Aa
what is derealisation?
i feel sometimes myself away from the world/more panic/that i may go insane.is it derealisation?
OMG! That was the worst part of the horrible withdrawals from xanax. The brain withdrawals, I called them. A gray funk, where I lost all perehperal vision and I stopped seeing colors. Who am I? Why are people going to work, I used to understand all this but I didn't anymore. It was truely dangerous to drive. Why am I washing the dishes? I would never look in the mirror. I brushed my teeth in the dark. How am I thinking with my brain. What is my body. What is God and the universe, HOW the **** did we all get here. It would scare me so much. A trip to the mall turned to a trip to the twilight zone, when I was the last one in the mall and all the doors were locked. I always knew even in all my fear it would pass and it did.
abby
abby
God forbid the days I used to get this. It can be a nasty thing. Especially if outdoors. I had many outdoor experiences, including going shopping, bringing home an xmas tree, whilst in this state, and forgetten I was ever out. In other words I asked my mum ' when are we going to the shops '. Only to hear we had already been about an hour ago. That shows what it can be like. I used to hate having to cross roads if in that state because the cars always seemed further away. Once a car skidded to miss me. I saw the car at some distance. Fact was it was closer than I saw it. That's what can happen. There is no magic cure. It kind of passes with time. Bit like you grow out of it. As if you move along onto something else. It can be frightening. Just hang on in there with it. It will pass over time. To the point were it will stop for good.
Depersonalisation and Derealisation are very common symptoms of spontaneous panic attacks and belong to a group of sensations/feelings often known collectively as Dissociation.
The ability to dissociate is on a scale 0 -10 and people with panic disorder are about 4 - 5 on this scale. Many people with panic disorder report that their panic attacks begin with the experience of depersonalisation and/or derealisation.
Dissociation is also known as a 'self induced (hypnotic) trance states' or 'altered states of consciousness'. The sensations of dissociation are many and varied. They include the following:
Derealisation
A feeling that you and/or your surroundings are not real
And/or experience your surroundings through a diffused light, fog or mist
Depersonalisation
Feeling as if you are "outside of your body"/ 'detached from your body', as though you are either standing alongside, above or behind it
Other dissociative sensations
Sensitivity to light and sound
Tunnel vision
Feeling as if your body has expanded so that it feels larger than normal
Feeling as if your body has shrunk to minute proportions
Stationary objects may appear to move
Driving a car and suddenly realise you don't remember what has happened during all or part of the trip
Listening to someone talk and realise you did not hear part or all of what was said
Sometimes sit staring off into space, and not being aware of the passage of time
It is interesting to note, that although depersonalisation and derealisation symptoms are recognised as two of the most common spontaneous panic attack symptoms, the ability to dissociate is not mentioned in the main panic disorder literature. Nor is it mentioned that many people dissociate first and experience a panic attack in reaction to the dissociation.
There has been speculation amongst psychiatrists who work in the area of dissociation, that people with panic disorder do in fact dissociate first and then panic, but there has been no substantial research in this area. Which is disappointing. We have been researching this for over 10 years and we know from the feedback from clients and from emails that this is the cause of the panic for so many of people.
People who do dissociate have had this ability since childhood, although many people have forgotten they were able to do this as children. This ability can be activated once again as an adult as a result of a major stress and/or not eating or sleeping properly.
Some of the research shows a trance state can be induced within a split second. Most of us who have panic disorder are not aware of how we can 'trance out' so easily, and we can then panic when we move into an altered state. Our research also shows that people can experience an 'electric' shock feeling or a burning heat or a tingling heat in these altered states. This also adds to the fear and panic that we are dying or going insane.
Another research study shows that people can experience dizziness as a result of derealisation. The research shows it is not so much the derealisation that causes the dizziness, rather it is the magnitude in the change of consciousness that can causes the feelings of dizziness.
Many people who experience depersonalisation and derealisation can be woken from sleep with a nocturnal panic attack. Research shows these attacks happen on the change of consciousness, going into sleep, moving into dreaming sleep or to deep sleep or back to dreaming sleep. The change in consciousness during sleep, is similar to the change in consciousness people can experience when they dissociate during the day.
Some people with panic disorder are frightened of their ability to dissociate, other people are not. One of the easiest way people can induce a trance state is when they are relaxed and/or when they are staring : out of the window, driving, watching TV, reading a book, using the computer, when talking with someone. Fluorescent lights can trigger a trance state, so too can self absorption. The more absorbed we become, the more we can induce a trance stare.
Ultimately what you experience is a normal reaction to your panic attacks/anxiety and doesn't mean you're "going crazy" although at the moment you may feel differently.
During many of my panic attacks, I experience similar dissotiation, but know that just like the panic attack itself, it will pass. That doesn't make it any less frightening.
Gaining some control over your panic attacks is help, through the use of medication, meditation, deep breathing and other interventions.
If you are not already being followed by a mental health professional I would encourage you to seek profesional help, voice your concerns honestly and develop the tools needed to help you cope with these attacks.
I wish you the best and know from experience that these issues can be controlled to some extent, if not completely eliminated with proper treatment and time.
Michael
The ability to dissociate is on a scale 0 -10 and people with panic disorder are about 4 - 5 on this scale. Many people with panic disorder report that their panic attacks begin with the experience of depersonalisation and/or derealisation.
Dissociation is also known as a 'self induced (hypnotic) trance states' or 'altered states of consciousness'. The sensations of dissociation are many and varied. They include the following:
Derealisation
A feeling that you and/or your surroundings are not real
And/or experience your surroundings through a diffused light, fog or mist
Depersonalisation
Feeling as if you are "outside of your body"/ 'detached from your body', as though you are either standing alongside, above or behind it
Other dissociative sensations
Sensitivity to light and sound
Tunnel vision
Feeling as if your body has expanded so that it feels larger than normal
Feeling as if your body has shrunk to minute proportions
Stationary objects may appear to move
Driving a car and suddenly realise you don't remember what has happened during all or part of the trip
Listening to someone talk and realise you did not hear part or all of what was said
Sometimes sit staring off into space, and not being aware of the passage of time
It is interesting to note, that although depersonalisation and derealisation symptoms are recognised as two of the most common spontaneous panic attack symptoms, the ability to dissociate is not mentioned in the main panic disorder literature. Nor is it mentioned that many people dissociate first and experience a panic attack in reaction to the dissociation.
There has been speculation amongst psychiatrists who work in the area of dissociation, that people with panic disorder do in fact dissociate first and then panic, but there has been no substantial research in this area. Which is disappointing. We have been researching this for over 10 years and we know from the feedback from clients and from emails that this is the cause of the panic for so many of people.
People who do dissociate have had this ability since childhood, although many people have forgotten they were able to do this as children. This ability can be activated once again as an adult as a result of a major stress and/or not eating or sleeping properly.
Some of the research shows a trance state can be induced within a split second. Most of us who have panic disorder are not aware of how we can 'trance out' so easily, and we can then panic when we move into an altered state. Our research also shows that people can experience an 'electric' shock feeling or a burning heat or a tingling heat in these altered states. This also adds to the fear and panic that we are dying or going insane.
Another research study shows that people can experience dizziness as a result of derealisation. The research shows it is not so much the derealisation that causes the dizziness, rather it is the magnitude in the change of consciousness that can causes the feelings of dizziness.
Many people who experience depersonalisation and derealisation can be woken from sleep with a nocturnal panic attack. Research shows these attacks happen on the change of consciousness, going into sleep, moving into dreaming sleep or to deep sleep or back to dreaming sleep. The change in consciousness during sleep, is similar to the change in consciousness people can experience when they dissociate during the day.
Some people with panic disorder are frightened of their ability to dissociate, other people are not. One of the easiest way people can induce a trance state is when they are relaxed and/or when they are staring : out of the window, driving, watching TV, reading a book, using the computer, when talking with someone. Fluorescent lights can trigger a trance state, so too can self absorption. The more absorbed we become, the more we can induce a trance stare.
Ultimately what you experience is a normal reaction to your panic attacks/anxiety and doesn't mean you're "going crazy" although at the moment you may feel differently.
During many of my panic attacks, I experience similar dissotiation, but know that just like the panic attack itself, it will pass. That doesn't make it any less frightening.
Gaining some control over your panic attacks is help, through the use of medication, meditation, deep breathing and other interventions.
If you are not already being followed by a mental health professional I would encourage you to seek profesional help, voice your concerns honestly and develop the tools needed to help you cope with these attacks.
I wish you the best and know from experience that these issues can be controlled to some extent, if not completely eliminated with proper treatment and time.
Michael
Yes negive.............the feelings you describe are very much a part of "derealization." It can also be termed "depersonalization," or "disassociative disorder." You do feel as if you are not exactly "in the world," like you are standing just a little to one side of reality and watching the world go by. It is a very uncomfortable and often quite frightening feeling. Panic will often accompay this feeling as will the feeling that you are going insane.
Medication and therapy can help you overcome this feeling.
Sometimes when this feeling overcomes you, if you can go somewhere quite, away from the crowds and the noise and just sit quietly, close your eyes, take some deep breaths, know and understand that anxiety is causing you to feel this way, you can bring yourself back into the present.
It is common and it will pass.
Peace
Greenlydia
Medication and therapy can help you overcome this feeling.
Sometimes when this feeling overcomes you, if you can go somewhere quite, away from the crowds and the noise and just sit quietly, close your eyes, take some deep breaths, know and understand that anxiety is causing you to feel this way, you can bring yourself back into the present.
It is common and it will pass.
Peace
Greenlydia
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