depersonalisation/ derealisation

[ems43]

Hi,
I just wondered if anyone who experienes these symptoms can relate. Have been suffering severe anxiety for a number of months now, with dp/ dr being my worst symptom. I really feared at first I was developing psychosis constanty, now I only fear it sometimes ( and have been told by my psychiatrist I am def not psychotic). But I'm just so stuck as I really struggle to accept this is all caused by anxiety. I feel so disconnected from myself, at times I literally feel I cannot remember who I am and when i look at other people the world it looks so so unreal at times. This leads to very intense panic attacks and i then really fear i am going psychotic. I also keep getting these thoughts like, what if the world ins't real? what if everyone is just in my head? which scares the hell out of me and I fear Im becoming delusional. Then other times I fear I do believe the world isn't real, and try to convince myself that I can't really believe this if i keep carryng on as normal. I just feel so scared x

[phil06]

Sounds much like how I have been feeling. I also fear going psychotic though I feel GAD is more the reason for fearing going mad than the DP.

I find the DP had stopped me going out..but I'm starting to battle it and go out again. Been reading Claire Weekes self help which does help.

I don't have much of a cure but know how you feel.

[jessicalittler79]

hunni i also have this atm..and i have felt tis way for 5 months now sometimes it goes for a little while it it comes right back...its awfull.i cant seem to get past it and iam like u it causes me tohave bad panic attacks ...iam unable to go out side or do my normal things b/c of this....i wish i could help u hun and take it all away sorry u feel so bad...but i have learn the more u think about the worse it get ,,,but hunni u are not losen ur mind .its a way of are brain shutting down after to much stress to protect its self ...in time it will go away promise just stay strong and try to accept that its anx hun ...if u need to talk u can send me pm ..tc hun

[mabel]

Horrible feeling! Awful! Ive had it for years. Most of the time it doesn't bother me now. Now I know its anxiety causing it and nothing else I literally sit it out if it happens. I tell my self its just anxiety and I'll be fine. Im not nuts or anything and I just need to see it through and it will pass. It does actually work! I focus myself on things, just look at what is around me. I get on and do something if I can. If Im stuck in a meeting or something I just focus on one thing I can see or try and REALLY focus on what is being said (whilst repeating in my head, this will pass)

It does work. And I find I can control it quicker these days.

[Frozen in fear]

Horrible feeling! Awful! Ive had it for years. Most of the time it doesn't bother me now. Now I know its anxiety causing it and nothing else I literally sit it out if it happens. I tell my self its just anxiety and I'll be fine. Im not nuts or anything and I just need to see it through and it will pass. It does actually work! I focus myself on things, just look at what is around me. I get on and do something if I can. If Im stuck in a meeting or something I just focus on one thing I can see or try and REALLY focus on what is being said (whilst repeating in my head, this will pass)

It does work. And I find I can control it quicker these days.

I feel like this every day wish world seemed real need a life back

[mabel]

It WILL get better! Its taken me years of practice! Because I had to find my own way. Which is hard when you don't know what the hell is going on!

My one bit of advice really is to keep saying to yourself 'you're not going mad and you will be fine'. Sounds really rubbish and simple. But it works. Stick it out in situations where you want to leg it! Then you can have more evidence! Well I managed that etc! Its one of the worst symptoms I have and its awful! But Keep trying to beat it!

[Frozen in fear]

It WILL get better! Its taken me years of practice! Because I had to find my own way. Which is hard when you don't know what the hell is going on!

My one bit of advice really is to keep saying to yourself 'you're not going mad and you will be fine'. Sounds really rubbish and simple. But it works. Stick it out in situations where you want to leg it! Then you can have more evidence! Well I managed that etc! Its one of the worst symptoms I have and its awful! But Keep trying to beat it!

It feels even more more unreal just looking outside its hard to try to go out but cbt has helped me

[ems43]

thanks very much for your replies, really helps to know others experience it, i know i overcame it before wheni was about 17 just this time it seems so much more intense. I remember the first day i had it really bad and i just thought, god i can't cope with this I'd rather be dead that have these feelings back. So what happened then...moved straight from focus on physical symptoms of anxiety to dp/dr, I guess its like i put a flag on the thoughts of it that said this is dangerous and therefore kept coming back as I am checking in on it. xx

[Ames88]

Hi, I've been feeling the exact same! My derealisation has gotten so bad that I keep getting thoughts that the world simply has to be unreal because I don't understand why the worlds here and why we exist? Ive never been so frightened in my whole life! Please someone tell me that this goes away! I've got it stuck in my head that I can't get through this and I'll be stuck this forever and it's so distressing.... The more I think about DR and existence and life the more it scares me and the more unreal everything is, I'm scared that I won't be able to stop thinking this way, therefore I can't overcome it.... Please help :(
Amy x

[aggro]

Hi, new on here, I have suffered from this for years and will be so interested to read about how you cope and hopefully may be able to offer suggestions too. Just a short note to say hi, and know how you all feel.