Does anyone deal with derealisation?

[ScarlettR]

In mid-2013, I started feeling weird in the head and had a lot of anxiety attacks. My energy went down, and I spent most of the day in bed, and ended up missing a lot of uni classes.

The feeling inside my head is really weird, like surreal, in a dream. It's like anxiety in the sense that it starts small, insignificant and sticks at the back of my mind all the time then snowballs into something frightening, bleak and even threatening. But it's more a psychological symptom than physical.

Thoughts that bring on these uncomfortable, scary episodes are: how will I support myself away from parents, how can I prevent myself from living on the streets unless I have a good landlord, what will happen after my parents/ loved ones pass away, when will I ever get a proper, decent paying job?

These thoughts go on for a while and trigger me and I get emotionally upset, then I go into derealisation mode. I get these episodes even in my sleep if I nap during the day (the derealisation doesn't seem to occur when I sleep at night).

So in 2013, I got these weird feelings and thought it was just anxiety and depression, so I was put on anti-depressants. Now I think I was actually suffering from derealisation all this time, although I'm happy to stay on the antidepressants. In recent years, I've gained control over my thought process and managed to live daily life mostly painfree.

The derealisation episodes still happen, and they happen mostly at night.

Does anyone else deal with this? I'm keen to know if there's other people suffering from this horrible psychological symptom.

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Scarlett,

I feel for you...you have clearly been through a lot. The anxiety attacks you had sound very unsettling and upsetting...

I’m glad thing have now, for the most part, improved. I feel that reflects your commitment to helping yourself , which I admire 🙂

I haven’t personally experienced derealisation, but I have a friend who struggles with it. For her, it’s due to past trauma. It has been very debilitating for her, and takes a lot out of her, both emotionally and physically.

She uses grounding exercises with her senses and physical objects, which helps her feel connected to the here and now. I wonder if grounding strategies is something you have used/currently use or would like to look into...

Thinking of you, and thanks so much for writing in. No pressure, but if you’re feeling up to it, it would be lovely to hear from you again.

kind and caring thoughts.

Pepper

[ScarlettR]

Hi Peppermintbach,

I had I had some unpleasant incidents happen in the past, and I do think about them and how I reacted in those moments.

I haven't heard of grounding exercises, but they sound very promising. When I exercise, I connect my mind with my surroundings. For example, if I am doing pushups, I focus on the fact that my hands are planted on a mat, in the gym floor. It's the most current, up-to-date information that I process through my mind and I instantly feel good and in-the-moment.

I'm happy to try grounding exercises. Will definitely study it...

[Peppermintbach]

Hi ScarlettR,

It sounds like you’ve had some struggles and pain in your past. Though I admire your proactive attitude when it comes to looking after your own mental health...

I love that you try to connect with your surroundings when you exercise. I feel connecting with your surroundings (by using your senses) is one form of grounding.

I’m not a doctor; I’m just your everyday, unqualified person sharing the little that I know. But to the best of my knowledge, there are 3 types of grounding: self soothing (nurturing self talk), physical (using our 5 senses to engage with the environment and/or focusing on breathing) and mental (mental exercises).

For example, mental strategies include counting, playing games like putting the things you currently see into categories, writing a description of your environment. There are many more of course.

I hope this helps a little...

Kind and caring thoughts,

Pepper

[White_Rose]

Hello Scarlett

It's good to meet you and I welcome you to the forum.

I am interested that you try to keep in contact with your surroundings which sounds a bit like Mindfulness. This is a way to keep your mind focussed on what's happening in the present moment. And of course you cannot think of something else while you think mindfully. A friend of mine who practices Mindfulness once told me how he was able to get rid of his irritation when washing the dishes. He consciously focussed on what he was doing paying close attention to each part of the job. By the end he felt much better and also had the satisfaction of doing a good job.

While this particular action may seem trivial it is a tool you can use in all situations. And you do this as you describe above. Congratulations.

Mary

[Vegangirl91]

Hi Scarlett r,

I underatand exactly what you are going through.

Yhe night times ones are the worst. And I had the exact same things happen to me like you’re separated from the world and you’re detached and it’s not rreal but it still is. I believe the anxiety brings it along.

I was also also put on medication for depression and anxiety but am now dealing with bi polar.

We are all on the journey x

keep up the good work looking after yourself .

[Sarah30]

Hi there,

sorry to hear youve been been having a tough time. As well as medication were you referred for any therapy?

ive experienced derealisation/personalisation when I was suffering from PTSD. The mind is so fragile it’s crazy. It’s so hard to explain the feeling of not being in reality- for me it felt as though I was watching myself from outside my body... and I couldn’t differentiate between my dreams/nightmares vs reality.

I was treated with a combination of anti depressants AND cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).. worked wonders to unscramble my brain and come back to reality!!