Depersonalization symptoms. Any experience with and treatment options please share.

[jacraff]

I am wanting to hear other people's symptoms to see if mine align. I also want to know how people have treated theirs before. It can be hard sharing about these symptoms and people understanding well, so my hope is someone on here will be able to

[gleason9guy]

Depersonalization and derealization. And there's a distinct difference and you'll know them when you experience them. Had them both after nearly a five-year run in management while going 7 days a week without a single day off for months at a time. Quitting my job and changing my work schedule helped immensely. It made those experiences lessen for years. Everything people said to me felt scripted, as if I had rehearsed them and knew what they were going to say and what I would say in return. Then, having those experiences plays back in my head and feel like I was watching it all from afar through a long metal tube. Hard to explain, but that was it.

[Coralrose5]

Yes I experienced derealization while severely depressed and anxious. Everything felt far away and fake, it was hard to keep track of time. If you search my profile you can see my previous post about it, and other people’s responses. What helped me was: time, medication for my anxiety and therapy.

[Calm_mama]

Hi Jacraff, if you look at my profile you'll see all the resources my daughter used to understand and recover from the anxiety state and the depersonalization she was experiencing. She had a longish run of depersonalization as she interpreted the feeling as something dangerous, and once her anxiety fixated on that notion, it wouldn't let go. It eventually did let go, with much therapy. She is such a grounded and integrated person now as a result of that journey. I hope you will give Dr. Claire Weeke's a read/listen. She calls this, "Feelings of unreality- the result of a highly sensitized nervous system" rather than depersonalization. I will also mention that my daughter saw Swamy G (he does skype sessions)- a life coach and expert on depersonalization/derealization. I've listed his website on my profile. He was amazing and I recommend his website very highly for anyone experiencing worry/confusion/fear around depersonalization. Wishing you all the best.

[medindexer]

It's perhaps a symptom of the depression where you are so much inside your head with your own negative thoughts. Yet you are aware that the rest of the world is not something one seems to be part of any more. U see cars being driven to work. People socialising and laughing. Eating out, having fun. (in reality as you know u r not on your own but it feels it)

And the depression puts a wall between all that and oneself. Not surprising it feels less real than the suffering of depression.

How to cope with it? I think the worst thing is to avoid going out. But it's hard.

And fortunate as we are having n online groups, I don't think it's as good as seeing actual people - a real life support group if u can locate one. Actual conversation, where u see people's faces, hear their stories. They can break your heart sometimes (and tough tho these stories can be, feeling for others and thier suffering makes u part of humanity). Even whilst you're feeling ill, you can give to others just by listening to them - or you might be able to tell them something you've learned, sone tip, an address or service you've heard of. It's surprising....

Enough