Depersonalisation and Derealisation

[Scarlet]

I remember when I was in the acute stages of my illness I suffered from Depersonalisation and Derealisation, and thought I was going mad. Has anyone else suffered from this? I found a nice website which explains how it's a symptom of anxiety, check it out if you get the chance. It also has some info on why we have disturbing thoughts and some useful tips on beating anxiety.


www.anxietynomore.co.uk/depersonalisation_and_derealisation.html

[winegirl]

Thanks for the link scarlet! I have sufferd with anxiety terribly since my little one was born, and have rarely found any useful tips, so will definately check it out.

Love to you

Winegirl x

[cheshire]

Hi Scarlet

I belive I experienced depersonalisation - there is a short thread on it here:

veritee.proboards7.com/index.cgi?board=physical&action=display&n=1&thread=4077

Take care,
Hopefulx

[Scarlet]

Thanks Hopeful, I have just checked out the thread. The depersonalisation was the very first symptom I had (that I remember) and I thought maybe I've got low blood sugar or something (I was 26 weeks pregnant), but it came after I didn't sleep for 2 nights and worried continuously. I remember thinking, this is it, I am mad and then the fear kicked in..... Thank goodness it went.


Winegirl, I suffered terrible anxiety at the beginning. I was afraid of everything (a bit like generalised anxiety), but thank goodness this has gone now. Know what you mean about lack of tips though, I remember ringing up the crisis line when i was in England and they told me about breathing exercises, which needless to say didn't work because I was suffering from severe anxiety and needed more help than a few breathing exercises,

[monica]

Hi

I suffered from depersonalisation ( I felt very foggy headed and as I was deep inside myself, sort of a dream like state where I wasn't here- is that what you mean?) This came shortly after I got the pressure round my eye and was the second sort of symtpom I had. This completely freaked me out as it was there constantly and no one could explain what it was. Eventually a cpn visited me and she said this was a common symptom of depression. I must admit that once the antids kicked in it went quite quickly. Also had days/periods with foggyheadedness and exercise especially aerobic variety helped hugely. I've had a bit of arough ride recently and today have ntoiced this foggy headedness seemed to be lurking. Am wondering if PNI is starting to rear its ugly head.

I also had horrific anxiety usually revolving around illnesses and me or my nearest and dearest dying - I used to cry and worry badly 24/7. Again once antids kicked in this subsided. Once again, I didnt' know where this had come from at the time nor how to manage it - in fact it never occurred to me I could manage this anxiety to a certain degree. AFter a fab PND course, I learnt about breathing excercises, challengin negative thinking and this has helped since.

I agree with what you said, Scarlet than when I was very bad I dont' think breathing exercises would have helped massively as I was in too much of a state for it to be effective. Also it can take a bit of practice to get used to it, however, when I was recovering it certainly used to take the edge of stressful situations - I can remember goign into work for the first time after mat leave and spent the whole day doing them as was quite stressed.

Monica

[Jay]

Hi scarlet

I have read some of this website you talked about.

I had not heard of these words before. No one does explain things.
But what I read is myself and how I feel.

I am completely consumed by it all, and there is nothing left in life which can get through. I am fighting all the time to get away from the thoughts and the illness. And it is only when asleep that there is any peace.
I also realise why my body keeps giving up, and why I fall asleep all over the place--except at night when my mind won't stop!!!

OH and I talked at the weekend, about how he thought he was going to lose me, while I have not been well these past few weeks. I described to OH that
I have been in the bottom of the dark pit.
Been in the mud at the bottom of the dark pit.
And now I am tied up and locked in a box in the mud at the bottom.

The bits mentioned on this website, make me sound not as......
But it has perhaps given me some bravery to talk to the psychs about how I feel.

Thank you Scarlet for posting this thread, and for doing it this week, when I needed to read it most.

Jay xx

[gail]

Hi all

I just wanted to add that I suffered with severe depersonalisation and derealisation. It is something that was extremely horrific for me - I continually described it as 'living inside a nightmare'.

I believe that this aspect of PNI is so misunderstood (as with every other aspect actually). It is as though you have fallen off the edge of the earth. nothing seems real and you have to work hard to cnvince yourself that you actually exist. I was convinced that I had died and was living in hell or purgatory as I felt like a tormented soul who had not yet passed on to the other side.

Describing this is the easy part. I dont think you can fully appreciate the horror of this symptom, and this is what compunds the symptoms, making you feel doubly trapped, desperate and tormented. It truly truly is awful.

The best way I can describe it is experiencing the same fear you feel in a nightmare, but constatly, every day, and you cant wake up.

[scarlet1]

Gail you describes this perfectly for me,

I believe that this aspect of PNI is so misunderstood (as with every other aspect actually). It is as though you have fallen off the edge of the earth. nothing seems real and you have to work hard to cnvince yourself that you actually exist. I was convinced that I had died and was living in hell or purgatory as I felt like a tormented soul who had not yet passed on to the other side.

Bloody Hell this is exactly how I felt, but I never met anyone who could understand me.

---------/----------

Jay hun,

back to you tomorrow, just to say that I have been where you are now hun and you will get out of the mud, you will.

[Scarlet]

I've had a bit of arough ride recently and today have ntoiced this foggy headedness seemed to be lurking. Am wondering if PNI is starting to rear its ugly head.

Monica, just re~read your post and wanted to say that if you are having a rough-ride it's no wonder you are having a few of the old symptoms back. I don't believe pni can come back once fully recovered. I do think that if you have a really stressful event in your life whilst recovering, this can prolong the pni, and you may experience more blips that will perhaps be intenser, or perhaps the old fear that it's returning may be back, but as for it actually returning, NEVER, you have gone too far and know too much girl

[monica]

Thanks for your kind words. I meant ot go to the gym yesterday as that helped hugely in the past, but didn't get there. Must try tomorrow.

Monica