Derealization

[ANXIETY26]

I've probably written something down here with regards to Derealization before. It's just it has seemed to rear its ugly head on me again. Has anyone else spoken to their doctor about derealization and what explanation are they given for what causes it. I've decided to keep a diary on how im feeling so that I can show it to the doctor next time I visit. Does anyone else do this??? Im just hoping maybe I can find a pattern which can lead me to a solution of why this is happening.

Heres todays diary for how I have felt this morning so far:
Sunday 15th January


Wake up feeling ok, go through my normal routine. Take a shower and get changed have breakfast etc. Feeling in touch/ok at the moment. After half an hour I decide to use the computer to check my email and surf the net. After around half an hour of using the computer I am starting to feel a bit strange. Can feel derealization kicking in. Feels as if the last hour since I woke up has been a blur. Mind playing real tricks on me. It’s like the last hour hasn’t happened and someone has just plonked me here. It’s like I am not in touch with the real world, as if my mind is floating in and out of different states. Feel I’m here one minute the next not. It almost as if im back to being young again and seeing things for how they were then but then returning to how I see things now. Would never go outside feeling like this. It’s like im cracking up but im coping ok only because I am used to it. Now I am in a really derealized state. I am not sure how to explain how I feel because it’s so confusing.

Best way I can describe it I think is that one-minute I am thinking a certain way and the next a different one. One minute everything feels one way and the next it feels a differently. It’s almost as if i am two people drifting in between one another’s thoughts. Its as if I am going through a transition.

Hope im not coming across as nuts becuase I feel im pretty sane.

[Tomimo]

I think everyone interprets derealisation differently but you sounds perfectly sane to me.

My DR/DP is like looing through a fog at waht is going on and feeling abit drunk and not in control - just watching the world go on around me. I feel like the world isn't really real, it's odd and again very hard to explain.

Meg has lots of links to posts where people explain how they feel.

My doctor acted as though it was part of anxiety/panic. I am also keeping a diary so I can look back and see how I felt.

Annie x

[DagoGirl]

I dont keep a journal of it, but I can relate to how you feel! It seems to be worse in the mornings for me. However I will say this - and I think Meg might agree with me.....I believe that thinking about it and fearing when its going to happen is what actually brings it on. I wake up feeling much better now and then I start to question myself and start saying things in my head like "ok, am I going to feel the dp/dr today?" "is this really happening" "am i gonna lose it today because of this feeling" etc. I start to "what if" about it. Its like I cant imagine that its gone yet so I actually look for it just to check and make sure its not there, which in turn makes me feel it. Sorry if this doesnt make sense, but I hope it does! I think its just become a habit of sorts - im so used to feeling it and fearing it - that I almost conjure it up a bit. Id be curious to find out what you guys think about that! Chrissy

[ANXIETY26]

Hi Chrissy and Annie,

Thanks for the helpful replies. I actually phoned the out of ours doctor today thinking I was losing it and he seems to think im trying to do to much by stopping meds and quiting smoking the same time. [8)] I knew that anyway it's just I thought I was indestructable.[Duh!] He recommends that I either try going back on the meds or perseveering with the withdrawls. Chrissy I agree with what you say about the thinking about it before hand side of things, but this just comes on out of the blue for me without the thinking before hand. Although saying that when it does come on I do think about it more and maybe that makes it worse.

[DagoGirl]

What kind of meds were you on and did they help you with it? Im just now starting my 4th week on my antidepressants and im hoping with all my heart that it helps me with the dp/dr.

Do you have it constantly or did you ever have it constantly? Or does it seem to just kind of float in and out?

[Meg]

D/Personalisation
derealisation/depersonlisation
Hi new member mom w/ panic and dp/dr
Disassociation
when will this feeling leave?
FEELING SPACED!
?Derealisation
My mind and depersonalisation
Derealization
Surreal, Unreal, Spaced-Out, Derealization etc
Weird Feelings in Mind
Feel Weird and Confused
Is this Depersonlization or something worse?
Anyone got any positive feedback on DP/DR?
PMT, tiredness, and feeling of unreality
[Link removed as post deleted]



Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

Your anxiety is the human representation of the pictures that you paint using your many vivid colours of revolving and reoccurring thoughts.
How big is your gallery ?

[SickofIt]

Hi Anxiety26 - Yeah, I have had the exact same kinds of thoughts. Interestingly, it usually happens to me when I am not in a panicked state at that particular time, but rather when I am feeling quite relaxed (like checking my emails or surfing the net like you described). The worst thing is that once you experience it, like any other panic attack symptom, is that you can get to the point where you are constantly anticipating it,which gets to be a vicious cycle. I have never really discussed the ins and outs of this with my therapist, but if you do, it would be interesting to hear what he or she says about it.

[rosepetal]

Hi, I can relate to derealisation a lot....although I haven't told my GP about it, being as I'm in long term analytic psychotherapy, and work with it there, which helps. The meds don't seem to touch it....because its not as I see it a chemical inbalance thing, more lack of sense of self, if that makes sense, and can only be healed through relating emotionally and exploring my feelings.

[jon86]

Yeh man i had dp for about 7 month and only went away 1 month ago, best thing to do is forget it all together no matter how hard and impossible it seems, and swap thoughts with something else, dont monitor ur thoughts or emotions thats the worse thing u can do

[SvetlanaLub]

I know this is an old post, but I suffer from derealization, it's killing me. I recently found this site http://www.derealizationhelp.com and I want to know if anyone has tried it??? I am looking for any way out.