I suffer from depression and anxiety and a few months ago I had a very frightening panic attack after smoking weed (not at all a heavy smoker here) where I actually fainted while conscious, couldn't move or open my eyes but was able to hear everything. I later found out that this feeling is called depersonalization which is a normal defense mechanism of the mind during unbearable stress. Especially PTSD sufferers often experience this following their trauma and during their triggered moments. Perhaps the panic attack posed as a traumatic incident for me since my stress levels have been increasing leading up to that day and I have been gradually feeling more and more depressed and anxious on top of being constantly isolated at home with my husband. I really want to never experience this because it depletes me of all joy like a dementor from the harry potter story. I notice the more I focus and ruminate on this feeling the more prominent it becomes and my mood suffers greatly afterwards. But it's not always easy to surrender to it and accept it when you really need to feel hopeful. I feel like future is void of meaning and I'll always be on autopilot like I'm living off a script while watching myself from inside.
It helps when I focus on an object around me and remember the memories associated with it and vocalize them as much as I can. It does feel silly and I feel crazy while talking to myself but it does help. Especially if it's something I personally picked, bought or made. It reminds me that my 'self' is the combination of my mind and body. This feeling is the sense that they're separate things which is very scary.
Anyone else feeling similar things?
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Edaa
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Hi Edaa, I been feeling like this for this past weeks. There is a lot of health issues with my ,om, dad, grandma and grandpa. Im afraid im gonna lose one of them (all of them are getting surgery for something) my body has began to shut down and numb my feeling is like im watching myself as a third person point of view. My therapist said to do something I love to kinda decrease the feeling of not being connected to my body I am also a trauma survivor so its my fight or flight response to stressful situation and apparently now my psychosis is back. (I hadn't had symptoms since a year and some months.
Depersonalization is often misdiagnosed as psychosis. They are inherently separate from each other and their progression is completely different too. Have you seen multiple experts for this feeling? Because the diagnostic criteria for depersonalization & derealization disorder differs from psychosis. Psychosis, to my knowledge, is better understood and easier to target with specific medications. However depersonalization & derealization often relies on individual effort in lifestyle changes, since it's essentially an anxiety symptom in itself.
Either way, I feel for you. That cannot be easy to feel all of those feelings, that's why your mind is trying protect you by making you go numb so you don't get overwhelmed. That sounds a lot like depersonalization & derealization.
Oh no she said my psychosis is back because I have begun to hear voices and that didn't happen for a long time. But depersonalization is just due to the fact that im really stress. But im hoping it goes away soon I just need tp figure out how im gonna get in touch with my emotions. Or do you think depersonalization & derealization doesn't go away??
It really depends on the person from what I gathered and researched online. In your case you have psychosis so what you're feeling may just be a psychosis symptom separate from depersonalization but overlap in sensations. I would think medication and meditation should help you too!
Does your psychosis happen just before your period ? bc this is when progesterone levels drop - progesterone is a hormone that has a stabilising influence Natural progesterone cream may help
No its just came back out of nowhere and sadly I can see it now ): I been dealing it with it for 2 weeks now and I feel like im going crazy
I have this all the time. It's gotten to a point where it doesn't even scare me anymore. Depersonalization or disassociation is in fact what you experienced and it's really common in people who have high levels of depression and anxiety as well as PTSD. Also, you shouldn't feel silly about what you did to help calm yourself. What you did is called grounding. It's actually a technique used to cope with depersonalization episodes. So good job in doing that and I am glad it helped you. Don't feel like you are crazy or alone in this. You are not. There are plenty of us out there who suffer from this.
Yes Edaa I have experienced depersonalization many many times in my life. I have been diagnosed with PTSD, GAD, panic disorder and I suffer from episodes of depression. I cannot write the story of my life but my psychiatrist says it has been a difficult one. Yes we have to learn to accept the things we cannot change....this often means living with the unpleasant feelings, painful memories etc. As I have written so many times I find activity helps m such as brisk walking, aquafitness or indoor cycling. I am also trying to become good at meditation. You are NOT alone. Good luck and a virtual hug to you.
Thank you for sharing 🙏🏻 I wish I was a believer, perhaps finding relief and hope would have been a little easier with some heartfelt prayers. Wishing you joy and calm ❤️
Had that, too, during a panic attack. I felt faint, was awake, but transported mentally to a beach. Knowing full well I shouldn't be there and hearing my friends in the back of my head calling my name. Lasted about 2-3 minutes, left everyone scared af.
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