Depersonalization and Derealization

[LeoAnon]

How does one get rid of DP/DR? I'm sick of it, daily. It goes away at night time only.

[Jeff1943]

Leo, I had this back in the 1970s before it was given a medical name. I described it as like watching what's happening around you as if it was on tv.

The cause is that your mind senses your anxiety and is trying to distance you from a perceived threat by making you feel you're not there. Not very helpful!

I got rid of it by addressing the cause of these symptoms rather than fighting and obsessing about the symptoms themselves. Once you crack the cause ie anxiety, then all the symptoms will yield.

So I stopped worrying about it and fighting it (which floods your nervous system with fear hormone which anxiety thrives on). Eventually, accepting this symptom for the time being resulted in my sensitised nervous system returning to normal and the derealisation and depersonalisation passed.

Strangely, I do feel it somewhat in supermarkets with strong lighting.

So the answer to your question is: accept these symptoms of anxiety calmly and without fear for the time being, stop frightening yourself half to death every few minutes, and you will regain your peace of mind.

[Laurennnnnnn in reply to Jeff1943]

Yes!! I struggle a lot with those (to the point where I have memory lapses) and just accepting it’s happening has helped a lot.

I just try to be calm and be like “well this is what we’re doing now lol okay 🤷🏼‍♀️” and I usually come back

[LeoAnon in reply to Laurennnnnnn]

It's good to know I'm not alone. I'll try to stop over thinking it. It feels good when we have clear moments

[Laurennnnnnn in reply to LeoAnon]

You definitely aren’t alone!!! I was sure something serious was wrong with me and only me lol it was amazing when I found out these are real things with real names

[LeoAnon in reply to Jeff1943]

Thankyou 💙 it's so difficult when nothing looks or feels right anymore. I will do my best tomorrow.

[Junella]

I had this through my teenage years after an older sister committed suicide. It returned later in my mid-20s and frightened me. I didn't get help and didn't know it was mental. I imagined all sorts of things. I had panic spells.

Being informed helps put it in perspective; and when you know others have it too. A spiritual life, deep breathing, counsel, and healthy eating and exercise are winners in the battle which will finally resolve. That's my experience. And an active social life, being aware of others and giving them your attention is great therapy--and a pet too.

[Alliblob]

Hi, I have this now too. Last year was particularly bad, was diagnosed by psychologist and yes it completely freaked me out. I have found it was my way of taking me out of a situation that was causing severe anxiety, my body was trying to protect me. I had to learn to allow the feeling to move over me and accept it.

Over time it has resided and now happens only on occasion. Do you have headspace? I listened on there to there anxiety meditation training and this helped. I learnt techniques to focus on with breathing to try and calm myself and accept what was happening around me.

[Jeff1943]

Acceptance overcomes all. When you arrive at the stage of acceptance (for the moment) where it doesn't't matter whether you have the feeling or not (because you know it's only a temporary trick your mind plays on you) then you are approaching recovery - not just of the dp/dr but of all other symptoms of anxiety.

The acceptance method is described by the woman who created it in 'Self help for your nerves' by Claire Weekes who was called "the woman who cracked the anxiety code". Still available new or used on Ebay and Amazon.

[Perelenegreen]

Can you download Calm on your phone. It is a simple meditation program that can be used when you feel overwhelmed.

[HD1960]

Can you explain it a bit. Is it anything like disconnected?