awake-depersonalisation

Hi Tanya, I have experienced depersonalisation and it was so scary. I wasn't all there and felt like I was in a dream all the time, how long has yours been going on for?

I had been extremely anxious for a couple of months prior to the middle of last month then one day after a high stress situation I just went completely out of it, everything felt unreal and it felt like I was walking around in a dream. After 3 days I went to the doctor and she started me on Fluoxetine and weekly councillng which has helped alot. All I wanted to do was stay in bed and sleep because that was the only time I felt relaxed and normal. I just made myself normalise everything I used to do, like going to uni, going to the mall and hanging with friends. For the first two weeks it was so hard. I'd be in the supermarket and bam i'd be out of it, I was pretty emotionally unstable especially with getting used to the anxiety medication which made me foggy and more anxious for a start. Just today I was in a large store with my mum and I suddenly started feeling a bit out of it and I told myself "im looking for socks at the moment focus on that" So i focused on going to get the socks and didn't let my thoughts feed my anxiety. The most helpful thing for me is to distract myself because everybody can trance themselves out however us anxiety sufferers get panicky once this happens which makes it worse, So when I start thinking the world looks weird or i'm not in reality I'll distract myself and focus on something else like playing a game on my phone. 

Hi Tanya, I can defintiely understand why you would stay in your room 24/7. Its so hard to interact and be around people when your not feeling all there. I find going to places i'm not familiar with really sets me off. However, the best advice I was given was to normalise everything which I have been doing. Still going to work and doing everything I would normally do, I always have a  Valium tablet with me as a backup though but I think by resuming my life as "normal" has helped me recover. Your situation is different to mince since you've been experiencing this longer than me. Do you feel out of it all the time? Or clear headed sometimes and dr and dp other times? 

Are you on any medication or receiving any therapy?

How long were you on meds for? 

Oh i see, I think therapy will really help. Its so hard when you feel like no one can understand how your feeling. 

Hello tanya

Your situation is very common, but at the same time frightening, which makes matters worse.  Very briefly, I have been a lifelong sufferer of anxiety (now an older lady of 75 - not an old fuddy-duddy I might add).  Years ago, all the symptoms you describe were not altogether recognised, and it was only within the last say 10-12 years that I learnt about DP/DR.  It was such a relief to find out about it.  However, in spite of many outside influences which have caused my anxiety, I have led a full life, always worked, and have travelled across the world many times.  (I had to overcome the fear of flying, but have now done many long-haul flights).  You have to "train your brain" as it likes to play these tricks on you.

With regard to meds....I do think you really have to persevere with them and eventually they will take effect.  Please try to think positive.  If you have nothing physically wrong with you, except anxiety symptoms, then please try to move forward, as you are missing out on so much.  Life is full of ups and downs.  Good Luck!  Keep trying.  Keep smiling!