Derealization and Depersonalization

[[Buddie]]

derealisation = acid trippin into, tho i had it before benzo was put in my system,, felt as if one is in a bottle or acid trippin.

[[Buddie]]

I am a long time DP/DR suffer. [...], there are two tricks I've learned that help (there are others but these are a quick two).

1) Touch two different surfaces at once, making sure they are as different as possible (e.g. cloth vs. wood). This forces your mind to process that and focus on the now, on reality. It grounds you.

2) Practice intentionally ignoring things. My particular method of practice was to take a coke can, set it next to my monitor where I could see it, yet refuse to look at it. Whenever your thoughts go to the coke can distract them by focusing on something else. Eventually I learned to intentionally ignore my DP/DR until it settled down.

I am very new here, and still reading and getting up to speed on the rules. This does not in anyway qualify as medical advice simply my personal experiences in dealing with what I know to be a very difficult issue.

[[Buddie]]

I am a long time DP/DR suffer. [...], there are two tricks I've learned that help (there are others but these are a quick two).

1) Touch two different surfaces at once, making sure they are as different as possible (e.g. cloth vs. wood). This forces your mind to process that and focus on the now, on reality. It grounds you.

2) Practice intentionally ignoring things. My particular method of practice was to take a coke can, set it next to my monitor where I could see it, yet refuse to look at it. Whenever your thoughts go to the coke can distract them by focusing on something else. Eventually I learned to intentionally ignore my DP/DR until it settled down.

I am very new here, and still reading and getting up to speed on the rules. This does not in anyway qualify as medical advice simply my personal experiences in dealing with what I know to be a very difficult issue.

This is great stuff  Thank you.

I'm not sure I can blame benzo's anymore because I've been free for a long time now, but then again I have a whole lot of stuff that I do feel is still related to having taken the pills from 2004 to 2009 so I can't really be 100% certain of it.

[...]

[[Buddie]]

[...], I still expderience DR when in a wave.  I know it sounds crazy this far out but I just happen to be one of the unlucky ones experiencing symptoms this far out.  You still have to give yourself time.

[...]  xo

[[Buddie]]

I still have derealization, but with me I had it at times before Benzo's. I have it now at times. I remember when I c/t Effexor I had it [...] bad. It was like I was in a bottle. The type I have now is like an Emotional Bluntness at times. Looking back I had some Emotional Bluntness with the Effexor c/t. The first time I ever had it was when I was sick with a virus. I [...] it goes sooner or later, better sooner than later, but even when it lifts slightly.. I'll take it. This sx is a hard one to explain in depth. There is an entire forum where peeps live with this twenty or thirty years. According to one member that's into herbs and so on.. he says it goes away naturally without any meds. I think it does. Then again, only us who experience it can understand it. Those who have it due to marijuana or naturally, benzo induced, what have you.

[...].

[[Buddie]]

I am a long time DP/DR suffer. [...], there are two tricks I've learned that help (there are others but these are a quick two).

1) Touch two different surfaces at once, making sure they are as different as possible (e.g. cloth vs. wood). This forces your mind to process that and focus on the now, on reality. It grounds you.

2) Practice intentionally ignoring things. My particular method of practice was to take a coke can, set it next to my monitor where I could see it, yet refuse to look at it. Whenever your thoughts go to the coke can distract them by focusing on something else. Eventually I learned to intentionally ignore my DP/DR until it settled down.

I am very new here, and still reading and getting up to speed on the rules. This does not in anyway qualify as medical advice simply my personal experiences in dealing with what I know to be a very difficult issue.

This is applicable to many dr/dp experiences.
http://www.peirsac.org/peirsacui/er/educational_resources10.pdf

[[Buddie]]

You may have heard of 'derealization' and 'depersonalization', two common withdrawal symptoms. Many people are just relieved to learn that there is a term for these feelings! The sufferer may feel a loss of reality, both from the world around them and their own sense of self. 
 
As symptoms of an anxiety states, it is believed that these conditions are the result of changes that occur in the way nerve signals are processed. Think of derealization and depersonalization as defense mechanisms. When someone is subjected to extreme anxiety or trauma, the brain may react protectively. One major misconception of those suffering from derealization or depersonalization is that they are signs that one is crazy. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Your brain is reacting normally; it is protecting you from further harm.

Thankyou! Eversince c/t from ativan, this was one of the most prominent side effects or withdrawal symptoms I had, and I didn't know how to explain it to anyone else, even to myself at times. My boyfriend would ask me how I felt at the moment, and all I could come up with was that I didn't really feel I was there, or that perhaps this was the experience of a person who is high. I also fell into thoughts that I might have been going crazy, but reading this has been especially helpful in setting aside some fears.

[[Buddie]]

I finally can identify this derealization as the sense that I have lately been calling an "other world" like feeling. At least I know what to call it.

Never had this while exclusively on Xanax , even while experiencing w/d sx from it. I always felt like "me" but now I don't t all. It's a very strange feeling and it's not all the time, but I hate it. This whole experience is disheartening. I [...] something good happens as I am really trying to find my way.

[[Buddie]]

I saved that link, thanks! At first I felt like I was "in my head" as in looking way down from way up high and worrying that I would fall way down and be hurt. When I walked my feet were so far away it seemed I might slip and fall. Yea it sounds like Alice in Wonderland huh? Fun for awhile maybe but NOT for days .

[[Buddie]]

it is so encouraging to see the words "it will pass - it did for me and it will for you" - you've no idea - it is wonderful to  not feel alone in these things - it really helps eliminate the fear of these symptoms when you hear that others have gone through it and come through to the other side