DP/DR (Depersonalization/derealization)

[RazorTourniquet]

Depersonalization: a change in an individual’s self-awareness, such that they feel detached from their own experience. Terms I have seen used to describe DP include: unreal, disembodied, divorced from oneself, apart from everything, unattached, alone, strange, weird, foreign, unfamiliar, dead, puppet-like, acting a part, lack of “self”, made of cotton wool, having mechanical actions, remote, automated, a spectator of one’s own life, witnessing one’s own actions as if in a film, not doing one’s own thinking, being trapped in a dream, observing the flow of thoughts in the mind as being independent.

Derealization: a change in a person’s experience of the environment, where the world around him/her feels unreal or unfamiliar. Terms commonly used to describe DR include: spaciness, like looking through a grey veil, a sensory fog, spaced-out, being trapped in a glass jar, feeling cut off or distant from the immediate surroundings, objects appear diminished in size (or larger in size), cartoon-like, flat artificial, object appear to be un-solid, etc.

Whichever you have (and you may have both), it is just plain strange. It may happen only some of the time, or you may feel you are DP/DR constantly. Regardless, it is a different, typically frightening way of perceiving either yourself or your surroundings.


Have you ever felt like that? It's been almost an year for me and I'm getting really hopeless. Can someone help me?

[Magenta]

I used to have these episodes very frequently. Then it stopped for about a year but I recently had an episode where I didn't even realize an hour had passed, thinking it about five minutes. What I try to do is talk to people. Just to focus on something. Focus on the words, focus on what they say and I have some people who have successfully pulled me back. Otherwise I go and hold ice cubes or something that is a bit of a 'shock' so to speak. Try either of these, they may help you. Otherwise, speak to a doctor. I found that certain medications I've been on may have been what helped for that year.

[vjaurleila]

i have both symptoms and have been on prozac for almost 4 months. it helps with the feeling of hopelessness that comes with it, but not the disconnect itself. i also have something called chronic lyme disease, which often causes depersonalization.

[xXl0sth0peXx]

Please do not post in threads older than 2 months. :locked: