Anyone with Depersonalization Disorder ?
 

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with DPD and how are you coping or coped with it?

Thank you

Hi. I wouldnt go as far as saying I have DPD, but I certianly go through bouts were I feel depersonalised. I found that this would occur when my anxiety would crop up, or I having a panic attack, or in severe pain. I learnt to control my anxiety by trying to 'get out of my own head' and this helped alot with the depresonalisation.

My best to you :)!!

I would have to agree. I wouldn't classify what I experience as a DPD, per se.

However, when I did recognize that I was experiencing what I reported to my Neurologist as "not being on the same page with myself " at times; I did investigate DPD; and this link gave me some insight:

Depersonalization Disorder - WebMD

What would you say if I told you that this is a state I have been living in forever and just started to figure things out?

It is a state of mind I have been aware of, just could not name what it was. I have seen a Dr. regarding that but Dr. had no idea what I was talking about.( i guess) .
I believe that has happaned after a concussion I found out I had very long time ago.
From what I found out was most of the people who had it was a short exerience compared to mine. I have been in it as long as I know.

Thank you for your inputs.

Dear Savas,
Are you getting help for this now?
It normally is temporary because it is the brain breaking down and using a safety mechanism to care for it's wounds. Once recognised however there are many treatments to help come out of this state.

You have my sympathy though, it is a horrid place to live in that mind state.

Do you know why this has happened to you, apart from the concussion there is normally a stronger reason for this disorder. If you know what it is you can find the right help.

Depersonalization
 

Hi,
I have this bad. I have dealt with it by learning advanced meditation and breathing exercises. I feel like my spirit is detached from my body or as if I am living at the side of myself. Does this happen to you? So sorry. Lots of love to you:hug:

Brain patch

I experience this but it is only momentary. I can think my way out of it. I start by identifying the simplest things around me that I know are real. This is the start of creating a context of myself and environment. Touching something or moving is usually enough.

I also have to orient my memory. By this I mean I accept that my memory is unreliable. Again, I start by establishing a simple context. Do I know what day it is ? Do I know where I am ? Once I get a few of these contexts established, the rest falls into place quickly.

It is important that I do not get stressed out by this sense of ??????? Anxiety only makes it more of a problem.

The big problem in my view is that we normally live with an automatic context of who, what and where so we get lazy with our attention. As brain injured, we need to purpose our thoughts more. This is no different that the Stop to Think exercise. If we just stop to think, we can usually reconnect to our reality.

I struggle with this most when I wake up from a very real dream. I need to put serious contextual effort into determining where the dream ended and real life starts.

Learning to live life on purpose rather than on autopilot takes a bit of effort but it becomes a habit.

Hope this helps.

This is the most important part of pretty much all of our lives now.

We are no longer really able to trust our auto-pilots.

We do have to always be attentive to purpose.

I would have to agree. This is something I haven't been able to take a hold of, sometimes I feel a sense of unreality. It sucks, but we just have to keep calm and carry on. It does scare me a lot, though.

As i mentioned before, the concussion i had was severe I believe. i dont remember it happen but I also dont remeber many things. if i dont focus on things they disappear from memory quickly.
It is only most recently I have started to get the Fell Of Reality. But 98% still in a dream, with auto pilot engaged.
But working on it

Mark,
You are great about explaining it. Even though it was momentary for you.
Yes! Stress is the enemy of it. If you get a little relief stress will put you right back in.
For me, a lot of times my life is in autopilot. Luckily my subconscious wired and well thought on how to function this way but The Reality of it Is always a step ahead of me.
I get more connected to reality when i focus my 100% attention to what i am dealing with or doing at time.
This has been my foundation on getting back to normal state. I know it is long process but i am willing take what i can.

:cool:Brain patch,

Your explanation is what is my everyday life. Unless i am reminded ( somehow ) i am in that state all the time.
When i am aware i get close to be in reality. I even thought on getting something to remind myself all the time. The more i am aware of if the more i can practice of reality and connect stronger to it.
Stress is my biggest enemy. I love being in quite and happy environment.
Also, my mind is constantly busy thinking something? I realized when i am closer to reality my brain and worries also at ease.
That something i was not aware of. I always thought about something even when i was dealing or working on something.
Best of luck to all of us:hug:

Dear Savas,

Im sure your concussion was severe. I understand that you must focus on things to keep them in your memory.

Just reading through everything that has happened to you healthwise, it is clear to me that your brain has done exactly what I stated previously : Your brains safety mechanism has cut in, helping you to cope.

When we have a traumatic experience our bodies go into temporary shock and decide wether we will live or die. Normally once the body knows it can cope it will come out of this state and start to repair.

Because you have compacted traumas ( one on top of another and another ...... ) your body is still in a state of shock and is still deciding wether to live or die.

So the result - your brain creates a surreal life for itself. Depersonalisation. It is a safety mechanism and can only end when you tell it to.

The way to deal with this is to get out of your brain everything that is troubling you and process it into logic. This is called cognitive therapy. Because of your severe state I must recommend that you do this under the supervision of a mental practitioner.
If you process too quickly you will suffer a further setback.

This mental state that you currently find yourself in is very normal for someone who has been through the difficulties that you have. As is seen on this board, others including myself have suffered and continue to suffer DPD episodes but have created tactics to bring ourselves back to reality.

For now be aware that you are not alone, keep in contact here with us. Know that the way you feel is ok, it's temporary and you will get better.

Each time you feel frightened spend a little time doing what Mark does, bring your mind into the room you are in, touch something to tell your brain you are real, tell yourself you are safe, concerntrate on your breathing. That is enough for now.

Take Care

Dear peacheysncream,
Thank you for your excellent input and kind support.
The amount of time I have been in it what makes it hard. It has been almost three decades I been in that state. Guessing that it has been normal life for me. I dont have any panic attacks, or feel frightened at all.

Other than short memory issues, some stress i don't really have anything to complain about.

Now, what i am going through and i want to do ( connect to reality ) is very simple.
Naturally all the years of living in that state of mind will not change overnight. Accordingly as you mentioned , taking it slow one step at a time. As you can imagine it is pretty deep where i am and have to climb a pretty high ground.

I always find something to make myself smile:) life is good no matter what we are dealing with. I wish all of us the best. :grouphug:

Anxiety
 

Hey Savas,

I also have always found that DPD occurs more often when anxiety is involved. Now I don't know much about DPD but I do know quite a bit about anxiety and have found the best way to alleviate anxiety is through meditation.

There are many free meditations out on the internet that are specifically tailored to combat anxiety. Try to do these meditations everyday for at least 3 weeks and I am sure that you will notice some differences. It helped get rid of my anxiety in the past.

Let me know how it goes, cheers

Isamson,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Do you suffer from Post Concussion Syndrome ?

DPD is a common symptom of PCS. I don't believe it is quite the same as general anxiety based DPD. The PCS brain often struggles to filter sensory input so it ends up grossly over-stimulated. As a previous poster noted, quiet is often the first remedy.

Hey Mark,

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I personally do not suffer from DPD or PCS, but I have had two close friends that have suffered from DPD and so that is what I am drawing my information from. I convinced both of them to start meditating, one of them meditated for a few weeks but then gave up as he didn't see any results. My other friend is still meditating today and has managed to alleviate his anxiety and is currently seeing a healthcare professional about his DPD.

I thought meditation and relaxation of the mind could help here again.

Cheers

im had this really bad soon after my injury, but i think its slowly getting better. its slow....like everyone is saying try concentrating on things, use all ur senses.

ED