does anyone have any tips for dealing with dp/dr

[Danzdanz123]

hi Everytime I have intense anxiety or a panic attacks the dp/dr lingers and it just causes me to be in a highly anxious state for days it’s like a vicious loop. I can handle anxiety it’s the weird scary and disconnected feeling I can not and I can’t really find any tips to deal with it. I’ve tried the 5 things you can see smell and taste but it doesn’t work makes it worse actually. The only thing that helps me manage is my phone and I know it’s not helping in the long run. I’m not really sure what to do.

[Agora1]

Hi Danzdanz123. The disconnected feeling is a horrible sensation. It's almost

like an out of body experience. Not feeling real, sometimes even looking in the

mirror it doesn't appear as if you are looking back. You don't recognize that person.

Before look you start focusing on the dp/dr issue. You know it's going to happen

after an anxiety/panic attack and so it does. It becomes an anticipational anxiety.

The more you think about it and want it to go away, the more it latches on to you.

We can hope that we can wish it away but that doesn't work. The more it stays

on our mind, the longer it hangs around.

The reason for this happening in the first place is because our Anxiety is more than

overwhelming. And so, our brain wants to give us a little time out by bringing in the

big guns....dr/dp. But instead of getting us a break from reality, it causing us more

emotional distress. So what do we do?? Accept it. Accept it for as long as it may last.

The less you think about it, the more you will destress. The more you destress, the

shorter time it will stay until one day, it disappears completely. This works, I know

because I've been there and done that as well. xx

[Montana136 in reply to Agora1]

Hi agora. I have just discovered that depersonalization is an actual diagnosis and it's related to anxiety. I think I have been suffering this problem for decades but couldn't name it. It happens to me often and it seems to happen even when I'm alone going off into another world feeling like I'm very disconnected. I don't quite understand it all yet but any information you can offer would be greatly appreciated I've read a couple articles but I have not found much about the details of it. My psych doctors and therapists have not made a note of this at all. But maybe because I cannot explain clearly what is happening to me. I feel like I have a lot of memory gaps going back to childhood. I even have a conversations with people or I don't remember the conversations or the people. Can you tell me what it was like for you, how you discovered it the symptoms how you resolved it? It would be greatly helpful. Take care of yourself and be well

[Danzdanz123 in reply to Agora1]

thank you I’ve noticed when I’m distracted and not thinking and specially not alone I do forget it’s just in those moments I’m left to think that I remember and feel unsafe and weird again, it’s horrid. My brain at the moment is like from feeling this how will I continue to not to feel like this ever again and stop being aware hopefully I will forget I ever felt it eventually, really appreciate your comment I’ll continue to accept no matter how uncomfortable and emotionally painful it is!

[Montana136]

Hello there to you I read your post and I am curious about depersonalization. I actually think I may suffer from this but I am not sure. I really don't have any suggestions for you other than I think I can relate. I have a vague idea of depersonalization feeling like you're disconnected and in a movie watching yourself. I have memory problems because I think I am living on two planes of the universe. Figuratively of course. the one me that can have a conversation with an acquaintance and engage and respond. And the me that is utterly wrapped up inside my head thinking unrelated thoughts and even sometimes wondering if I am I saying and doing the right things and then 10 minutes later I realize I do not remember the conversation or the name of the person I was just talking to. Does that sound familiar to you? I am really wondering about your realization and your information about depersonalization how did you figure it out that that was your problem? I just kind of am figuring this out so I hope that you have people to help you answer your questions. In the meantime if you could help me with your information it would be most greatly appreciated. Take care of yourself and be well

[Danzdanz123 in reply to Montana136]

hello there, I think it can come differently for other people but definitely yesterday I was in a car with a friend and i was stopping my self from having an anxiety attack and panic all whilst having a conversation, during the conversation I was like Wait I’m responding then I was like an I actually here right now in the car which made my anxiety worse I felt like I was being suffocated by the feeling all very physical I just was so aware of myself I wasn’t really taking in what my friend was saying but I was responding, so this might be why you don’t remember the conversation. It comes in different forms for me I can handle the vision one where it feels like everything is dinner and have cling film over my eyes but the one where I have the feeling in my stomach and feel like I’m in the same world but it all feels different to me. I recommend seeking a doctor if you haven’t already it does sound like dp/dr. Also when you say there is gaps from your childhood in your other comment this sounds like it could be trauma which can bring in DR/DP I’m not a professional so can’t full confirm but I hope you this message gives you some calming reassurance 😊