Anxiety and depersonalization connection - Anxiety and Depre...

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Anxiety and depersonalization connection

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I assumed because this group was about anxiety and panic disorders they would have include depersonalization. It's caused by extreme anxiety. I've had it consistently since age 14. Does anyone have chronic depersonalization?

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Panic disorder

14 Replies

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3 years ago

I have it but its not chronic. And yes there are certain triggers for it. For instance, it happens to me in class or whenever I’m involved in a group. Some of us on here have brought it up so you are not alone. It can be a very scary feeling when you can’t control it. Are you on any benzos? 🤔

in reply to 3 years ago

Actually, I've had benzos for years but I'm able to do without them all day. I've had this for decades. I'm going to find a therapist who works with guided mindful meditation. The problem with it is the more you focus on the symptoms which people with GAD do it makes it worse. Meditation can restructure your brain and keep you in the present moment so you don't worry so much. Have you tried mindfulness?

in reply to 3 years ago

I haven’t. It does interest me though because I’m aware of the research that has been done and the results are fascinating. I recently found out about the brain scans they did on monks who practiced meditation for years. I really hope it works out for you. Yes I’m unfortunately one of those people who focuses on it because it’s scary and honestly embarrassing because I feel like people notice when we’re not all the way there because we are dissociating. Luckily, I know ways to avoid it. I tend to only hang out or meet up with people one on one. I may have to also try meditation

in reply to 3 years ago

I often tend to think others might notice something is off with me also. I have a book that might help. It's called Overcoming Depersonalization Disorder. It came out in 2010. It delves into all aspects and gives different therapeutic remedies for living with it and functioning the best you can. Over the years I've read it's not visible to others because reality testing is normal. We're the only ones who see things differently, others can't tell. You can buy this book on Amazon.

Jeff1943 in reply to 3 years ago

I'm not sure of the difference between depersonalisation and derealisation, when I had one or the other in 1975 we didn't have fancy medical names for things. I used to call it 'feeling like I'm not here' or like watching everything on tv.

It's the mind's attempt to 'distance' us from a situation causing us anxiety, the mind senses we are in danger and is trying to keep us safe. But of course it's not helpful at all.

Because it hadn't been branded with a special name I didn't think it was too serious, just another symptom of anxiety neurosis (now renamed disorder). So I didn't think about it too much, didn't stress of obsess about it. And then one day years later I noticed I hadn't felt depersonalisation for quite some time. Though I can get short periods of it in places with strong fluorescent lighting like large supermarkets. Wherever I worked the office fluorescent lights would be turned off and we worked with ordinary desk lamps.

Depersonalisation is a symptom of anxiety disorder so it's no use trying to cure yourself of it as your oversensitive nerves will always win. The remedy is to recover from your anxiety disorder, the cause of the affliction, and to calm your oversensitised nervous system. When you achieve that all the symptoms of anxiety disorder will yield and the depersonalisation will resolve.

in reply to Jeff19433 years ago

Many say it comes from some sort of trauma but it seems to occur when you can’t handle something emotionally overwhelming. Some people get it periodically and some may have it during a traumatic experience such as the death of a loved one. After reading so many books about it and speaking to therapists it’s unsure why it’s sometimes chronic. I just use the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy approach and accept the symptoms. Derealization to me is the same thing. I don’t know why both are listed. It’s like seeing through a veil and nothing looks real. When I look at my limbs it seems I’m outside myself and they belong to someone else. I’m now in my 60s and have had this dissociative disorder all my life so it’s not resolving itself. It’s always there

Jeff1943 in reply to 3 years ago

Accepting symptoms is good, it stops us pumping more fear hormones into our system. Acceptance (for the time being) is now part of many therapies but was first advocated by Claire Weekes.

in reply to Jeff19433 years ago

Yes, I know. I read two of her books. They're good but most therapists recommend guided meditation or once you do it you can just meditate on your own. Neuroscientists have done studies on results for a couple of decades now. It actually grows new neurons in the brain. If you have a therapist who uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy it's the basis for calming the mind. If you Google anxiety and meditation you'll find the details. I recommend listening to Tara Brach and Jon Kabbatt Zinn on youtube. Jon Kabbatt Zinn (not sure of spelling) has written many books about anxiety and living in the present moment. You aren't in the next minute or the one before now. If you practice regular meditation it stops the constant thinking. My daughter teaches yoga and that's also based on mindfulness. You could also find out some from Deepak Chopra. Of course, it's related to Eastern culture and Buddism.

Jeff1943 in reply to 3 years ago

Many thanks for that, OnaMay, I will look those names and items up.