unreal, or strange and wild thoughts pass through my mind like "how am I even here", have I just created my whole life in my mind?, and don't get me started on the existential stuff like where is God, and things like that. The point is it has gotten better and although it's still there and there are moments when I'm even questioning how I'm sitting here typing this, I've realized I can live my life and enjoy my family and friends even with "IT" being there. "Hope and Help for your Nerves" by Claire Weekes has really helped me with this. She says to just work with it and not to focus on it because as you know that will cause a panic. My husband has also helped me with this--he used to do psychedelic type drugs and he just says to take a different approach and try to enjoy it. I know that's so hard and seems impossible or like if I enjoy it then that means I'm wanting it to stay but as we all know it hangs around because we fight it. Sorry for the length of this but I hope it helps someone.

I actually am smiling at your post, it is not funny at all-but I HAVE BEEN THERE!! So many times before! I have stepped off of an airplane and thought "Am I really here? Because 1 hour ago I wasnt" I have made my neck so red checking my pulse that people thought I had something wrong with my neck, I just the other day started thinking while I was walking, "what if I was to go blind?" Then got myself so worked up about it I actually thought I better start running home just in case i "THINK" my self blind!!So I smile, because I know..We are so damn creative arent we? If we could use all of it for good, instead of torturing ourselves, we would be unstoppable!